Question

"An Introduction" by Kamala Das is

A.

A short story on the theme of people’s rights and freedom

B.

An introduction to her autobiography My Story

C.

A poem of resistance and protest

D.

An essay on the theme of gender rights

E.

Question Not Attempted

Correct option is C

Explanation:

The correct answer is A poem of resistance and protest.

Kamla Das’s “An Introduction” is a powerful and evocative poem that functions as a feminist manifesto.

It protests against the patriarchal structures of society, gendered expectations, and linguistic chauvinism.

The poem asserts the female identity, challenging societal norms about how women should behave, speak, and live.

In this autobiographical poem, Das addresses issues such as language, body, sexuality, identity, and politics.

She critiques the oppressive system that forces women into pre-assigned roles. She boldly claims her own identity and voice, defying the conventional boundaries set by patriarchy.

Information Booster:

Kamla Das, also known as Madhavikutty, was a confessional poet and writer who wrote both in English and Malayalam.

Her poetry is noted for its frank portrayal of female experience, female sexuality, and emotional honesty.

The poem “An Introduction” appears in her poetry collection Summer in Calcutta (1965), which marked a revolutionary moment in Indian English poetry.

In this poem, the speaker declares: “I am Indian, very brown, born in Malabar,” and later asserts: “I speak three languages, write in two, dream in one.” This affirms her linguistic identity against the bias of colonial language hegemony.

The poem also addresses gender identity and explores female agency, as the speaker talks about her sexual desires and choices unapologetically, which was a bold act in its socio-cultural context.

The work is often seen as a resistance poem because it protests against social conformity and expresses the aspiration for self-expression and autonomy.

The poem ends on a powerful note of self-determination, where the speaker states: “I too call myself I,” affirming her individual voice in a world that tries to silence it.


Free Tests

Free
Must Attempt

Basics of Education: Pedagogy, Andragogy, and Hutagogy

languageIcon English
  • pdpQsnIcon10 Questions
  • pdpsheetsIcon20 Marks
  • timerIcon12 Mins
languageIcon English
Free
Must Attempt

UGC NET Paper 1 Mock Test 1

languageIcon English
  • pdpQsnIcon50 Questions
  • pdpsheetsIcon100 Marks
  • timerIcon60 Mins
languageIcon English
Free
Must Attempt

Basics of Education: Pedagogy, Andragogy, and Hutagogy

languageIcon English
  • pdpQsnIcon10 Questions
  • pdpsheetsIcon20 Marks
  • timerIcon12 Mins
languageIcon English
test-prime-package

Access ‘RPSC’ Mock Tests with

  • 60000+ Mocks and Previous Year Papers
  • Unlimited Re-Attempts
  • Personalised Report Card
  • 500% Refund on Final Selection
  • Largest Community
students-icon
354k+ students have already unlocked exclusive benefits with Test Prime!
Our Plans
Monthsup-arrow