Imtiaz Dharker's "Purdah"

Essay:

Imtiaz Dharker's poem "Purdah" explores the complex and oppressive nature of gender norms and societal expectations imposed on women, particularly in the context of traditional practices like purdah. Through vivid imagery, metaphor, and a tone that oscillates between resignation and subtle rebellion, the poem delves into the internalization of shame, the loss of self, and the inescapable confinement of identity.

Themes of Shame and Confinement

The poem opens with the stark declaration that "One day they said / she was old enough to learn some shame." This line introduces the central theme of the poem: the societal imposition of shame on women as a rite of passage into adulthood. The phrase "learn some shame" implies that this emotion is not inherent but taught, forced upon women by societal expectations. The subsequent line, "She found it came quite naturally," suggests that the internalization of shame is almost inevitable, a disturbing commentary on how deeply ingrained these gender norms are.

The metaphor of purdah, a practice of seclusion and veiling, is used to explore this theme further. Dharker writes, "Purdah is a kind of safety. / The body finds a place to hide." Here, purdah represents both a physical and psychological barrier, a form of protection that also serves as a prison. The safety it provides is illusory, as it simultaneously enforces the notion that a woman's body must be hidden, reinforcing the internalized shame. The comparison of the cloth to the earth "that falls / on coffins after they put dead men in" evokes a sense of burial and entrapment, as if the woman is being buried alive within the constraints of her own body and society's expectations.

Loss of Identity and Autonomy

As the poem progresses, Dharker delves into the erosion of identity and autonomy that accompanies the internalization of shame and the practice of purdah. The lines "She half-remembers things / from someone else’s life, / perhaps from yours, or mine" suggest a disconnection from her own experiences and memories, as if her identity is being subsumed by the expectations and experiences of others. This loss of self is further emphasized by the phrase "carefully carrying what we do not own: / between the thighs a sense of sin." The woman's body becomes a vessel for collective shame and guilt, her sense of self distorted by the weight of imposed morality.

Dharker also portrays the woman as constantly at odds with herself, as seen in the lines "She stands outside herself, / sometimes in all four corners of a room. / Wherever she goes, she is always / inching past herself." This imagery of dislocation and fragmentation illustrates the internal conflict that arises from living in a state of constant surveillance, both from others and from within. The woman is alienated from her own body, her sense of self shattered and scattered, as she struggles to reconcile her internal desires with external expectations.

Inward Confinement and Subtle Rebellion

The final stanzas of the poem shift to a more introspective tone, as Dharker explores the inward confinement that purdah imposes on women. The "light filters inward / through our bodies' walls," suggesting a faint, dim hope or awareness that persists despite the external oppression. However, this light is weak, barely penetrating the layers of shame and self-doubt that have been built up over time.

The poem ends on a note of quiet resistance, with the repeated imagery of doors opening "inward and again / inward." This suggests that despite the confinement, there is an ongoing search for self, a continual inward journey that resists complete erasure. The woman "passes constantly out of her own hands, / into the corner of someone else’s eyes," but the act of passing and the constant inward opening suggest a refusal to be fully contained or defined by others. This subtle rebellion, though not overt, hints at an enduring sense of self that seeks to reclaim agency and autonomy.

Conclusion

Imtiaz Dharker's "Purdah" is a powerful exploration of the psychological and emotional impact of societal expectations on women, particularly within the context of traditional practices like purdah. Through rich imagery and poignant metaphors, the poem delves into themes of shame, confinement, and the loss of identity, while also hinting at the possibility of resistance and self-recovery. Dharker's portrayal of the woman's internal struggle serves as a critique of the ways in which society imposes restrictive norms on women, while also offering a glimmer of hope for reclaiming one's sense of self.

Summary of the Poem

Imtiaz Dharker's poem "Purdah" delves into the inner world of a young woman experiencing the traditional practice of purdah, which involves the seclusion and veiling of women. The poem begins with the girl being told she's old enough to "learn some shame," highlighting the societal expectations placed upon her as she comes of age. She finds that this sense of shame comes naturally, indicating how deeply ingrained these cultural norms are.

The purdah is depicted as a protective barrier—a kind of safety—that allows her to hide her body. Yet, this safety also feels suffocating, likened to earth covering a coffin, symbolizing a loss of freedom and individuality. As she observes the people around her, they seem familiar yet different; their gazes feel sly and judgmental, intensifying her sense of isolation.

She grapples with fragmented memories and a borrowed sense of identity, suggesting that her true self is being overshadowed by imposed roles. The reference to a "sense of sin" between her thighs points to the internalized guilt associated with her femininity and sexuality. The purdah becomes almost like a second skin, drawing closer and enveloping her, while she becomes increasingly introspective.

Throughout the poem, she feels disconnected from herself, as if she's both inside and outside her own body—present in the room yet distant. She struggles to find her place, feeling like a piece of earth seeking roots, symbolizing her search for identity and belonging. Her sense of self slips away into others' perceptions, and the "doors keep opening inward," suggesting an endless introspection and perhaps entrapment within societal confines.

"Purdah" explores themes of identity, autonomy, and the psychological impact of oppressive traditions on women. Through vivid imagery and metaphor, Dharker portrays the internal conflict between the desire for self-expression and the restrictive expectations imposed by society.

PURDAH 

One day they said
she was old enough to learn some shame.
She found it came quite naturally.

Purdah is a kind of safety.
The body finds a place to hide.
The cloth fans out against the skin
much like the earth that falls
on coffins after they put dead men in.

People she has known
stand up, sit down as they have always done.
But they make different angles
in the light, their eyes aslant,
a little sly.

She half-remembers things
from someone else’s life,
perhaps from yours, or mine –
carefully carrying what we do not own:
between the thighs a sense of sin.

We sit still, letting the cloth grow
a little closer to our skin.
A light filters inward
through our bodies’ walls.
Voices speak inside us,
echoing in the places we have just left.

She stands outside herself,
sometimes in all four corners of a room.
Wherever she goes, she is always
inching past herself,
as if she were a clod of earth
and the roots as well,
scratching for a hold
between the first and second rib.

Passing constantly out of her own hands,
into the corner of someone else’s eyes . . .
while the doors keep opening
inward and again
inward.

From: Purdah
Publisher: Oxford University Press, Delhi