Dharmaveer Bharti’s 'Kulta': The Silent Suffering and Resilience of a Mother : Dr Purnima Singh

Dharmaveer Bharti’s 'Kulta': The Silent Suffering and Resilience of a Mother

Dr Purnima Singh 

International Women’s Day invites us to reflect on the struggles, resilience, and strength of women across societies and generations. Literature has always been one of the most powerful mediums through which these struggles are articulated and preserved. Among the many voices in Hindi literature who explored the complex realities of women’s lives, Padmashree Dharmaveer Bharti occupies a distinctive place. Known primarily for his celebrated works such as _Gunahon Ka Devta, Suraj Ka Satvaan Ghoda,Andhayug ,_ and the lyrical narrative poem Kanupriya, Bharti was not only a prolific writer but also a keen observer of social life. While he served as the chief editor of the widely read weekly magazine _Dharmayug_ from 1960 to 1987, his literary contributions extended far beyond journalism into poetry, fiction, drama, and criticism.

Although Bharti’s novels and plays have received considerable scholarly attention, his short stories remain relatively less discussed. Stories such as 'Swarg Aur Prithvi', 'Band Gali Ka Aakhri Makaan', 

'Chand Aur Tute Hue Log', 'Samast Kahaniyan Ek Saath', and 'Saas Ki Kalam Se' reveal his deep engagement with the emotional and social complexities of ordinary lives. Among these narratives, the short story 'Kulta' stands out as a powerful portrayal of a woman trapped within the harsh realities of patriarchal suspicion and social prejudice.

The title itself is striking. The word 'kulta' is a derogatory label used in traditional society to describe a woman who is perceived as immoral or unfaithful. Bharti deliberately chooses this word to expose the ease with which society assigns moral judgments to women without understanding their circumstances. At the center of the story is Lali, a young woman whose life becomes a tragic reflection of how women are misunderstood, judged, and condemned by the social order.

The story is narrated through the perspective of a young man who repeatedly claims that he cannot distinguish between good and evil. This statement initially appears to suggest moral confusion, but as the narrative unfolds it becomes clear that the narrator’s perceptions are shaped by the opinions of his elder brother, referred to as Bhaiya. Bhaiya represents the voice of conventional morality—quick to judge and deeply suspicious of women. Through his influence, the narrator begins to see Lali through a lens of doubt and suspicion.

Lali appears at first as an ordinary woman who occasionally comes to the narrator’s house to borrow small household items—fire, gripe water for her baby, basil leaves, an envelope, or a postal stamp. Her requests are simple and practical, yet Bhaiya interprets these visits as evidence of moral impropriety. Because Lali is a widow who has remarried, she is already viewed with suspicion. In the conservative social context depicted in the story, widow remarriage may be legally accepted but socially it continues to carry stigma. Bhaiya repeatedly calls her immoral and characterless, labeling her a “slut” without any proof. The narrator, though uncertain, gradually absorbs these prejudices.

Bharti carefully constructs this atmosphere of suspicion to reveal how easily society forms narratives about women. Lali’s smallest actions are interpreted as signs of hidden intentions. When she asks for a postal stamp on a Sunday to send an urgent letter, Bhaiya immediately assumes that she must be corresponding with a secret lover. The narrator begins to observe her movements with growing curiosity, influenced by the insinuations of his brother.

Meanwhile, glimpses of Lali’s domestic life reveal a deeply troubling reality. Her husband Nandram is a middle-aged man who already has two children from his previous marriage. Instead of treating Lali as a partner, he repeatedly reminds her that he married her only for the comfort of his children. The children themselves show hostility toward her and frequently complain about her to their father. In this environment Lali occupies an uncomfortable position—not fully accepted as a mother, wife, or family member.

Nandram’s behavior toward Lali is harsh and humiliating. He insults her publicly, calls her degrading names, and threatens physical violence. He constantly reminds her that she was starving before he married her and that she owes her survival to his generosity. Such remarks reveal the deep imbalance of power within the household. Lali’s presence in the family is reduced to that of a servant whose primary function is to cook, clean, and take care of the children.

Despite these humiliations, Lali continues to perform her duties quietly. Her silence becomes a defining aspect of her character. She rarely argues or defends herself, perhaps because she has learned that resistance only invites further abuse. Yet this silence also makes her vulnerable to misinterpretation. To those around her, including the narrator and his brother, her quietness appears suspicious rather than dignified.

One particularly revealing moment occurs when the narrator harshly dismisses her request for a postal stamp. Lali’s eyes fill with tears, and she quietly turns away. This brief interaction highlights her emotional fragility and loneliness. It also exposes the casual cruelty with which society treats women whose reputations are already under suspicion.

The story reaches its emotional climax through a series of events that further intensify the neighborhood’s suspicion. Lali is seen preparing sweets for the festival of Holi. Observing her secretly from the window, Bhaiya concludes that the sweets must be meant for a secret lover. When a man arrives to collect a box of sweets, their suspicions appear to be confirmed. Bhaiya becomes morally indignant, convinced that Lali is corrupting the neighborhood.

Soon afterward, a violent confrontation occurs between Nandram and Lali. Accusing her of writing letters to another man, Nandram beats her brutally. The children watch with disturbing excitement, clapping and cheering as their father punishes her. This disturbing scene reveals how domestic violence becomes normalized within the household and even absorbed by the next generation.

In the midst of this chaos, Lali’s saree accidentally drops a crumpled postcard. The narrator picks it up, assuming that it is the love letter everyone has been talking about. However, when he reads it, the truth emerges with devastating clarity.

The letter is not from a lover but from Lali’s son from her first marriage, Shyam Manohar Lal. The boy writes in crude and broken language, describing his life away from his mother. He expresses anger and pain over her remarriage, yet the letter also reveals a deep emotional bond between them. The sweets that Lali had prepared were meant for him. The letters she anxiously waited for were simply attempts to maintain contact with her child.

This revelation completely overturns the assumptions that have shaped the narrative. What had been interpreted as immorality is revealed to be maternal love. Lali’s desperation to send letters was not driven by secret romance but by the longing of a mother separated from her child.

In this moment, the title 'Kulta' acquires its deepest irony. The woman whom society has labeled immoral is in fact a devoted mother struggling to maintain a fragile emotional connection with her son. The label imposed upon her exposes the cruelty and superficiality of social judgments.

Lali’s declaration—“I will write”—becomes an act of defiance against both her husband’s authority and society’s moral policing. Though she is beaten and humiliated, she refuses to abandon her child. Her simple act of writing letters becomes a quiet but powerful assertion of her identity as a mother.

On the surface, Lali’s life does not undergo any dramatic transformation. She remains trapped within a hostile household and continues to endure abuse. Yet her persistence in maintaining contact with her son reveals remarkable emotional strength. Her resilience lies not in dramatic rebellion but in the quiet determination to preserve her maternal bond despite overwhelming obstacles.

Through Lali’s story, Bharti exposes the harsh realities faced by women in patriarchal societies, particularly those who remarry after widowhood. Such women often find themselves caught between conflicting expectations—expected to serve their new families while being condemned for maintaining ties with their past.

'Kulta' therefore becomes more than a story about one woman. It is a reflection on the social mechanisms that silence women, distort their identities, and punish them for acts of love and survival. The neighbors who watch silently, the brother who judges harshly, and the husband who exercises violent authority all represent a social order that normalizes injustice.

On Women’s Day, revisiting a story like 'Kulta' reminds us that the struggles of women are not always dramatic or visible. Sometimes they unfold quietly within homes and relationships, hidden behind everyday routines. Lali’s life is not marked by heroic gestures but by endurance, patience, and unwavering maternal love.

Dharmaveer Bharti’s story ultimately urges readers to question the labels that society imposes on women. Behind every such label may lie a story of pain, sacrifice, and resilience waiting to be understood.

In remembering Lali, we are reminded that dignity often survives even in the most oppressive circumstances—and that the quiet strength of women has always been one of the most powerful forces shaping human society.

( Dr Purnima Singh is Asst Professor Vasant Kanya Girls College Varanasi . She is a writer and social activist . Her papers on Gender Studies are published in International Journals and she authored poetry collection and nonfictional writings .