Sexual Abuse in ‘LIHAAF’
This blog/paper is about the traumatizing experience of sexual abuse and harassment faced by the narrator in the short story. I have worked meticulously on analyzing the situation as per the portrayal of the situation provided by the narrator. I have given my best efforts in performing in-depth research about this masterpiece by Ismat Chughtai.
This paper also includes the quotes that support my analysis along with the references of the texts that I have read till then. The theme of homosexuality that this short story covers has gained appreciation as well as criticism, thus the theme is well-acknowledged. However, little do readers have understood about this side of the story.
Introduction
‘Lihaaf’ is a short story written by Ismat Chughtai in 1942 (pre-independence). Ismat Chughtai was an Indian Muslim woman. She was an eminent short story writer.
Chughtai, alongside great writers like Saadat Hassan Manto, Ravinder Singh, and others such writers, worked and wrote on female sexuality. Her writings include many short stories like Kalyan, Ek baat, and Choten.
Naomi Wolf in The Beauty Myth in 1990 said,
“Beauty provokes harassment, the law says, but it looks through men’s eyes when deciding what provokes it”.
Hearing about the sexual harassment of a woman always brings about the prejudice against a man being guilty, so there is very little known about homosexual harassment.
There is a need to understand that there is more sexual abuse than just heterosexual intercourse. As much as the acceptance of queerness and homosexuality in society is necessary, the acknowledgment of same-sex assault and abuse is equally indispensable.
Gap Area
Homosexuality has always been a universally well-acknowledged and appraised topic. Many critics have researched this topic of ‘Lihaaf’. Thus, I have taken up on the topic that has barely been worked upon and is somehow ambiguous and that is the sexual harassment in ‘Lihaaf’.
Objective
Based on the articles that I have read, and considering the gap area, The objective of this paper is to provide a different perspective of analysis to the short story and thus is to briefly cover the topic of sexual harassment faced by the narrator in Lihaaf. This objective does not in any way hinder the progressive nature of the short story about homosexuality.
Sexual Abuse in ‘LIHAAF’
SEXUAL ABUSE HAS NO AGE
“It seems to me that the blanket, though less comfortable, does not cast shadows as terrifying as the quilt, dancing on the wall.”
These lines give us a glimpse of the terror that has once cast its shadow on the narrator’s mind who is still very young. Her age wasn’t specified but as she says, “I was then a small girl” confirms her young age. The story ‘Lihaaf’ is written from her perspective. The story therefore is in a way, a child would describe an event. However, some instances are too sensitive or explicit for their mind, and thus the narration only involves as much information as they know without any vulgarity.
“Take away your hand… Let’s see… one, two, three…” I wanted to run away, but she held me tightly. I tried to wriggle out and Begum Jaan began to laugh loudly. To this day whenever I am reminded of her face at that moment I feel jittery.”
The way Begum Jaan says to take her hand off shows she does not care about her consent. She did not care about how the child felt about it. Her tight hold on her shows her control over the kid’s will. The narrator is traumatized to the core by this experience and still feels nervous and scared by reminiscing the incident anytime.
SEXUAL ABUSE HAS NO RELATIONSHIP
“Here… a little below the shoulder… that’s right… Ah! What pleasure…” She expressed her satisfaction between sensuous breaths.
When Rabbo left to see her son, the narrator’s body substituted her for satiating Begum Jaan’s lust. Unaware of this fact, the narrator was obeying her orders, as she considered Begum Jaan as one of her close ones, who would never harm her. Trust is the foundation of any relationship. The way Begum Jaan took advantage of her power and relationship with the child made her question the trust she has in her. For the child, her mother considered Begum Jaan as the most trustworthy person to leave her child with. Besides, the child herself was close to her.
Further to ensure the continuation of this process, Begum Jaan started offering gifts and ‘bribes’ to the child. How could a pure and pious mind like that of a child understand the wickedness behind the move? Begum Jaan says,
“I’ll send you to the market tomorrow… What do you want? …A doll that sleeps or wakes up as you want?”
Children generally tend to obey orders when they’re receiving gifts.
“Come here and lie down beside me…” She made me lie down with my head on her arm “How skinny you are… your ribs are coming out.” She began counting my ribs. I tried to protest.
“Come on, I’m not going to eat you up. How tight this sweater is! And you don’t have a warm vest on.” I felt very uncomfortable.
The situation became even worse when Begum Jaan started touching her. The child was not comfortable with the touch. This bad touch was an absolute breach of her boundary. The terror, shame, confusion, and promises of bribes and gifts received by the narrator represent her Sexual Abuse. Trapped in her own sexual dissatisfaction and lust, Begum Jaan completely forgot and neglected the fact that the narrator is just a child whose consent matters equally.
“She had put away the shawl and in the fine karga kurta, her body shone like a ball of dough. The heavy gold buttons of the kurta were open and swinging to one side.”
“A strange fright overwhelmed me. Begum Jaan’s deep-set eyes focused on me and I felt like crying. She was pressing me as though I were a clay doll and the odor of her warm body made me almost throw up.”
“After some time she stopped and lay back exhausted. She was breathing heavily and her face looked pale and dull. I thought she was going to die and rushed out of the room…”
These lines describe how Begum Jaan was objectifying the narrator as if she was a doll, for her pleasure. The objectification of the narrator as a sex doll made her question the trust she once had put in her. Begum Jaan’s homosexuality, did not see any relationship of hers with the child, rather lured on just her gender that would quench her lust. She was frightened by the act and tried to leave the spot as soon as she could. After this act, Begum Jaan was breathing heavily and was tired thus indicating her malice satisfaction from this heinous act of sexual harassment.
The child took a sigh of relief the moment she saw Rabbo back. However, by experiencing these actions, she was frightened to the extent that she would not want to go near Begum Jaan. A child, whenever scared of being in danger, runs to their mother. But the narrator’s mother was not there. She wanted to go to her so badly, but couldn’t. She wanted to return to her soon and tell her everything as soon as possible, but she couldn’t.
She quoted,
“What could I have said to anyone? That I was afraid of Begum Jaan? Begum Jaan, who was so attached to me?”
A child holds back her urge to tell the mother about her horrible experience of sexual harassment by her dearest aunt. But why? Because she didn’t know how to explain it? Or is it because no one would believe her?
SEXUAL ABUSE HAS NO GENDER
The narrator’s mother only left her with Begum Jaan so that she and her brothers would not fight in her absence. Turns out that humans of the same gender too are no less than animals. However, this act of punishment became much more severe for her after this act. A child who did not know a thing about sexuality, how would she come to terms with such a disgusting act of sexual abuse? To the narrator, her then-dearest aunt now seems like a wild monster filled with lust.
She even said,
“Amma always disliked my playing with boys. Now tell me, are they man-eaters that they would eat up her darling? And who are the boys? My brothers and their puny, little friends! She was a believer in strict segregation for women. And Begum Jaan here was more terrifying than all the loafers of the world. Left to myself, I would have run out to the street — even further away! But I was helpless and had to stay there much against my wish.”
Conclusion
The short story Lihaaf has become the epitome of the acceptance of homosexuality. But it also has made us aware of the presence of homosexual rapes and assaults. Even in the age, when a child does not know the meaning of rape or harassment, she had to experience being sexually harassed.
It shows us how little it means for the doer, and how much it means and affects the bearer. It meant nothing for Begum Jaan except the quench of her lust and sexual dissatisfaction in the absence of her mother and Rabbo. However, for the narrator, it had been a lifetime traumatizing experience. As is shown at the beginning of the story she still receives chills seeing those flashbacks.
Therefore, being silent is never an option, and it should never be. If the doer does not care about the relationship, age, or anything while performing this heinous act, why would the bearer have to? It’s still a mystery how would her mother have reacted having listened to this, but what we know is that no one ever has to think about this- about what someone would think, say or would someone even try to help her.
If we do not help ourselves, then who will? I hope this paper will reach every such who is suffering from being a victim. I hope you become a warrior after reading this.
Credits
It’s certified that this mini research paper is crafted by Khushi Chauhan for the fulfillment of the requirement for the award of the degree B.A. English (Hons.) by the School of Humanities & Social Sciences at Gautam Buddha University.
This paper wouldn’t have been a success without Asst. Prof Mandeep Sen, who made countless efforts to support me throughout the journey of creating this masterpiece.
