Old woman by Arun Kolatkar
Summary of An Old woman by Arun Kolatkar Arun Kolatkar’s poem “An Old Woman” is set in Jejuri, a pilgrimage town. The speaker, who appears to be a visitor, is approached by a poor old woman who asks him for money. He tries to ignore her and walk away, but she follows him persistently. She catches hold of his sleeve and refuses to let go. The speaker notices her physical condition: she is frail, her skin hangs loose, and she looks like a skeleton covered in skin. Her body itself becomes a symbol of hunger and deprivation. She insists that he must give her something because he has “god” in his pocket. The old woman implies that faith without charity is meaningless. Eventually, the speaker realizes that her grip is not just physical but moral. She forces him to confront his own discomfort, guilt, and indifference. The poem ends with the understanding that the old woman’s poverty is not something he can easily escape. She represents a harsh reality that demands acknowledgment...
