An Old Woman by Arun Kolatkar
An Old Woman by Arun Kolatkar, part of his Commonwealth Poetry Prize-winning collection “Jejuri” (1977), stands as one of modern Indian literature‘s most compelling examinations of social consciousness.
The poem, written in eleven three-line stanzas, transforms a simple encounter with a beggar woman into a powerful commentary on poverty and aging. Through stark imagery, including the haunting description of eyes like “bullet holes,” Kolatkar creates a narrative that challenges readers to confront their own attitudes toward society’s marginalized members.
This analysis explores the layers of meaning within the poem, from its surface-level story of a tourist-beggar interaction to its deeper critique of social indifference. By examining the key symbols and turning points, readers will discover how this seemingly simple poem reveals complex truths about human nature and social responsibility.
First Reading: Understanding the Basic Story
The poem “An Old Woman” opens with a seemingly simple encounter that reveals deeper layers upon careful reading. At first glance, readers meet a persistent beggar and an irritated tourist, but the narrative quickly evolves into something far more profound.
Who is the old woman?
The central character is an elderly woman who approaches visitors at the pilgrim site. She’s not merely a beggar but someone trying to earn her living through a basic transaction – offering to guide tourists to “the horseshoe shrine” in exchange for “a fifty paise coin.” Her physical description is telling: she “hobbles along” with determination, grabbing and tightening her grip on the tourist’s sleeve. The poet portrays her as remarkably persistent, someone who “won’t let you go” and who “sticks to you like a burr.”
What makes her character particularly striking are her eyes, described as “bullet holes” – a powerful metaphor suggesting both emptiness and penetrating insight. Her skin shows the marks of age and hardship, with cracks around her eyes that symbolically spread beyond her physical form. Despite her apparent frailty, she demonstrates remarkable resilience – standing “shatterproof” amidst metaphorical destruction.
The setting of Jejuri
Jejuri, a pilgrimage town in Maharashtra, forms the backdrop for this encounter. The location is significant as a religious site that attracts both devotees and tourists. The horseshoe shrine mentioned in the poem refers to a specific landmark:
- A horseshoe-shaped depression in rock associated with local deity Khandoba
- According to legend, the marking was created when Khandoba’s horse leapt across the hill while carrying his wife Banai
- The shrine represents an intersection of faith, mythology, and tourism
The poem describes the surroundings as “hills as wretched as these” – suggesting a harsh, possibly impoverished landscape that contextualizes the old woman’s circumstances and actions.
The tourist’s initial reaction
Initially, the tourist (addressed as “you” in the poem) responds with dismissal and irritation. Having “seen it already,” he feels no need for the woman’s guidance and grows increasingly annoyed by her persistence. His attitude reflects a common response to such encounters – viewing her as a nuisance rather than a person.
“You turn around and face her
with an air of finality.
You want to end the farce.”
The tourist attempts to “end the farce” with “an air of finality,” suggesting he sees the interaction as meaningless or even deceptive. However, his perspective shifts dramatically when the woman asks the pivotal question: “What else can an old woman do on hills as wretched as these?” This moment forces him to truly see her circumstances, leading to the profound realization that continues through the remainder of the poem.
Key Symbols That Often Go Unnoticed
Kolatkar’s poem weaves together powerful symbols that carry deeper meaning beyond their surface appearance. These symbols transform a simple encounter into a profound social commentary.
The fifty paise coin
The small coin requested by the old woman stands as a potent symbol throughout the poem. More than just payment, the fifty paise represents:
- A meager price for human interaction
- The economic value placed on heritage and cultural knowledge
- The minimal worth society assigns to elderly wisdom
The coin’s small denomination highlights the stark economic reality of the woman’s existence. Her request, “She wants a fifty paise coin“, shows how little she requires to survive. Yet ironically, this small amount creates hesitation in the tourist, revealing uncomfortable truths about value systems and economic disparities.
The horseshoe shrine
The destination she offers to guide visitors to carries significant mythological weight. According to local legend, this shrine marks “where a hoof struck like a thunderbolt when Khandoba with the bride sidesaddle behind him on the blue horse jumped across the valley”.
The horseshoe shrine represents:
- The intersection of myth and physical reality
- A connection to Maharashtra’s cultural heritage
- A site that gains value through storytelling rather than physical grandeur
Bullet holes for eyes
Among the most striking images, the poet has “indirectly compared eyes of old woman to bullet holes“. This powerful metaphor works on multiple levels:
- Conveying “the hollowness and the emptiness” of her gaze
- Suggesting violence inflicted by poverty and neglect
- Creating a startling visual of someone who sees through societal barriers
The “bullet holes” allow visitors to look “right at the sky” through her – suggesting both her transparency and her connection to something larger.
The cracking landscape
Perhaps most significantly, the poem depicts cracks that begin around her eyes but extend outward:
“And the hills crack.
And the temples crack.
And the sky falls
With a plate-glass clatter
Around the shatterproof crone
who stands alone”
- “The cracks that begin around her eyes spread beyond her skin”
- “And the hills crack. And the temples crack.”
- “And the sky falls with a plateglass clatter”
These spreading fractures represent societal breakdown – showing how individual suffering connects to larger cultural and environmental damage. Nevertheless, amid this collapse stands “the shatterproof crone who stands alone”, highlighting remarkable resilience despite overwhelming deterioration.
The Turning Point: When Perception Changes
The poem’s narrative hinges on a single moment that fundamentally alters how the speaker views both the old woman and himself. This shift transforms the poem from a simple anecdote into a profound meditation on empathy and social consciousness.
The woman’s question
Everything changes with one simple yet devastating question: “What else can an old woman do on hills as wretched as these?” This question shatters the tourist’s indifference, forcing him to confront her reality. The query serves multiple purposes:
- It reveals her awareness of her own circumstances
- It challenges the tourist’s judgment of her persistence
- It exposes the harsh socioeconomic realities that limit her options
This question becomes the fulcrum upon which the entire poem pivots. Suddenly, what appeared to be mere pestering is reframed as survival. Her question doesn’t seek pity but understanding—an acknowledgment of her circumstances beyond superficial judgment.
Looking through her eyes
Following her question, the speaker truly sees the woman for the first time:
“You look right at the sky. Clear through the bullet holes she has for her eyes.”
This powerful metaphor suggests both damage and insight. The bullet holes represent:
- The hardships and struggles she has endured throughout life
- The penetrating clarity with which she perceives reality
- How society has metaphorically wounded her
Furthermore, “the cracks that begin around her eyes spread beyond her skin” to affect the entire landscape. The hills, temples, and even the sky appear to crack and fall. Yet amid this symbolic collapse stands “the shatterproof crone who stands alone”—unbroken despite everything.
The tourist undergoes a complete perceptual shift. His self-importance diminishes as he realizes he has been “reduced to so much small change in her hand.” The power dynamic reverses—he is no longer the important visitor being pestered, but merely a means for her survival in a harsh environment.
This transformation moves the reader from judging the persistent old woman to questioning the social structures that created her circumstances.
How the Poem Speaks to Modern Readers
Decades after its publication, Kolatkar’s poem about an elderly guide continues to resonate with readers facing contemporary social issues. “An old woman” by Arun Kolatkar addresses timeless concerns that remain relevant in our modern context.
Aging in today’s society
The poem confronts us with uncomfortable truths about how aging populations are treated. The old woman’s question—”What else can an old woman do on hills as wretched as these?”—challenges our assumptions about elderly options and dignity.
Modern society often lacks space for older individuals:
- Many remain unaware of elderly struggles
- Without proper social support, the aged may face homelessness
- The poem highlights those living in poverty through vivid descriptions
The “cracks around her eyes” represent not just physical aging but accumulated wisdom that goes unvalued. In essence, Kolatkar asks us to empathize with her condition and recognize the neglect many seniors face today.
Tourism and local communities
At tourist sites worldwide, interactions between visitors and locals mirror this poem’s central tension. The old woman isn’t merely begging—she offers service as a self-appointed guide, maintaining dignity through work rather than charity.
This interaction represents a broader social issue where:
- Economic necessity drives commercialization of cultural heritage
- Locals must monetize their knowledge to survive
- Visitors often view these exchanges as annoyances rather than economic lifelines
Primarily, the poem illustrates how tourism creates unequal power dynamics between those who travel for leisure and those who depend on visitors for survival.
Seeing beyond appearances
In fact, “An old woman” powerfully illuminates how appearances often mask deeper truths—a theme central to human experience. Initially dismissing her based on surface impressions, the tourist undergoes a transformative realization.
This pattern mirrors everyday judgments where:
- People make quick assumptions based on outward appearances
- Underlying dignity and humanity go unrecognized
- Moments of genuine connection require seeing beyond surfaces
The tourist’s realization—feeling “reduced to so much small change in her hand”—demonstrates how truly seeing another person can fundamentally alter our self-perception and place in the world.
Conclusion
Kolatkar’s “An Old Woman” transcends its simple narrative to deliver lasting insights about human connection and social responsibility. Through masterful symbolism – from the modest fifty paise coin to the spreading cracks in the landscape – the poem challenges readers to examine their own responses to society’s marginalized members.
The old woman’s piercing question stands as a testament to human dignity in the face of harsh circumstances. Her persistence, rather than mere desperation, reflects a deeper truth about survival and resilience. The tourist’s transformation from irritation to understanding mirrors the journey readers must take when confronting uncomfortable social realities.
The poem’s themes resonate strongly today as communities worldwide grapple with aging populations, tourism impacts, and economic disparities. Each encounter with the poem offers readers fresh perspectives on these enduring challenges, pushing them to look beyond surface appearances and recognize shared humanity.
“And you are reduced
to so much small change
in her hand.”
Like the tourist in the poem, readers emerge changed – not just observers of another’s struggle, but participants in a broader social dialog about responsibility, dignity, and connection.
FAQs
Q1. What is the central theme of Arun Kolatkar’s poem “An Old Woman”? The poem explores the themes of aging, poverty, and human dignity. It challenges readers to look beyond surface appearances and recognize the shared humanity in marginalized individuals, particularly the elderly.
Q2. How does the poem critique societal attitudes towards the elderly? The poem highlights society’s indifference towards the aged through the tourist’s initial dismissal of the old woman. It forces readers to confront uncomfortable truths about how aging populations are often neglected and undervalued in modern society.
Q3. What is the significance of the “horseshoe shrine” in the poem? The horseshoe shrine represents the intersection of myth and reality, symbolizing Maharashtra’s cultural heritage. It also highlights how local knowledge and stories can be commodified in tourist interactions, raising questions about the value placed on cultural wisdom.
Q4. How does the poem’s imagery contribute to its message? The poem uses powerful imagery, such as the “bullet holes” for eyes and the cracking landscape, to convey the old woman’s hardships and resilience. These vivid descriptions help readers visualize the impact of poverty and neglect on individuals and society.
Q5. What transformation does the tourist undergo in the poem? The tourist experiences a shift in perspective when the old woman asks, “What else can an old woman do on hills as wretched as these?” This question forces him to see beyond his initial irritation and truly understand her circumstances, leading to a profound realization about human dignity and social responsibility.
