Kallu

KalluIsmat Chughtai

Introduction to Kallu Kallu is a short story written by Ismat Chughtai, an eminent Indian writer inUrdu, known for her indomitable spirit and a fierce feminist ideology. The story takes on a critical view of the typical North Indian middle class Muslim families during the 1950s.

Kallu is a very powerful story dealing with a young boy labourer in a middle class Muslim household. The prejudice against people who are financially weak or belong to lower caste has been highlighted excellently by the author.

A note on the author Ismat Chughtai led an unconventional life, went in for higher education, took up a job, lived alone, married a man of her choice and was cremated, as she had desired, instead of being buried.

After Rasheed Jahan, she was the first Muslim woman to write novels and short stories in Urdu. Chughtai wrote many stories before she was actually published in 1939. With a keen eye and an incisive intelligence she looked into the lives of a whole range of Muslim women from the middle class in the suburban towns of Uttar Pradesh. Her stories were often controversial.

She also wrote for films and several of her stories have been made into films. Of these,Garam Hawa(1973) won a great deal of acclaim. In 1975, she received the Padma Shri for her contribution to Urdu Literature.

Characteristics of Kallu Kallu was a nice boy, quiet, obedient and a faithful labour to mumani aunty.He did all household chores and he worked so hard that he didnt have time to even play.His mother comes to visit him and even she put him in to works. And he likes salima bi and he had some love for her inside him.When he to visit their family as a deputy collector he was so kind and he completely forgot what have happened in the past.

when mumani bi was not interested to talk with kallu when in came all of a sudden to meet their family.He was so gentle and he started talking to mumani bi and by time passes she became fine and everything was normal.So bottom of line is that kallu knows how to be a gentle person and he respected his elders and he never forgets who he is.

Characteristic of chacha mianHe is a relation to the family, uncle for the girls and he had the responsibility of finding a bridegroom for the girls.He tried a lot around the city and finally he got a kallu deputy collector and a past servant of their family.He was took interested in him and he wants him to marry their gilrl.

Character sketch of Mumani JanMumani Jans character shows variation throughout the story. At times she is imposing, at times she is generous. So one can conclude that she has a confused Personality. As a child Kallu was bitten very badly by Mumani Jan just to ask Salima for marriage. This shows the imposing side of her.

After years when Kallu came back as Kalim Saheb she refused the marriage proposal given to Salima without explaining any sort of reason. This shows that she was confused and reluctant.

At the end she realizes her short comings towards Kallu as a child and approves for marriage. This explains that somewhere she was generous and kind.

Character sketch of Kallus ammaKallus amma was exquisite and elegant just like every amma in the world. She has very strong character. She worked immensely hard in order to raise Kallu.

When Kallu was small she sent him to Mamuni Jan in order for his betterment, as she understood with such a small income she cannot raise her child well. This shows her understanding and sacrificing nature.

She visited Kallu every week to see him. This shows she was a loving and caring mother.

After Kallu was sent off by Mumani Jan from her home she worked very hard, sewed clothes washed dishes of people so as to raise Kallu to heights. This shows her determined nature which finally bore fruits when Kallu became The Deputy Collector.

Character sketch of Kallus ammaKallus amma was exquisite and elegant just like every amma in the world. She has very strong character. She worked immensely hard in order to raise Kallu.When Kallu was working small she sent him to Mamuni Jan in order of his betterment, as she understood with such a small income she cannot raise her child well. This shows her understanding and sacrificing nature.

She visited Kallu every week to see him. This shows she was a loving and caring mother.

After Kallu was sent off by Mumani Jan from her home she worked very hard, sewed clothes washed dishes of people so as to raise Kallu to heights. This shows her determined nature which finally bore fruits when Kallu became The Deputy Collector.

SUMMARYThe story revolves around the life of Kalimuddin aka Kallu. He is not even seven but still he does work more than a 20 year old man. Starting his day with boiling water for the morning tea and making innumerable trips to kitchen and dinning table giving the cook all the ingredients for the breakfast.His next task involved taking care of small errands of the house from washing Nanhis diaper till Abus cigarette.

His mother had entrusted the narrators family to care of Kallu. She visited him on Teej festival and bought him molasses and fried corn.As Maliha bis wedding was approaching, Amma asked Kallu whom he would marry in jest, and Kallu whispered Salima bis name. And on another day Mumani heard Kallu asking Salima to marry him; to her surprise she said yes.

Mumani thrashed Kallu and his nose started bleeding. Kallus mother saw this and took him away.After many years, a particular Mr. Din comes to the city as Deputy Collector and this person is none other than Kallu himself.He asks for Salima bis hand. Mumani refuses to let Salima marry him despite Chacha jans repeated requests.

Kallu visits his childhood house and recalls every funny incident of his time spent there with them. He gives a surprise visit and talks to Mumani bi and asks for Salimas hand to which Mumani again refuses as he calls him Dulhan bi.To this Kalim says Amma bi.. in a tearful voice and Mumanis eyes filled wit tears.

Significance of the storyLove- The first and the most important thing that the story tells is love, love which amma had for Kallu. Love, which drives her to do any sort of hardship for her child. She sewed clothes, washed utensils in order to raise Kallu to the sky. Love, which Kallu had for Salima bi. It enabled him to be attached with the family in which he was deeply insulted. After becoming the Deputy Collector also he married the girl he choosed as a child.

Hard work- This story also symbolizes the hard word done both by Kallu and his mother to achieve things which are beyond expected. From working in a house as a servant to becoming a Deputy collector Kallu shows the dedication and hard work to achieve the place he is in.Sacrifice- The story also enchants the sacrifice done by Kallus mother. First she left her in Mamuni Jans place for the betterment of Kallu. When Kallu was sent off by Mamuni Jan she did everything she could do to see her child grow.

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