Nectar in a Sieve
Nectar in a Sieve examined the cultural and economic impact that colonization has on a nation. As outside interests grew the people of India suffered greatly. The colonists did little to help the people, and in many cases were the direct cause of their problems. The established values of the people made modification of their attitudes hard and slow. They tried to hold on to traditional customs while adjusting to the changing society but the country suffered immensely. Rukmani, the main character, exemplified the traditional values of her culture and her response to western influences showed the conflict between past and future. Her small farming village changed rapidly after the colonists built the tannery. She rejected the tannery as a valid enterprise and longed for the days before its presence. She did not want anyone from her family to get involved in the tannery, but the eventual downfall of each member was directly or indirectly caused by the tannery. The tannery provided a new source of income for the young men of the village. They were no longer confined to the land as the sole means of employment and could make money to support the family in times of need. Previously, boys were expected to work on the land to help the family. Rukmani’s sons all left her and the land to pursue jobs outside the land. She could do nothing to keep them, and although disappointed, she allowed them to leave. The younger generation changed their values to the new economy. Her two oldest sons worked in the tannery. They were able to bring home a salary which allowed the family to experience relative prosperity. Working conditions in the factory were unsatisfactory and the sons instigated strikes to demand better treatment and wages. Rukmani did not understand how they could demand such things from their employers. Her culture told her to accept what was given and to not ask for more. Their involvement with the strikes got them fired and they moved away to find opportunities elsewhere. They perceived agriculture as pointless and outdated. The land had gotten them nowhere and the economy of the nation was changing so greatly that they had to evolve to sustain themselves. When the tannery came to town, more money was in the economy and prices rose.