Nectar in a Sieve

Outside of their village, Rukmani and Nathan find themselves alone. The contrasts between village and city life underline the novel’s critique of imperialism and Western ideas of progress in contrast with tradition. Rukmani and Nathan seek shelter with their son; in Indian customs, filial piety is emphasized, and Murugan should be able to care for his parents. However, he has neglected his duties as a son, husband, and father, abandoning his work and family after being tempted by gambling and other women. Rukmani and Nathan find that they cannot rely on anything that once seemed stable—they have lost their home, their farm, and now their son. Where Murugan fails, a Hindu temple provides food, though it cannot prevent their possessions from being stolen. Rather than being cared for as elders, they must perform hard labor in a quarry to earn money. Ultimately, the city—and by extension, modernization—leaves them worse off than before; Nathan dies, and Rukmani ends up back home with no possessions or money.

The symbol of rice takes on a new meaning in Part 2. In the first part, rice symbolizes wealth and stability—the more rice the family had, the better their quality of life. In the second part, Nathan, Rukmani, and all individuals who come to the temple for rice have little quality of life. They cannot support themselves and must depend on the generosity of others to survive. Before, rice symbolized prosperity; now, it symbolizes survival. This represents the way imperial exploitation imperils colonized populations, along with reflecting the real famines that plagued India under the British Raj. Furthermore, it becomes about individual survival rather than collective survival. During their first visit to the temple, Rukmani tries to take two portions—one for her and one for Nathan. The men handing out food respond, “We cannot hand out food to everyone merely because they ask for it. Do you take us for fools? Keep your tales for the unwary” (147). Though Rukmani denied Kunthi portions of food in the past because she had to feed her family and was unable to provide for the community at large, Rukmani is used to thinking about food and survival for a group or family. She still does so when she shares her single portion of food with Nathan. In the modernized town, however, everything is about the individual and presents an image of isolation. People cannot worry about others when they must ensure their own survival.

Finally, Nathan’s death brings closure to the themes of The Impact of Modernization on Rural Life and The Clash Between Tradition and Progress. Nathan symbolizes hope and stability for Rukmani—even when she loses her land and home, she has Nathan, and they motivate each other as they work in the quarry. When he dies, the last remnants of the life she knew before are gone. She cannot manage farming anymore and must depend wholly on Ira, Selvam, Puli, and Sacrabani to survive. Her new dependence on the next generation becomes the moment in which tradition must give way to progress. Neither Ira nor Selvam work traditional jobs, yet both make a living and care for their family. Throughout the novel, Rukmani cedes to progress only when necessary; now, she must allow herself to live and survive through modernization rather than clinging to her traditions as she always has.