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The Shattered Lens: An Analysis of Arun Kolatkar’s "An Old Woman"

 

Arun Kolatkar’s "An Old Woman" is a profound exploration of human dignity, social apathy, and the jarring intersection of the mundane and the monumental. Set in the pilgrimage town of Jejuri, the poem begins as a common, almost clichéd encounter between a reluctant tourist and a persistent beggar. However, through a masterful shift in perspective and the use of surrealist imagery, Kolatkar transforms this "nuisance" into a symbol of indestructible endurance, ultimately reducing the narrator’s sense of superiority to "small change."

1. A Nuisance at the Start

The poem begins with an old woman grabbing the narrator’s sleeve. She wants a fifty paise coin and offers to show him a local shrine. The narrator is not interested; he has seen the shrine before and wants her to leave him alone. He compares her to a "burr" (a sticky seed) because she won't let go. At this point, the narrator feels superior to her and is annoyed by her presence.

2. The Turning Point

The narrator tries to walk away with an "air of finality" to end the "farce" (the act). But then, the woman asks a powerful question:

“What else can an old woman do on hills as wretched as these?”

This question stops the narrator in his tracks. It makes him realize that she isn't begging because she wants to, but because she has no other choice. The "wretched hills" offer no other way for an old, poor person to survive.

3. A Change in Vision

When the narrator finally looks at her closely, he sees her face is full of deep wrinkles. He describes her eyes as "bullet holes." This is a strong image that shows how much she has suffered. As he stares at her, he feels like the whole world is cracking. The temples, the hills, and even the sky seem to shatter like glass.

4. The Powerful Ending

The most important part of the poem is the ending. While the temples and hills "crack," the old woman stands "shatterproof." This means that despite her age and poverty, she is incredibly strong and resilient.

By the last lines, the roles are reversed. The narrator, who felt important because he had money, now feels tiny. He says he is "reduced to so much small change" in her hand. He realizes that his money and his "busy life" are nothing compared to the massive strength and survival of this old woman.

Conclusion

Arun Kolatkar avoids sentimentalizing poverty. Instead, he presents the old woman as a formidable, almost geological force. She is the "soul" of Jejuri—cracked, weathered, and demanding to be seen. Through her, Kolatkar critiques the superficiality of modern life and religious tourism, suggesting that true "pilgrimage" begins only when we look into the eyes of the suffering and see our own reflections shattered there.

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