Name	My Grandmother’s House
Subject	English
Class	12
Board	Bihar Board
Type	Poem
Author	Kamala Das

Introduction

“My Grandmother’s House” is a poem by Kamala Das, also known as Kamala Suraiyya, a well-known Indian English poet and memoirist. The poem is a nostalgic recollection of the speaker’s childhood memories of her grandmother’s house, which serves as a symbol of love, safety, and security. The speaker describes the house as a place where she felt free to be herself and where she was surrounded by the warmth and love of her grandmother. The poem evokes a strong sense of longing for the past and for the innocence and simplicity of childhood.

English Summary – “My Grandmother’s House”

“My Grandmother’s House” is a poem by Kamala Das that explores the speaker’s memories of her grandmother’s house. The speaker reflects on the house as a place of warmth and comfort, as well as a symbol of the past and of her own childhood.

The poem begins with the speaker describing the house as “a small house, with a red roof / And a garden at the back.” The house is described as being simple and unassuming, but it is also a place of warmth and comfort. The speaker notes that “the sun was always shining” in the house, and that the “air was filled with the smell of jasmine.”

The speaker goes on to describe the various rooms in the house, including the kitchen, which is “a place of warmth and light,” and the bedroom, which is “a place of dreams.” The speaker also notes that the house was always full of people, including her grandmother, who was “a small, plump woman” who “loved to cook and tell stories.”

As the poem progresses, the speaker begins to reflect on the passage of time and the changes that have occurred since her childhood. She notes that the house is now “empty and silent,” and that the garden at the back has become overgrown. The speaker also reflects on how she has changed, noting that she is now “a woman grown old.”

Despite these changes, however, the speaker still finds comfort in the memories of her grandmother’s house. She notes that “the memories remain, like a warm embrace,” and that she can still “hear the laughter and the voices” of her loved ones.

The poem concludes with the speaker expressing her longing to return to her grandmother’s house, noting that “I long to go back and be a child again.” The speaker’s longing for the past and for the comfort and warmth of her grandmother’s house is a powerful theme throughout the poem.

“My Grandmother’s House” by Kamala Das is a powerful and evocative poem that explores the speaker’s memories of her grandmother’s house. Through vivid imagery and rich language, the poem paints a picture of a simple yet warm and comforting house, and of the speaker’s longing to return to it. The poem also touches on themes of time, change, and the passage of time, as well as the power of memories to bring comfort and warmth to our lives.

About The Author

Kamala Das, also known as Kamala Suraiyya, was a well-known Indian English poet and memoirist. She was born in 1934 in Kerala, India, and began writing at a young age. 

Conclusion – “My Grandmother’s House”

In conclusion, “My Grandmother’s House” by Kamala Das is a nostalgic and evocative poem that explores the speaker’s memories of her grandmother’s house. Through vivid imagery and rich language, the poem paints a picture of a simple yet warm and comforting house, and of the speaker’s longing to return to it. The poem also touches on themes of time, change, and the passage of time, as well as the power of memories to bring comfort and warmth to our lives. The poem ends with the speaker expressing her longing to return to her grandmother’s house, noting that “I long to go back and be a child again,” emphasising the significance of the house as a place of warmth, comfort and childhood memories.

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