Manju seems to be ashamed of her mother’s actions in many
ways. She takes actions to specifically remove herself from her mother’s way of
life, such as teaching at the school she runs out of her hut. Manju rebels
against her mother’s philosophy that one gains “advantages by behaving badly”,
by maintaining her virtue and “turning herself into a model of proper and
gentle deportment” (ebook, location 1139, 1071). I found it very interesting that
her way of rebellion is to be virtuous, while the type of rebellion that I am
most familiar with is defiance and waywardness. Manju’s feelings toward her
mother further transformed my understanding of India as I noticed the different
kinds of relationships between parents and their children. For example, when
Devo is hit by the taxi on his way to Manju’s school, his mother chases after
him and, while beating him asks, “’If the driver had hurt you worse, how would
I have paid the doctor?’” (ebook, location 1173). Injuries can be financially
detrimental to families. Katharine Boo explains “Annawadi kids were always
getting hit on the chaotic roads”. Her casualness in saying this reiterates how
common and usual this occurrence is in Annawadi, and the reader feels like a
part of the culture, as opposed to an onlooker.
Manju does not remind me of anyone specific that I know, but her
demeanor and morals remind me of the women in fairytales. The women in these
stories desire freedom, and strive to reject philosophies that have been deemed
immoral and unethical. This attitude is very surprising, as most ideas I have
of rebellion are negative. Of course, from Asha’s perspective, this type of
rebellion is annoying and useless. However, very unlike most fairytales, Manju’s
life will take certain courses as a result of her environment and circumstances,
and may not take the exact paths that she most desires. Manju is determined
and obedient, to a limit. She does small things to defy her mother, but still
lives in fear of Asha’s threatening character.
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