Discuss the Title “Two Lady Rams”

Discuss the Title “Two Lady Rams”

The title “Two Lady Rams” is both humorous and symbolic, perfectly capturing the central conflict and the satire of the story. It refers to the two wives of Lalla Jhinda Ram, who, after her husband’s knighthood, both insist on being addressed as “Lady Ram.” This insistence creates a comic yet chaotic situation that exposes the clash between Indian domestic realities and the borrowed English social customs of the colonial period.

At the surface level, the title is literal. Lalla Jhinda Ram has two wives — Sukhi and Sakuntala — and both demand to share the title of “Lady Ram” after their husband is knighted. The simple fact that one man’s knighthood could produce two ‘Ladies’ becomes the source of endless domestic turmoil. The author cleverly turns this absurd situation into a symbol of confusion arising from India’s blind imitation of British traditions without understanding their cultural roots.

At a deeper level, the title points to the irony of social pretension. The British system of titles like “Sir” and “Lady” was meant for monogamous Western society, but when imposed on an Indian household with two wives, it produced comic complications. This shows how colonial honours were out of place in a society with different customs and family structures. The struggle between Sukhi and Sakuntala for the title “Lady Ram” symbolizes not only female rivalry and jealousy but also the larger conflict between tradition and modernity.

Moreover, the title highlights the satirical tone of the story. The phrase “Two Lady Rams” itself sounds ridiculous, hinting at the mockery of the artificial prestige attached to British titles. The author ridicules the Indian upper class’s obsession with Western respectability and its lack of understanding of the true value of such honours.

 The title “Two Lady Rams” is perfectly justified as it captures the main theme, conflict, and humour of the story. It mirrors the absurdity of colonial influence on Indian domestic life and exposes the vanity and pretentiousness of those who blindly imitate foreign customs. Thus, the title is short, apt, and deeply meaningful—it sums up the entire story in just three words.