Mulk Raj Anand's "Two Lady Rams" – Master Summary & Analysis
A deep dive into the satire of social status, vanity, and colonial titles.
In Mulk Raj Anand’s story "Two Lady Rams," we see a funny and sharp look at how much people value social status and titles. The main character is a wealthy man named Lalla Jhinda Ram, who has worked very hard to impress the British government in India. Finally, the British reward him with a "Knighthood," which means he will now be called Sir Jhinda Ram. This is a huge honor for him, but it immediately creates a big problem at home. In those days, the wife of a "Sir" was called a "Lady." Since Jhinda Ram has two wives, both of them want to be the one and only "Lady Ram."
The first wife is Sukhi, who is older and more traditional. She believes she deserves the title because she has been with Jhinda Ram since the beginning and has looked after his home for many years. The second wife is Shakuntala, who is much younger and more beautiful. She believes she should be the "Lady Ram" because she is modern and will look better at fancy British parties. This situation leads to a massive fight inside the house. There is a lot of shouting, crying, and jealousy as both women refuse to back down. Poor Jhinda Ram is stuck in the middle, and he realizes that if he picks one wife, the other will make his life miserable forever.
To solve this mess, Jhinda Ram shows how clever and tricky he can be. He knows that the British are very strict about their rules, but he also knows they want to keep him happy. He manages to convince the officials to let both his wives attend the ceremony. On the big day, he arrives with both Sukhi and Shakuntala, and he treats them both as if they are equally important. The two women, who were just fighting like enemies, suddenly become proud and peaceful because they both get to wear the title of "Lady Ram."
Through this story, Mulk Raj Anand is making fun of people who are obsessed with British titles. He shows that these titles are often empty and only lead to vanity and ego. He also highlights the complications of having more than one wife in a changing society. By the end of the story, the "Two Lady Rams" are happy, but the reader can see the irony: they are only united because of their greed for a name. It is a brilliant story that uses a simple family argument to criticize the larger social and political world of colonial India.
Fast Facts: Two Lady Rams
| Key Element | Description |
|---|---|
| Protagonist | Lalla Jhinda Ram (Sir Jhinda Ram) |
| The Wives | Sukhi (Elder) & Shakuntala (Younger) |
| The Title | Knighthood (Lady Ram) |
| Major Theme | Satire on Colonialism & Vanity |
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