The Potrait of A Lady

KHUSHWANT SINGH
THE POTRAIT OF A LADY

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
 Famous Indian writer (2 Feb 1915 – 20 March 2014)
 Educated in Lahore , Delhi and London
 Versatile raconteur, humorist, commentator,
editor, short story writer, novelist
 Easy narrative style
 Famous novels: A Train to Pakistan, History of the
Sikhs
 Awarded Padma Bhushan in 1974( but returned in
1984 in protest against Operation Blue Star)
 Awarded Padma Vibhushan in 2007
About the story
 It is auto biographical in nature as it describes
the author’s association with his
grandmother and changes that come about
in their relationship.
 It is a loving tribute from a grandson to his
grandmother where he reminisces the
emotional bond he shared with her.
 On reading it the readers are forced to
evaluate their relationship with their
grandparents and to reflect on the reasons for
the growing isolation of elders in families.
Contd..
 The story gives a picture of human
relationship.
 It is a realistic account of how the
grandparents give all their time, attention and
love to their grandchildren.
Themes
 Innocence
 Friendship
 Love
 Connection
 Kindness
 Selflessness
 Respect
 Acceptance
About the characters
 GRANDMOTHER
 An extremely religious person
 A kind lady
 Short, fat and slightly bent
 KHUSHWANT SINGH,THE AUTHOR
 He recounts his childhood days and his
relationship with his grandmother
The author remembers his
grandmother and grandfather
 For twenty years , he found her old and wrinkled.
 The thought was almost revolting that the
grandmother was once young and pretty and she
even had a husband.
 Author’s grandfather’s portrait hung on the wall
of drawing room.
 He wore a big turban and loose clothes.
 With his long white bearded he looked at least a
hundred years old.
The author’s grandmother
 She was short, fat and slightly bent in nature.
 Her silver white hair was scattered over her
wrinkled face.
 Not “pretty" in the traditional sense ,yet her
serenity made her “beautiful”.
 Hobbled around the house in spotless white
clothes ; with one hand resting on her waist to
balance her stoop and the other hand busy
counting the beads of rosary.
Contd..
 Perhaps she was not beautiful in a temporal

sense but she looked extremely beautiful
with the peacefulness ,aplomb and the
contentment that her face exhibited.
 The author compares her with a winter
landscape in mountains to emphasize upon
these qualities.
Initial years of togetherness: Life in
the village
 Grandmother used to wake him up in the
morning and get him ready for school.
 She would give him a bath and sing prayers in a
monotonous sing song way .
 Wanted to instill religious values in her grandson.
 Accompanied him to school – school attached to
temple.
 Grandmother used to sit inside the temple
reading holy books while the narrator learnt
alphabets and prayers in the school.
 Used to carry stale chapattis for the village dogs.
 She helped him in his lessons also.
 She was the exclusive undisputed custodian,
mentor and architect of the child.
 They shared a meaningful and close relationship
 In this stage ,there was an inter-dependency
which satisfied the needs of the boy and the
yearnings of an old boy.
Turning point: Life in city
 Moved to city to stay with the author’s

parents.
 Grandmother no longer accompanied him to
school, as the author started going in a bus.
 As years rolled by, they “ saw less of each
other”.
 As there were no dogs in streets , she took to
feeding the sparrows.
 Her role in his upbringing greatly reduced
 She could not help him in his lessons as he
was learning English and Science.
 Another thing which disquieted her much was
that the children were not learning about God
and scriptures in school.
 Instead they were given music lessons, which
was not respectable in her belief.
 She was dismayed and withdrew herself to
some extent.
 Although they shared a room at home they
no longer have the same interests.
 She realized that her prominence in moldings
her grandson had diminished and the very
thought affected her gravely.
 Her disapproval and disdain was reflected in
her silence.
The third phase
 Author started going to university- he was

given a room of his own.
 Resulted in a further gap between them.
 She accepted her loneliness and rarely spoke
to any one.
 All day long, she sat by her spinning wheel
reciting her prayers.
 The happiest half an hour was the time ,
when she fed the sparrows in the afternoon.
 Sparrows became friendly with her- they
perched even on her legs and head.
 In this stage she found herself secluded and
aloof but she tolerated this change with grace
and self respect.
Author leaves for higher studies
 Author decided to go abroad for higher
studies.
 He was sure that his grandmother would be
upset at his departure.
 On the contrary, she came to the railway
station to see him off but did not show any
emotion.
 She was absorbed in her prayers.
 She kissed the author’s forehead, which the
author considered to be the last sign of their
physical contact.
Contd..
 She was a firm person – showed immense self
control in expressing her emotions – quite
calm.
 Telling the beads of rosary ,expresses that she
was in absolute control of her emotions.
Author’s homecoming
 On his return after five years, the author

didn’t find any change in his grandmother.
 Remained absorbed in her prayers- feeding
the sparrows which was a religiously followed
routine since many years.
 In the evening, for the first time ever, she did
not pray.
 She sang songs related to the homecoming
of warriors.
Contd..
 She had to be persuaded to stop singing in

order to avoid overstraining.
 Next day she fell ill.
Grandmother’s death
 Although it was mild fever, grandmother

knew that her end was near.
 She didn’t want to waste any more time
talking to anybody.
 Only telling beads of rosary and reciting
prayers.
 Soon, her lips stopped moving and rosary fell
from her lifeless fingers.
A silent tribute by sparrows
 Family went to make arrangements for grandmother’s
funeral.
 When they came back with a stretcher, they found
thousands of sparrows scattered around her dead
body.
 they mourned the death of grandmother in utter
silence – no chirruping
 Ignored the bread crumbs given by author’s mother.
 Flew away silently after the body was carried away for
cremation.
 That was their way of showing respect to their patron.


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KHUSHWANT SINGH

THE POTRAIT OF A LADY

 Perhaps she was not beautiful in a temporal

 Moved to city to stay with the author’s

 Author started going to university- he was

 On his return after five years, the author

 She had to be persuaded to stop singing in

 Although it was mild fever, grandmother

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