After the contrasting views on reforms seen in Indirabai and
Indira, Shantabai Neelagara‘s Sadguni Krishnabai provides
the much-needed woman‘s perspective to women‘s reforms, thus giving a third
perspective to the women‘s reforms during the early days of the novel in
Kannada. Neelagara‘s novel, Sadguni
Krishnabai, first published in 1908, disappeared so fast that there is
not a single reference to it in any of the literary histories. Even Venkatesha Sangli‘s encyclopaedic
directory of Kannada litterateurs (1960), which spans a period from 1850 to
1920 and which is a mine of information, does not have any reference to this
book. It did come as a pleasant surprise to see this book, which now becomes
the first Kannada social/realist novel written by a woman.
Neelagara‘s novel was the result of an award announced by
Narasimhacharya Kavyananda Punekar in memory of his wife, through the Karnataka
Vidyavardhaka Sangha, Dharwad. The award
carried twenty-five rupees and the novel was to be written as outlined in a ‘sloka‘
from Manusmriti, a translation of which in English is this:
In whichever family the husband is happy with his wife, and the
wife with her husband, in that house will fortune reside permanently.
The story is of Krishnabai, the daughter of Hariwant and Radhabai.
Hariwant provided a decent living and good education to his children and was
especially fond of Krishnabai, his last born. He took the responsibility of her education
upon himself and taught her whenever he was free. When his death left Krishnabai forlorn and
distraught, her elder brother, Shamarao, took over the responsibility and
arranged to send her to a private home tutor, who was a friend. When Shamarao had to shift to Mumbai, he took his
sister and mother with him. On seeing
the various career opportunities in Mumbai, Krishnabai too wanted to start a
career. Her brother agreed and sent her
to the Zenana Mission Girls‘ School. At
first apprehensive of her thus far limited education, she soon realized that
she was far better than many of her classmates.
An
American lady doctor, who used to visit the school, noticed the talent in
Krishnabai and offered to teach her Medicine. Soon, Krishnabai completes her course in
medicine with top honours. On the day of
the final awards function, Madhavarao, a young man doing his BA course, the
only son of a famous lawyer, Janardhan Pant, noticed her and enchanted by her
intelligence, wanted to marry her. Soon,
a meeting was arranged between the two families and Pant discovered that
Krishnabai was none other than the daughter of his childhood friend Hariwant. But, Madhavarao‘s mother, who had strong
opinions against women‘s education, was skeptical. Madhavarao manages to convince her and the
wedding takes place. Krishnabai
performed her household duties so well that her mother-in-law soon lost her
initial apprehensions and handed over the charge of the entire household to
Krishnabai.
She nursed her in-laws
during their illnesses, but they died soon after. Madhavarao was yet to complete his studies and
Krishnabai managed the incomeless household with great expertise and helped him
complete his studies. When employment
opportunities were not forthcoming, she urged him to study for a law degree. Madhavarao had always wanted to go to England
and study for the civil services or the barrister examinations.
Despite Madharavao‘s protests, Krishnabai sells her ornaments and raises
the required amount. Both husband and
wife decide to go to England. At a time
when crossing the seas meant ostracism even for men, Neelagara makes a bold
move by making her heroine leave the shores. The ship meets with an accident in mid seas,
and a passing ship manages to rescue many passengers. In the confusion Krishnabai and Madhavarao are
separated.
When one rescue ship brings
her back to Mumbai, another rescue ship takes Madhavarao to England. Neelagara brings Krishnabai back to the
country, thus missing a certain controversy. But she must be credited with making the move
itself to send her heroine to England. Madhavarao
and Krishnabai believe that the other is dead, but both hope that the other is
alive and that they will reunite. Krishnabai
then goes to her elder sister‘s place and slowly comes out of her sorrow and
starts taking care of the education of her sister‘s children Kashi, Godavari,
and Balawanta. How she educates them and
takes care of the household forms the major part of the narrative. Some years later, through a friend, Madhavarao
comes to know that Krishnabai is alive and well in India and writes to her. She is overjoyed and he soon returns after
passing his ICS examinations. After a
joyful reunion, Madhavarao leaves for Satara to become the Assistant Collector
of the district.
No comments:
Post a Comment