About the poet

Kamala Das (1934) was born in Malabar, Kerala. She is recognised as one of India’s foremost poets. Her works are known for their originality, versatility and the indigenous flavour of the soil. Kamala Das has published many novels and short stories in English and Malayalam under the name ‘Madhavikutty’. Some other works in English include the novel Alphabet of Lust (1977), a collection of short stories Padmavati the Harlot and Other Stories (1992), in addition to five books of poetry. She is a sensitive writer who captures the complex subtleties of human relationships in lyrical idiom; My Mother at Sixty-six is an example.

 My mother at sixty six, central idea and solution

    My Mother at Sixty-six

    Driving from my parent’s home to Cochin last Friday morning,

    I saw my mother, beside me,

    doze, open mouthed, her face ashen like that
     
    of a corpse and realised with pain,

    that she was as old as she looked but soon

    put that thought away, and looked out at
     
    Young Trees sprinting, the merry children spilling
     
    out of their homes,
     
    My Mother at Sixty-six  (Poetic devices And Summary In English And Hindi)

     but after the airport’s security check,

    standing a few yards away,

    looked again at her, wan, pale as a late winter’s moon

    and felt that old familiar ache, my childhood’s fear,

    but all I said was, see you soon, Amma,

    all I did was smile and smile and smile.....

    Poetic Devices/Figures of Speech My Mother at Sixty-six

    Poem is a blank verse

    Simile: A simile is a figure of speech that compares two different things using the words "like" or "like" to create a vivid and imaginative picture in the mind of the reader or listener.

    It is used in lines bellow:

    • her face ashen like that of a corpse
    • I looked again at her, wan, pale as a late winter’s moon

    Personification: Personification is a figure of speech in which human qualities or attributes are given to non-human entities, such as animals, objects, or abstract concepts. By using personification, writers can create a more vivid and engaging image in the reader's mind, making their writing more lively and interesting.

    It is used in line bellow:

    • and looked out at Young Trees sprinting 

    Apostrophe: Apostrophe is a figure of speech in which the speaker addresses someone or something that is not present, or is unable to respond. This can be a person, object, or even an abstract idea. The use of the apostrophe allows the speaker to express their feelings or thoughts as if they were in the presence of the object of their address.

    It is used in line bellow:

    • but all I said was, see you soon, Amma,

    Repetition: Repetition is a figure of speech that involves the repetition of words, phrases, or sounds in order to emphasize a particular point or idea. It is a commonly used literary device that can add emphasis and rhythm to a piece of writing or speech.

    There are various forms of repetition that can be used, including:

    • Anaphora: The repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of successive clauses or sentences. For example, "I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up...I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin... "
    • Epiphora: The repetition of a word or phrase at the end of successive clauses or sentences. For example, "When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child..."
    • Epanalepsis: The repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning and end of a clause or sentence. For example, "The king is dead, long live the king!"
    • Anadiplosis: The repetition of a word or phrase at the end of one clause or sentence and at the beginning of the next. For example, "Fear leads to anger. Anger leads to hate. Hate leads to suffering."

    Repetition can be an effective way to convey a message and make it memorable for the audience.
    It is used in line bellow:
    • all I did was smile and smile and smile.....

    My mother at sixty six, central idea and solution

    My Mother at Sixty-six Summary in English


    The poet was driving from her parent’s home to the Cochin airport last Friday morning. Her mother was sitting beside her. She was sixty six years old. The old lady was dozing. Her mouth remained open. Her face looked pale and faded. It was grey like ash. It looked lifeless like a corpse.

    The lifeless and faded face of her mother pained her heart. The old lady seemed to be lost in her own thoughts. The poet turned away her attention from her mother and looked outside. The world outside was full of life and activity. The young trees seemed running fast. The children looked happy while moving out of their homes.

    When they were at the airport, they had to undergo a security check. The poet was standing a few yards away from her mother. She looked again at her old mother. She felt pained to look at the colourless, lifeless and pale face of her mother. Her face looked faded like the late winter’s moon which had lost its shine and strength. This aroused the old familiar ache in the poet’s heart. Her childhood fear overpowered her again. However, she controlled herself. She appeared to be normal. She scattered smiles on her face while saying good bye to her mother. She wished to see her old Amma again.

    My Mother at Sixty-six हिंदी सारांश

    एक बार कवि अपनी माँ से मिलने गयी। वह कोचीन वापस जाने के लिए हवाई अड्डे पर वापस आ रही थी। उसने अपनी माँ को देखा, जो कार में उसके पास बैठी थी। उसकी माँ सो रही थी और उनका बूढ़ा चेहरा राख के रंग का दिख रहा था। उनका मुंह खुला था और वह एक मृत शरीर जैसा था। कवि को एहसास हुआ कि उनकी माँ बूढ़ी थी। उन्होने उनके लिए दर्द और सहानुभूति महसूस की। उनकी मां को प्यार, स्नेह और देखभाल की जरूरत थी।

    उदासी से बाहर आने के लिए, कवि ने अपनी नज़र हटाई और कार की खिड़की से बाहर देखा। वहाँ उन्होंने युवा पेड़ों को देखा। छोटे बच्चे अपने घरों से बाहर खेल के मैदानों में भाग रहे थे। ये बातें उसकी माँ के बुढ़ापे के विपरीत थीं। ये सभी ऊर्जा, जीवन और खुशी का प्रतीक थी।

    जब वे हवाई अड्डे पर पहुँचे और कवि हवाई जहाज से रवाना होने वाली थी, उन्होने एक बार अपनी माँ की ओर देखा। उनकी माँ सर्दियों के मौसम में चाँद की तरह कमजोर और पीला दिखाई देती थी जो लगता था कि अपनी सारी ताकत खो चुकी है। कवि ने अपनी माँ को खोने के दर्द और डर को महसूस किया। उन्हे अपने बचपन की याद आ गई जब वह अपनी माँ को खोने से डरती थी। एक बच्चे के रूप में वह कुछ क्षणों के लिए भी अपनी माँ से अलग नहीं हो सकी थी।

    कवि ने अपनी भावनाओं को व्यक्त नहीं किया। उसने मुस्कुराते हुए कहा, “जल्द ही मिलते हैं, अम्माक्योंकि वह चाहती थी कि उसकी माँ जीवित रहे और वे फिर से मिल सकें।

    Central Idea of the poem "My Mother At Sixty-six"

    Introduction: Kamala Das was an Indian writer who is widely regarded as one of the most influential and controversial poets of her time. She wrote extensively on themes of love, desire, and identity, and was known for her bold and unapologetic approach to poetry.

    "My Mother at Sixty-six" is one of Kamala Das' most beloved poems. Published in 1965, it is a powerful meditation on the timeless bond between a mother and child, as well as the transience of life and the inevitability of aging. 

    Central Idea

    The poem "My Mother at Sixty-six" is a poignant reflection on the passage of time and the complex emotions that arise from witnessing a parent's ageing. Through vivid and evocative descriptions, the poem captures the daughter's heartfelt contemplation of her mother's physical decline and the inevitability of change. Despite the sadness and guilt that she feels, the daughter expresses her deep love and admiration for her mother, who remains a source of inspiration and comfort, even in old age. This powerful meditation on the timeless bond between a mother and child and the beauty and grace that can be found in the face of aging is sure to resonate with readers of all ages.

    Difficult Words My Mother at Sixty-six

    ache कष्ट

    ache-वेदना, पीड़ा 

    ashen-रक्तहीन, पीला

    beside पास में

    corpse शव

    corpse-मृत शरीर, लाश

    doze-अल्प निंद्रा लेना

    Driving गाड़ी चलाते हुए

    merry – प्रसन्नचित्त

    merry-आनंदित, प्रशन्न

    pain-वेदना, दुःख, पीड़ा

    pale-कमजोर, पीला

    spilling out बाहर निकलते हुए

    spilling out-दौड़ कर बहार आना

    sprinting तेजी से भागते हुए

    sprinting-लघु दौड़

    wan-फीका पड़ जाना

     

     My mother at sixty six central idea and solution

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