Write a short note on the theme of cast system in the story 'DELIVERNCE'
Answers
This story, Deliverance (Sadgati in Hindi) deals with caste relationships within an agrarian community. As mentioned in the notes at the end of the story, Sadgati roughly means salvation in Death. In other words a worthy death. We see the working of caste laws in this story which results in the death of Dukhi, the tanner. The preceding essay 'Caste Laws' by Jyotirao Phule also dealt with caste laws. But you must have noticed that both the texts are very different from each other. The obvious explanation is that while the first text is an essay, Deliverance is a short story. The style and structure of the essay is different from that of a story. 'Caste Laws' by Phule analyses the emergence of the caste system from within a certain historical context and lays bare the inhuman treatment suffered by the Sudra's under the system. On the other hand Premchand's story "Deliverance" presents you the working of this system in the story of Dukhi. While the essay is analytical, the story is literary and imaginary. Premchand presents you with a piece of life, an experience, to convey the terrible sufferings of the lower castes under the caste system. We shall discuss this issue a little later.