Portrayal of Trauma and Memories in Kamala Das’s Nani

Abstract

Kamala Das’s poem “Nani” speaks about the death of Nani, a pregnant maid. She hangsherself in the privy. The children think that she shows us a puppet show by hanging on therope. No one knows ‘how she dies?’ and ‘what is the reason?’. The truth of her death ishidden. The main theme of the poem is social inequality and the exploitation of marginalised individuals. The title itself symbolises a poor, marginalised, and victimised woman. The poet, Kamala Das, is characterised as a child in the poem. Still, there is no solution for her death. Low class or marginalised women are treated as a slave to higher authority people. Even, there is no help from the people who are in power too. So, Kamala Das raises her voice against the persecution of women in a male dominated society. As a feminist, she is ready to assert herself in a new and indifferent way.