Fire/Mother India

Mother India-Fire

            Katherine Mayo basically trash talked Indian women in the book mother India. Indian nationalists believed the book to be nothing but propaganda. According to Sindha “the controversy surrounding Mother India thus marked a crucial turning point in the history of modern nationalism and feminism in late colonial India.” Apparently Mother India is still one of the most popular works when thinking of India. I did not enjoy the film version of Mother India that we watched. I found that Radha was very irritating. She killed her son and then acted all bent out of shape and sad when he was dead. You should not have shot your own son. I understand the whole thing was that she was a woman first, but I do not buy that. That is your own flesh and blood and you killed him, that was just ruthless.

            I think that Fire represents the sheltered opinions of the people of India. You saw how poorly received Radha and Sita’s relationship was received. Biji, Mundu, and Ashok all really looked down upon them. Biji couldn’t speak, but you could tell that she figured it out. Ashok went as far as setting Radha on fire when she rejected coming back to him. Obviously, the patrons of India showed how closed minded they are when they rioted in the theatre and acted completely like animals. I realize they did not approve of the message but there is no reason to cause such havoc in your protests. I thought that the film was very good, it showed that you can’t help who you love, no matter what sex they are.

Anthony Mahalis