"An Introduction" is a confessional poem written by Kamala Das, one of India’s most significant post-colonial feminist poets. It appears in her poetry collection Summer in Calcutta (1965).
Why Option (3) is Correct: "A poem of resistance and protest"
This option accurately reflects the central tone and purpose of the poem. Here's how:
1. Resistance Against Patriarchy
The poem protests against gender norms and societal expectations forced upon women.
Kamala Das writes about her rejection of traditional female roles imposed on her, such as being a submissive wife and a mother only.
She describes her desire to define her own identity, independent of male-defined roles:
"I am sinner, I am saint. I am the beloved and the betrayed."
2. Resistance to Linguistic and Cultural Imposition
She challenges the pressure to write in the colonial language (English) and justifies her choice to write in it:
"The language I speak becomes mine..."
This line marks her resistance to cultural conformity and is a protest for linguistic freedom and expression.
3. Sexual and Political Protest
She speaks openly about her bodily experiences and sexual autonomy, which was radical and controversial, especially in the conservative Indian literary space.
The poem also critiques the political establishment, and its oppressive systems—making it deeply political and personal.
Thus, the poem is a direct, emotional, and literary form of protest—against gender norms, societal expectations, linguistic colonialism, and oppressive structures.
❌ Why the Other Options Are Incorrect:
(1) A short story on the theme of people’s rights and freedom
Incorrect because “An Introduction” is not a short story; it's a lyrical poem.
Although it deals with rights and freedom, the form and focus are poetic and personal, not narrative.
(2) An introduction to her autobiography My Story
Incorrect. Although Kamala Das wrote My Story, this poem is not an introduction to it.
The poem and the autobiography are different works, though thematically connected in terms of personal revelation.
(4) An essay on the theme of gender rights
Incorrect because it is not an essay—it’s a poem.
While it does address gender rights, the form is lyrical, not argumentative or discursive like an essay.
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