A Heart-Rending Story
The last play that we study in this semester, “30 Days in September” by Mahesh Dattani was simply remarkable. My friends and I, we were fortunate enough to have the chance to watch the play before even studying it in the class. By watching the play, it helps us a lot in comprehending the story and getting us prepared for discussions in class.
It deals with the tattered relationship between a mother and her only child, Mala. Mala was a victim of a man with the beast-like-behaviour. She was being abused ever since she was a little girl. As she grew up, her feelings of anger and resentment towards her mother grew as well. She sort of blamed her mother for everything that had had happened to her when she was young. What she expected from her mom was some protection, instead her mom seemed to ignore and denying the fact that her only daughter was being molested by her own blood brother. Who could have imagined such filthy and immoral act were actually done by someone from your own family, from someone whom we believe can protect the young ones? Especially not from someone who seemed to be educated like Mala’s uncle (at least to me)?
Like it or not, this scenario is the real fact in our smooth-on-the-surface-like culture. Yes, this is what I sometimes feel about the eastern culture. We tend to hide many wrongdoings done by the men towards the women and children in order to “safe face”. Sad to say most of the women, not only in India but also in other parts of the eastern countries, do not know their rights and do not have the power to protest. Whatever happened to them, they have to bitterly “swallow” even though it hurts too much. They have lost their voice in this dominant-by-man kind of world.
Even if they tried to voice out their dissatisfaction, nobody would want to listen. Normally by the end of the day, they may find themselves being blamed by the society for everything that had happened. Eventually, so as not to make a big fuss out of this matter, most of the victims have to suffer in silence in which sometimes lead to the intolerable act, done to indicate their frustration and retaliation.
This play was beautifully written in such a way that it leaves a strong impact and generates our mind to think deeper regarding this matter which we sometimes overlooked. Dattani has revealed the unexplained mysteries of the human heart and the complexity of the mind. It was put on stage for the world to see and to share the pain and calamity of the women survivors of the childhood sexual abuse. It means a lot to me, not only because I am so touched by the story but to know that the women’s voices nowadays are being heard and their suffering were taken seriously.
And as teachers, I feel we have to take the first step to be bold enough to deal with this kind of text in the class room; it would definitely be an eye-opener for the students. I believe it is important for teachers to expose to them so as to make them aware that these kinds of problems do exist in our society. Most importantly, teachers must let them know that they have every right to take actions on those who have mistreated them with this unacceptable behaviour rather than keeping quiet to themselves.
It deals with the tattered relationship between a mother and her only child, Mala. Mala was a victim of a man with the beast-like-behaviour. She was being abused ever since she was a little girl. As she grew up, her feelings of anger and resentment towards her mother grew as well. She sort of blamed her mother for everything that had had happened to her when she was young. What she expected from her mom was some protection, instead her mom seemed to ignore and denying the fact that her only daughter was being molested by her own blood brother. Who could have imagined such filthy and immoral act were actually done by someone from your own family, from someone whom we believe can protect the young ones? Especially not from someone who seemed to be educated like Mala’s uncle (at least to me)?
Like it or not, this scenario is the real fact in our smooth-on-the-surface-like culture. Yes, this is what I sometimes feel about the eastern culture. We tend to hide many wrongdoings done by the men towards the women and children in order to “safe face”. Sad to say most of the women, not only in India but also in other parts of the eastern countries, do not know their rights and do not have the power to protest. Whatever happened to them, they have to bitterly “swallow” even though it hurts too much. They have lost their voice in this dominant-by-man kind of world.
Even if they tried to voice out their dissatisfaction, nobody would want to listen. Normally by the end of the day, they may find themselves being blamed by the society for everything that had happened. Eventually, so as not to make a big fuss out of this matter, most of the victims have to suffer in silence in which sometimes lead to the intolerable act, done to indicate their frustration and retaliation.
This play was beautifully written in such a way that it leaves a strong impact and generates our mind to think deeper regarding this matter which we sometimes overlooked. Dattani has revealed the unexplained mysteries of the human heart and the complexity of the mind. It was put on stage for the world to see and to share the pain and calamity of the women survivors of the childhood sexual abuse. It means a lot to me, not only because I am so touched by the story but to know that the women’s voices nowadays are being heard and their suffering were taken seriously.
And as teachers, I feel we have to take the first step to be bold enough to deal with this kind of text in the class room; it would definitely be an eye-opener for the students. I believe it is important for teachers to expose to them so as to make them aware that these kinds of problems do exist in our society. Most importantly, teachers must let them know that they have every right to take actions on those who have mistreated them with this unacceptable behaviour rather than keeping quiet to themselves.
Comments