The Portrait of a Lady

Khuswant Singh - The Author

•An Indian writer in
English
•Prominent work is
"Train to Pakistan"
•Also a famous
journalist
• This prose piece is from his collection of stories
• Thought provoking tale of the relationship of
author and his grandma
• The grandma is a stoic person who doesn't
change with circumstances
 The Author's Grandparents
• Grandmother -Too old and wrinkled
• Difficult to believe once she was young
• Grandfather's portrait was in the drawing
room
• He wore a big turban, white beard that
covered his chest
• Difficult to accept his grandma to be the
wife of his grandfather
Author's Grandmother

• Short, fat and slightly bent

• criss - cross of wrinkles on face
• Not pretty, but beautiful,
• hobbled around with white garments
• lips constantly murmered inaudible prayers
• chanted rosary beads
• ethereal beauty of old landscape – an expanse of
pure white serenity.
Childhood in Grandma's Company

• Parents left the author with grandma

• Grandma readied him to school everyday
• Sang morning prayers hoping the author to
remember
• Readied his bag, breakfast and accompanied him to
school
• Sat by the priest, led back home and threw stale
chapatis to dogs
Turning Point in Friendship
• Author moved to city school
• Learnt maths,science and music that grandma
disapproved
• Music she believed had lewd association
• Distressed about no teaching on God
• Unable to help him in studies
• Rarely talked to her.
Bond grew Weaker
• Author went to university
• Lived in separate rooms
• Grandma accepted her seclusion with
resignation.
• Grandma spent time alone - sat by the
spinning wheel, reciting prayers and in the
company of sparrows
• Happiest half hour of the day for her- feeding
the sparrows.
• Author went abroad for higher studies
Author went abroad

• Author went abroad for higher studies

• Author was sure grandmother would be upset.
• He felt he may not be able to see her grandma after
his return as she was very old.
• Grandma didn’t become sentimental when she came
to see her off.
• She kissed his fore head which the author felt to be
the last sign of physical contact between them.
Grandmother celebrates Author's Return

• But that was not so

• Author returns from abroad
• Grandma who is generally composed behaves
strange
• Thumps a drum and sings all evening ,sang of the
home coming of the warriors, didn’t listen to anyone
• For the first time she didn’t pray.
• Next morning she fell sick.
• Doctor told it was just mild fever.
Grandmother Passes Away - Sparrows
Mourn
• Grandmother falls sick- refuses medicine
• Spends last hours chanting knowing her death was
near
• Passes away peacefully
• Author's mother offers breadcrumbs to the sparrows
• They didn't eat - fly away after grandma's body was
taken – showed their tribute to the old lady who fed
them everyday.