We come to realize that Nanda Kaul and Raka are quite similar characters - they both harbour painful emotions brought on by family upheaval, and seek isolation and independence, for example.
What about Ila Das, though? She is a very significant character in Desai's novel. Note that the final part of the novel is named after her; and observe, too, the verb in "Ila Das leaves Carignano" (it's also telling that the verbs for parts one and two as regards Nanda and Raka, respectively, are at Carignano and comes to Carignano - these and what they signify must not be overlooked as you read the novel).
What are your impressions of Ila Das? When you consider her alongside the other female characters like Nanda and Raka (and others, too), what in your view is her importance to Fire on the Mountain?
"Fire on the Mountain " illustrates the experiences of women and the trials they encounter in life. The novel is essentially centered around the protagonist Nanda Kaul and her relationships shared with others. Basically, it is identified within the novel that Nanda Kaul desires isolation from others. However, she does not get this as her grand daughter, Raka and childhood friend, Ila Das visits her in Carignano. It should be noted that the novel is divided into three parts which focus on each of the female characters; Nanda Kaul, Raka and Ila Das. Each character is essential to the plot and they share some sort of relationship or likeness with each other. According S. Indira "The story is very thin and there is practically no action except for the tragic end." With this point made this notes the importance of Ila Das' presence in the novel. Ila Das is Nanda's childhood friend who visits to her in Carignano to meet Raka. Ila Das in the novel fought against child marriage and enlightened individuals about the negativity of this practice and tradition. However, this course of action taken by Ila ensued conflict and hatred as others in the village disliked the opposition towards their actions and traditions. This led to her eventual death. Ila's presence in the novel was quite important as she was a determined force compared to Nanda and Raka. Her existence was certainly significant as she displayed the courage in the face of resistance and threat to life. Ila could be identified as the embodiment of the concept of struggling and fighting within life. She stands for a logical thinking individual who accepts her freedom to act as she pleases rather than submitting to society. Her life nevertheless serves as an example of virtue and commitment as she fights to accomplish her goals.
ReplyDeleteExactly
DeleteIla Das represents quite the opposite to what Nanda Kaul and even Raka represents. While, Nanda Kaul was contented with being in isolation and so does Raka, Ila Das welcomes company so much so that when she calls Nanda and tells her she is coming to visit her, she welcomes the fact that Raka will also be there and looks forward to meeting Raka. Ila Das also reminds Nanda of all the experiences they had since childhood of which Nanda does not want to be reminded. Ila Das seems to represent all the things in Nanda's past and present that she (Nanda) wants to become detached from. She is a reminder to Nanda of what the "real world" is about and her role in the novel is very important.
ReplyDeleteIla Das' character serves to contrast the other characters in the novel. While Nanda Kaul and Raka are presumed to be strong and independent characters, they seek solitude to hide their pain and damages from the world. In a sense they are weak and quite the opposite of what they try to portray. Ila Das on the other hand has suffered many injustices not only physically but emotionally and financially, and daily she is taunted by strangers and reminded of her misfortunes. Yet she gets up everyday and plunges herself into the world of the living with no malice. In this aspect, in my opinion she is a much stronger person than Raka or Nanda could ever be. She survives at all costs despite her challenges, and rather than hide so she won't have to face the cruelty of the outside world, she puts herself on display, flaws and all, because she knows she has more to offer.
ReplyDeleteHer presence as a character in the novel is paramount to the development of the other female characters as she stands as an icon of persistence and perseverance.
I decided to read through what was on here before I commented and you began exactly as I intended to! I do agree that Ila is used to contrast Nanda and Raka and to show a more 'human' side of the women.
DeleteIla Das is one of the most important characters in this book. She is the opposite to Nanda and Raka. She is loud and loves company, whereas Nanda likes to be alone and enjoys keeping to herself and unforunately Raka is just like her. She enjoys exploring and doing everything on her own.
ReplyDeleteIn the third part of the book "Ila leaves Carignano", it introduces Ila das and shows how hard life is for her and all the trials she has to go through on a daily basis and it seems to make an impression on Nanda. She had been reminded things that she didnt want to be reminded of.
The tragic experience that Ila goes through when she leaves Carignano is like a wake up call to Nanda.
Ila Das represents the resistance in the society. She has these new views that counteracts the normal stereotypical views of everyone else. her struggles and means of working towards what she thinks is right makes her idealic to me since in the normal Indian society the older folks always based life on the cultural views and ignored the consequences of its actions. For example when she spoke about the negativity of marriage with young girls to older men just as a form of trade. Her passion to fight against the norms and make society better in her eyes makes her iconic and ideal as well as symbolic and important.
ReplyDeleteIla Das is certainly a prominent figure in Desai's novel. As my colleges have noted before, I think that she plays a vital role as the foil of Nanda's character. Additionally, I think that Desai specifically sculpted her as a mechanism by which to address some of the more pertinent problems and issues in the Indian society such as the issue with child marriages. She is thus perhaps the most profound character in the novel since it is through her that haunting realities of the society are addressed. Her death proves to be crucial point in the novel. It metaphorically indicated to whatever extent people's unwillingness and lack of tolerance to accept any position that potentially threatens the continuance of their customary (ill) practices, norms and values. This is something that even our post colonial Caribbean society can identify with.
ReplyDeleteIla Das shows another manifestation of the marginalized woman. Although she is described as being poor and contrasting to Nanda Kaul. They are both victims of a patriarchal society. Ila Das is important because she marks the 'beginning of the end' as well as the end of the end.Ila Das is seen as showcasing the many trials that the average Indian woman faces. Because she stands against the norms she is seen as a threat and destroyed as a result of that.
ReplyDeleteThough Ila Das plays a more minor role in the novel, her contribution to the synthesis of the plot is exceptionally significant. True, her role is marginalized but we see that Ila Das projects a similar fate and lifestyle to that of the other major characters and her purpose is similarly important. It is for this reason that I believe that Ila Das is as crucial to the novel as all other major characters. Like that of Nanda Kaul's her life suggests another dimension of misery and meaningless existence. The reader is informed of her adverse past through a long interior monologue. She is poverty stricken and her staunch opposition to child marriage lands her in the pits of her downfall. Her steadfast conviction in her battle against injustice, knowing what consequences that might ensue, presents Ila Das as a strong, meritorious woman who as determined to resist tradition in order to seek justice. The character of Ila Das therefore represents the courage and fortitude in the face of adversity.
ReplyDeleteIla Das' character brings out a sense of realism in the novel as opposed to the surrealist world of Nanda Kaul. She is the opposite of Nanda in that she faces life's problems and does so fearlessly even though there are so many issues she has to face especially from a patriarchal society. Even though her life may also seem insignificant, she does not run away from her problems like Nanda does and isolate herself. Her 'leaving' Carignano symbolises many a people who fight for what is right but are inevitably killed and it is the people who are like Nanda, who turn a blind eye, are the ones who continue to live and exist in a world that becomes even worse everyday.
ReplyDeleteIla Das, Nanda Kaul’s childhood friend visits Carignano to meet Raka. A one time lecture in the Punjab University, Ila Das had lost her job subsequent to Mr.Kaul’s retirement. She has come to Kasauli now in her new capacity as an officer in the social welfare department. She fights against child marriage by enlightening
ReplyDeletethe local people about the evils of this practice. This invites the wrath of many of the villagers of whom Preet Singh is one. His attempts to barter his little daughter for a tiny piece of land and a few goats have been successfully thwarted by Ila Das. He is
lying in wait to settle his score with her. One evening, when Ila Das returns late from Carignano to her humble house in the valleys, he waylays her, rapes and murders her. When the news of Ila Das’s death is conveyed to Nand Kaul over the phone, she is rudely shocked and falls dead. Raka unaware of her great grandmother’s death, rushes into the house proclaiming wildly that she has set the forest of fire.
Nanda Kaul, Raka and to some extent Ila Das, are embodiments of the
"existential predicament" experienced by the individual in an un-understanding and even hostile universe. A detailed examination of the characters of these protagonists brings to light how Anita Desai has succeeded in giving expression to her "existentialist" world-view through these characters and by a subtle use of imagery
and symbols.
BLOGGER'S NAME: MELINA WISKY
ReplyDeleteIla Das is an important figure in this book. Ila seems to be like a sharp contrast from the norm of society. While it was customary to treat women in a subordinate manner, Ila did not conform to that mentality. When the parents wanted to marry their eight-year-old daughter off to an old man due to his possessions, Ila saw that as misguided and she tried to stop it. Such an action lowered females to "bartering items and Ila recognized that." When children were sick, she told the mothers to carry them to the clinic but because the priest instructed the husbands against this, the women had to comply. Ila even said the women were willing to change but they only listen to their husbands. Therefore, Ila's purpose in this novel is to expose the evils of the patriarchal society and to highlight that men cause destruction due to their abuse of power and that they hinder societal progress.
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DeleteIla Das represents the change in the novel and the freedom from the dominant and controlling patriarcjal society that they live in. Ila Das here is the symbol of not only chnage but of the the ability of one woman who dared to go against one society and one culture. Raka and Nanda who are products of the same society , dealt with their own reclusion, isolation and alienation in the way that they felt was the only way to, but Ila Das attempted to demonstrate this disgust and rebellion against patriarchy by standing against child abuse and the abuse of women in India. Her importance to the novel is to demonstarte an active hange and her effforts of standing and dealing with the human ills in life by helping to break the cycle of inequality. Her purpose brought her a new beginning in life and eventually her death. It is indeed ironic that the very thing that she stood against was the very way that the rapist attempted to control and cease her drive by psychologically and physically stripping her of her purpose.
ReplyDeleteIla Das in Anita Desai’s novel “Fire on the Mountain” is a very important character to the plot of the novel itself. Unlike Nanda Kaul and Raka who live in seclusion on a mountain, Ila Das lives in the village. It should also be noted that Nanda Kaul prefers not to have any contact with the outside world yet she has a telephone which she answers whenever it rings and refuses to collect Raka when she arrives and sends Ram Lal instead, afraid of what others would think about her. In contrast, Ila Das’ job involves her interaction with the outside world by means of informing the villagers about their health, safety and other issues that may arise. Because of Ila Das’ willingness to educate the male dominated society that she lives in she is victimized by the same people that she tries to help. It is for this reason that she is attacked and destroyed (by Preet Singh) although she has not committed any crimes against them. Ila Das is made fun of wherever she goes as noted in the first paragraph of Chapter 33 partly because of her appearance, the way she talks, walks and the message that she carries to educate society. Her ability to keep moving forward displays her endurance, determination and strength to keep her head up and continue doing her job although she is met with opposition wherever she goes. Ila Das is a woman made of steel compared to Nanda Kaul and Raka who believe that they can have these same qualities while being away from society ironically “on a mountain”. Fire on the Mountain was published in 1977, a couple years before the feminist movement in India began in its first phase. Anita Desai rightly naming the last and third part of the novel “Ila Das leaves Carignano” can be symbolic of a start of the cry for feminism (feminists) in India for women to be recognized as an equal counterpart to men in a male dominated society in the late 1900s.
ReplyDeleteIla Das was indeed an important character in Anita Desai's "Fire on the Mountain". That is, she serves to illustrate a great contrast to the norms of this patriarchal society presented in the novel by her breaking society's "unwritten rules". Furthermore,her death was used to highlight her resisting figure of this patriarchal society since it expressed that her reform created a threat to this male dominated society. As a result, her brutal murder and rape reflected the society's measure taken in order to silence this opposing character.
ReplyDeleteIla Das was the antithesis of Nanda Kaul-where Nanda was shown as an introvert -poised and almost regal. Ila Das is portrayed as the opposite to the point of brashness. Ila Das despite her shortcomings and struggle for material things - may be viewed as a woman of grit and strength who was concerned with changing society and having an input on issues greater than herself. Nanda ran away like a wounded animal to lick her wounds in private. Ila Das inevitably brought the world to Nanda. she was like the turbulent ocean-vast and unafraid while Nanda was like a lake cool & calm on the surface with God know what happening beneath.
ReplyDeleteAll the "women" in the novel have undergone some measure of strife in their lives. However, Ila Das' response to her hard times are unlike Nanda Kaul and Raka, she doesn't retreat to herself. The other two females somewhat ignore the realities of their lives whereas Ila Das has accepted it and still fights for better or at least retains hope for more. For example, she fights against male dominance in the society. I think her presence in the novel is to provide a contradiction to the other main characters. Being everything they are not.
ReplyDeleteI agree wholeheartedly with you she is an antithsis of them all she is weak fisically yet strong psycologically, Nanda could not have survived in Illa's world
DeleteTo me, Ila Das is an extremely significant character in 'Fire on the Mountain' because of the fact that she represents the oppression of women in India, but at the same time shows how independent and strong they can be. She shows how insignificant they are seen to be (by men), whether they have a high station in society or not. She is not only used as an example of this oppression/degradation, but she is also used as a tool for giving information about it through the stories she tells Nanda about the women in the village where she lives. She and her sister were overlooked as heirs to their father's estate despite the fact that they are clever and industrious; the estate is instead given to their worthless brothers who squander it away and leave their mother and sisters to suffer. The women in her village are forced to watch their children die because 'their men’ want them to listen to the village priest who tells them not to take their young ones to any hospitals. Ila Das, through her experiences, shows readers the dire straits in which these women, and women in India in general are forced to live.
ReplyDeleteWhen compared to Raka and Nanda Kaul, who reject human company because of the hurt people have caused them in the past, Ila Das is seen to be their opposite. She does not allow her painful past to bring her down and she does not allow people's cruel treatment of her to break her spirit. She rejects seclusion but it is forced upon her anyway because she has no one and nothing. Despite this she goes out into society and helps others as she can. She seems to me to be a broken woman but is still willing to fight to live and shows, as stated before, how women in India can be independent and strong, as well as persevere through the situations men put them in. She seems to me a beacon of hope for the women in her village as well as women in India on a whole.
She is also important in that when she is dies and permanently ‘leaves’ Carignano, what she represents is lost and the truth about her and Nanda Kaul’s past is fully revealed. Her violent death lets loose the ‘fire’ within Nanda Kaul and Raka; Nanda Kaul’s spirit seems to be finally broken- she is no longer strong enough to hold her head high in her regal bearing and lets her head bow low when she hears of Ila’s unexpected and savage murder. Ila Das’ role as hope for women is lost.
i agree with this comment!!
DeleteI agree that one of Ila Das's role in the text is that of defender and protector to those who are subjugated to patriarchal ruling, however it goes beyond this. 'Fire on the Mountain' has been identified as the lyrical fictionalization of the quintessence of existentialism. The novel illustrates how three women of reputable standing cope with existing in their world. Ila Das succinctly fits the theory of one aspect of human existence, that life is full of suffering of one variety or other.This is highly evident in the experiences of Ila Das, she undergoes every possible form of suffering as an upper class woman in Indian. She loses her social standing because of her father decision to lavish his wealth on his sons in the name of procuring an education, her brothers take the jewellery left to her and her sister and squanders the money they obtain from selling them. Additionally her education in French and piano playing does not equip her to obtain a job. The job Nanda Kaul assist her in finding is taken from her, she resort to taking a government job that places her existence at risk. She attempts to improve the society she is now forced to live in by standing up to men who 'sell' their daughters for land and goats and mothers who are unable to save their children because they husbands are following the dictates of a priest.Ila Das's role is the novel is simple yet complex and this is just one of them.
ReplyDeletethe title of the third part of the book uses the verb 'leaves' which represents the destruction or ending of Nanda's and Ila's childhood friendship. i think she was a woman who had suffered just as much as nanda or maybe even more i like the fact that she can handle her situation in a wise and much more mature manner than the rest of the characters and that she is independent.
ReplyDeleteIla Dass brings some catharsis to the novel. both Nanda and Raka hide their true feelings, they communicate at a superficial level. Ila Dass is real; she is the one who should be living in a fantasy world, since she has experienced lots of unhappiness in her life even from her childhood, but somehow she has found the strength to carry on, and tries to bring sunshine to everyone that she meets. Carignano is not the place for Illa, it is a place for those who want to be alone, Illa is a people’s person, who loves companionship and fellowship and is not ashamed to show her feelings. She puts some irony into the novel, Nanda has had it all in life, a person adored, looked up to but that has been a problem for her, Raka has been unfortunate to have a sick mother, and to have grown up as an only child but Illa, the person who because of her circumstances should have sought solitude, to escape from the cruelty suffered, she it is who does the opposite,she calls, she visits, she praises.
ReplyDeleteIla Das plays a significant role in the crafting of the novel. She is the source of strength, bravery and justice in the novel. Ila Das' role is one of importance because her character illustrates that a person can die in more than one ways. Ila Das died emotionally, after she sought help from her friend Nanda Khaul but received none. She died socially as she was brutally raped for her attempts to challenge the act of child marriage and she died physically when she was murdered.
ReplyDeleteIn my view, Ila Das was significant in showing the contrast in the lives her and Nanda Kaul. The both grew up together but were totally different persons and handled issues in their lives differently. Ila death was also responsible for Nanda accepting the actual truths in her life and coming to terms with the fact that her life was not as fabulous as everyone thought as well as how she made it to be. Ila was an allround positive character opposed to the rest of the females in the novel
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