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Readings on Kerala

16
Short Story

Agni
Sithara S.

INTRO
Sithara S. is a Malayalam short story writer of repute. She is a recipient of several awards.
“Agni” is a short story that presents sexuality in a new perspective. Priya, the
protagonist, is gangraped by Sanjeev, Ravi, and another boy. She feels that she is the most
humiliated woman on earth. Contrary to our expectations, she meets her rapists the following
day, and talks to them. Priya humiliates them through small triumphs and revenge in the form
of questioning masculinity. It gives her great satisfaction.

ESSAY
How is Priya successful in her small triumphs and revenge?

Sithara S. is a Malayalam short story writer of repute. The short story “Agni” tells the story
of Priya, a gang-rape survivor, and the unconventional way she protests against this brutal
act. The character is successful in her small triumphs and revenge.
The story presents a rape-survivor who is not ready to be persecuted or destroyed with
disappointment or disrespect. The protagonist of the story, Priya does not allow herself to be
emotionally withered after being gang raped. She exercises the right to speak bluntly about
her experience in sex. In this way, she puts the molesters to shame by openly telling them
about their incapability to please her sexually.
"Agni" presents sexuality and man-woman relationships from a new perspective. It is
also a critique of the suppression and commodification of the female body. Waiting for
assistance from no one, she resolves to penalise the wrongdoers on her own. She finds an
unusual way of vengeance. It is also a tale of revenge and small triumphs. Just like the flames
of fire, Priya is also burning with the fire of fury and revenge. She does not wish to surrender
her highly spirited self to those who had taken the claim even on her menstrual blood.
The story denounces the society that stands against women. It highlights the fault
lines in a society where women victims are deprived of dignity and justice. Priya stands as an
epitome of a spirited girl who wishes to fight against all odds with her small triumphs and
revenge.

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PARAGRAPH
1. "I must be the most humiliated woman on the earth." What made Priya think like
this?
Priya was on her way home on a bicycle. In the narrow lane, Priya stopped her bike in
shock. Three men were standing on the road. One of the men pulled her off the bicycle by
force. She fell down on the hard ground. One held her struggling body down while another
one clamped her mouth shut. The third one removed the clothes from her body. Priya wanted
to scream, "Let me go." He removed even the sanitary pad she was wearing. Sanjeev, the
strong man, raped her first. At that time, Priya thought she must be the most humiliated
woman on the earth.
2. There is no sense of shame in your mind even while you're being shamed." What
made Priya think like this?
When Priya was on her way home on a bicycle, three men stopped her. She was pulled off the
bicycle. One held her struggling body down while another one clamped her mouth shut. The
third one removed the clothes from her body, even the sanitary pad. Sanjeev, the strong man,
raped her first. As Sanjeev was still on her, she recognised the face of Ravi, whom she had
slapped in the bus. When Sanjeev’s turn was over, her body ached all over. Even in the midst
of all the pain, unnecessary thoughts came to her mind. At that time, she thought like this.
3. What was Ravi's reason for humiliating Priya?
Ravi was a spoiled rich boy. When she used to commute by bus, Priya had slapped
him for having taken some obscene liberty with her in the bus. Later somehow or other, she
came to know that his name was Ravi. Afterwards Priya often saw him like a shadow. And
every time, exactly like a shadow, he used to slip out of her sight. The slap on his face he
received from Priya stayed in his mind. He became revengeful. He was waiting for an
opportunity to teach her a lesson. This was Ravi's reason for humiliating Priya.

SHORT ANSWER
1. What was Sanjeev employed as?
Sanjeev ran a telephone booth near Priya’s office.
2. What was Ravi's threat to Priya on the morning after he raped her?
Ravi asked Priya to keep her mouth shut about the rape. If she talked to anyone about
it, they would finish her off, not just her, but her people as well.
3. Who all tried to rape Priya?
Priya was raped by three people – Sanjeev (the fellow who runs telephone booth near
her office), Ravi (whom Priya had slapped once for taking obscene liberty with her in a bus)
and a stripling (a boy).

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4. "Your love is my revenge." Who said this?

Priya said this.
5. Who were the three men standing on the road in the darkness?
Sanjeev, Ravi and a stripling (a boy).
6. When did Priya feel that she is the most dispossessed women on earth?
Priya felt like that when Ravi was raping her. She also felt that someone has staked
his claim even on her menstrual blood which was her own so far.

Prepared by:
Prof. MURUKAN BABU C.R.
(formerly) Associate Professor of English
Panampilly Memorial Govt. College
Chalakudy

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