"Karma" by Khushwant Singh

 "Karma" by Khushwant Singh

The story opens by introducing Sir Mohan Lal, a middle-aged Indian barrister who prides himself on his Anglophilia. 

He meticulously cultivates a British persona, from his Savile Row suit and Balliol tie to his affected Oxford accent and his habit of quoting English poets.

 He views himself as a refined gentleman, a cut above the "native" Indians. His world revolves around the anticipation of meeting English people, whom he deeply admires and seeks approval from. 

He carries with him The Times newspaper, even if days old, as a symbol of his connection to British culture. He often gazes at his reflection in the mirror, admiring his perceived Englishness and engaging in self-congratulatory internal dialogues in English.

In stark contrast, we are introduced to his wife, Lachmi, a traditional Indian woman. She is described as short, stout, and wearing simple, unadorned clothes. She speaks Hindustani and chews betel leaves. 

Sir Mohan is ashamed of her lack of sophistication and keeps her at a distance, both physically and emotionally. He rarely speaks to her and avoids being seen with her in public. He considers her uncultured and a burden.

The setting is a railway station. Sir Mohan is waiting in the first-class waiting room for the train to Kalka, where he will join his regiment. Lachmi is in the adjacent ladies' compartment, a separate and less privileged space. 

This physical separation mirrors the social and emotional distance between them. Lachmi is surrounded by other Indian women, with whom she shares food and engages in comfortable conversation in their native tongue. This scene highlights the sense of community and belonging she finds within her own culture, something Sir Mohan actively rejects.

As the train arrives, Sir Mohan settles into a first-class compartment, hoping to strike up a conversation with some English officers. He is confident that his cultivated Englishness will earn him their respect and admiration.

 However, his hopes are brutally dashed when two British soldiers enter his compartment. They are drunk and boisterous, and upon seeing Sir Mohan, they are immediately hostile. They view him with racial prejudice and contempt, dismissing his attempts at polite conversation in English.

Despite Sir Mohan's efforts to impress them with his English manners and education, the soldiers become increasingly aggressive. They hurl racial slurs at him, calling him a "nigger" and a "coolie."

 They are disgusted by his presence in their first-class compartment, a space they consider their own. Their behavior starkly contrasts with Sir Mohan's idealized image of the English as refined and civilized.

The climax of the story occurs when the soldiers physically assault Sir Mohan. They grab him by the arms, drag him out of the compartment, and throw his luggage after him.

 He is left humiliated and sprawling on the platform as the train pulls away. The very people whose approval he craved have subjected him to the ultimate indignity.

Meanwhile, Lachmi remains undisturbed in her compartment. The narrative briefly shifts back to her, highlighting her calm and unperturbed state. 

She continues her journey surrounded by her fellow Indian women, oblivious to the humiliation her husband has just endured. This juxtaposition underscores the irony of Sir Mohan's situation; in his pursuit of an alien culture, he has alienated himself from his own and ultimately faces rejection from the very people he sought to emulate.

The title, "Karma," becomes profoundly significant at the end. Sir Mohan's arrogance, his disdain for his own culture and his wife, and his desperate attempts to mimic the British have ironically led to his public humiliation at their hands. 

His actions have yielded a bitter consequence. Lachmi, on the other hand, who has remained true to her roots and harmed no one, continues her journey peacefully. The story suggests a form of cosmic justice, where one's actions, particularly those rooted in pride and prejudice, eventually lead to their deserved outcome.

In essence, "Karma" is a powerful exploration of identity, colonialism, and the psychological impact of cultural assimilation. It critiques the desire to blindly imitate the colonizers and highlights the importance of self-respect and cultural pride. 

Sir Mohan's tragic fate serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of rejecting one's own identity in pursuit of an unattainable and ultimately hollow ideal. The story leaves the reader pondering the complexities of cultural identity and the subtle workings of karma.

Characters 

In Khushwant Singh's "Karma," the story primarily revolves around two central characters who embody contrasting perspectives and serve as vehicles for the story's themes :

 1) Sir Mohan Lal: He is the protagonist of the story and a complex character representing the internalized effects of colonialism.

   * Anglophile: Sir Mohan is deeply infatuated with British culture and strives to emulate their manners, speech, and appearance. He sees himself as superior to other Indians because of his adopted Englishness.

   * Arrogant and Snobbish: He looks down upon anything he considers "Indian," including his wife. He is obsessed with his own image and how he is perceived by the British.

   * Superficial: His understanding of British culture is largely based on outward appearances and affectations rather than genuine understanding or connection.

   * Tragic Figure: Ultimately, his desperate attempts to assimilate lead to his humiliation and rejection, making him a somewhat tragic figure caught between two worlds and belonging fully to neither.

 2) Lachmi: She is Sir Mohan Lal's wife and serves as a foil to his character, representing traditional Indian identity and a quiet sense of dignity.

   * Traditional: Lachmi embodies traditional Indian ways of life. She wears simple clothes, speaks Hindustani, and is comfortable in her cultural identity.

   * Unassuming and Content: She is portrayed as being at ease with herself and her surroundings, finding comfort and community among other Indian women.

   * Victim of Neglect: She is neglected and looked down upon by her husband for not conforming to his Westernized ideals.

   * Symbol of Resilience: Despite her husband's disdain, she continues her journey undisturbed, highlighting a quiet strength and resilience rooted in her own culture.

While these are the two main characters, the two British soldiers also play a crucial, albeit smaller, role:

 (3) The British Soldiers: They represent the harsh reality of colonial prejudice and the superficiality of Sir Mohan's aspirations.

   * Racist and Contemptuous: They view Sir Mohan with racial disdain, regardless of his attempts to appear English. Their actions expose the hollowness of Sir Mohan's belief that outward assimilation can overcome racial prejudice.

   * Brutal and Humiliating: Their physical assault and ejection of Sir Mohan from the train are the catalysts for his downfall and underscore the power dynamics of colonialism.

The characters in "Karma" are not deeply developed in terms of extensive backstories, but they are effectively drawn to represent distinct cultural identities and the complex dynamics of the colonial experience. 

Sir Mohan embodies the tragic consequences of seeking acceptance by rejecting one's own roots, while Lachmi represents the quiet strength and continuity of traditional identity. The British soldiers serve as the agents of his humiliation, highlighting the unbridgeable gap of racial prejudice.