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.

In short, the poem shows:

• The conflict between privilege and poverty
• The hypocrisy of religious tourism
• The moral responsibility of the individual

Short poem. Sharp impact. Kolatkar does not shout. He just holds your sleeve and waits.

Thematic analysis

Arun Kolatkar’s “An Old Woman” looks simple. Tourist meets beggar. Tourist feels awkward. End scene. But under that surface, it’s doing serious work.

Here’s the thematic breakdown:

1. Poverty as Inescapable Reality

The old woman is not just a beggar. She is the embodiment of poverty itself.

Her frail, skeletal body becomes a visual metaphor for starvation and neglect. The speaker tries to walk away, but poverty literally grabs him by the sleeve. The message is brutal and clear: you cannot simply ignore social inequality and expect it to disappear.

Poverty here is persistent. It follows. It clings.

2. Moral Guilt and Conscience

The old woman’s grip becomes symbolic. It is not only physical but moral.

When she says he has “god” in his pocket, she exposes the hypocrisy of religious faith without compassion. The speaker is forced into self-awareness. The poem suggests that charity is not optional in a moral universe.

The real tension in the poem is internal. The old woman is calm. The speaker is uncomfortable.

3. Critique of Religious Tourism

The setting is Jejuri, a pilgrimage town. People come seeking blessings, spiritual comfort, maybe even salvation.

But what is the use of worship if it does not translate into empathy?

Kolatkar subtly questions ritualistic devotion that ignores human suffering. Faith becomes hollow when it avoids responsibility.

4. Power and Helplessness

On the surface, the tourist has power. He has money, mobility, choice.

But emotionally and morally, he is cornered.

The old woman, though physically weak, controls the situation. She refuses invisibility. Her silence and persistence shift the power dynamic.

5. Human Dignity

Despite her poverty, the old woman is not portrayed as pitiful in a sentimental way. She is determined. She negotiates. She asserts her right to survive.

There is a quiet dignity in her insistence.

6. Urban Alienation and Emotional Distance

The speaker initially treats her like an inconvenience. He wants distance. He wants comfort.

The poem exposes how modern individuals create emotional barriers to avoid confronting suffering.

And the poem gently destroys that barrier.

In Short

The poem explores:

• Poverty and inequality
• Moral responsibility
• Religious hypocrisy
• Guilt and conscience
• Human dignity