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| (Bapsi Sidhwa/बाप्सी सिध्वा) |
Q. Discuss the plot of the story “Defend Yourself Against Me”
“Defend
Yourself Against Me” is a short story written by Bapsi Sidhwa. Bapsi Sidhwa is
a Pakistani writer. The story “Defend Yourself Against Me” deals with the bitter (कडवट) experiences
of partition.
The major setting of the novel is Houston,
America. The story revolves around (गुंफलेली आहे) Ammijee,
the mother of Sikander Khan. Mrs Joy Jacobs is a narrator of the
story. Sikander and Mrs Jacobs meet in Houston in the house of Mr Kishen. Sikander
and Mrs Jacobs are from Lahore, Pakistan. Sikkander remembers someone
named Joy living in his neighbourhood (शेजार) in Lahore when he was
a child.
Mrs
Jacobs too remembers her childhood in Lahore. It is a story of 1948. The wave (लाट/भर) of
bloodshed (रक्तपात) and violence (हिंसाचार)
after
partition is over (संपला आहे).
Sikander
and his family have been shifted to the neighbourhood of Joy Jacobs. Sikander
and his family members are the refugees (शरणागत). They
have fled (पळून आले आहेत) from
India. Sikander’s father and uncles are killed by the Sikhs. In fact, Sikander is
also attacked. Joy remembers Sikander carrying the scar (व्रण) of the wound (जखम) on his head. Joy also
remembers Ammiji. Joy remembers that Ammiji has gone through some terrible
experience (भयावह अनुभव).
But
she remains unaware (अनभिद्न्य/माहित नसणे) about it for many years.
After
so many years, once again Mrs Joy Jacobs meets Sikander and his family. This
time they meet in America. Sikander is still carrying the scar on his head. To hide
(लपवणे) the scar, he uses a wig (नकली केसांचा टोप).
From
Sikander Mrs Joy Jacobs comes to know about Ammiji’s tragic experience of the
partition. When the family was attacked by the Sikhs, Ammiji was kidnapped,
raped and sold. Ammiji carries this pain (वेदना) in her heart for years (कित्येक वर्षे).
In
the story, there are two more characters – Pratab and Khushwant. They belong to
the Sikh community. They are the friends of Mr Sikander Khan. When they listen
to the sad story of Ammiji, they decide to seek forgiveness. (माफी मागणे)
Pratab
and Khushwant come to the house of Mr Sikander in the guise (रूप बदलून) of Indian fakirs (फकीर/साधू). They
fall to the ground and appeal (याचना करणे)Ammiji,
“Maajee,(माँजी)
forgive
us. Forgive the wrongs (चुका/प्रमाद) of
our fathers.” Soon everyone realises the identity of the fakirs. At first,
Ammijee becomes angry with them and announces, “I will never forgive your
fathers”. But after some time, she calms down (शांत झाल्यानंतर/राग निवळल्यानंतर) and in a helpless
tone (असहाय स्वरात) says, “My sons,
I forgave your fathers long ago. How else could I live?”
In
this way, the story presents the horrific experiences of the partition. Partition
spared no one (फाळणीच्या
तडाख्यातून कोणीही वाचू शकले नाही). Millions
of Hindus, Sikhs and Muslims shared the same lot (सर्वांचे भोग एकसारखेच होते). The title of the story
is borrowed from a poem written by Pedro Shimose. Shimose is a Bolivian poet.
In the poem, the speaker asks the people to “Defend yourself” who have misbehaved
(गैरवर्तणूक करणे) with
the speaker.
* * * * *
(econtent developed by Dr N. A. Jarandikar)
