The document discusses the themes of honor killing, female identity, and social perception in the narrative poem 'The Fakeer of Jungheera.' It explores how societal norms overshadow individual identities, particularly focusing on the character of Nuleeni and her struggle against forced murder and societal expectations. The presentation highlights the relevance of these issues in contemporary society, drawing parallels with modern films that address similar social evils.

1. HONOR KILLING, FEMALE IDENTITY AND
‘THE FAKEER OF JUNGHEERA’
Prepared by- KAVISHA ALAGIYA
Batch – MA 2019-21
Paper- Indian English Literature: Pre-Independence
Roll No- 15
Enrollment no.- 2069108420200001
Email id- kavishaalagiya@gmail.com
Submitted to- S. B. Gardi Department of English Maharaja
Krishnakumarsinhji Bhavnagar University
Date- 7th Oct. 2019

2. INTRODUCTION
• How social perceptions becomes more important than
individual identity in “The Fakeer of Jungheera”?
• How far a socio-cultural phenomenon can be applied and
worked with in “The Fakeer of Jungheera”?
• Applying a concept- Is it relatable or not?
• How far the reading of the text can be connected to present?
• How hierarchy plays a major role?

3. THE FAKEER OF JUNGHEERA
• A long narrative poem.
• Written by an educationalist and a social reformer.
• Perhaps, the poet is trying to show the social perceptions and
social evil of his time by writing this poem.
• By killing the Fakeer in the fight, it can be assumed that the
poet is bringing to light the identity of a female who has no
importance.
• As far as Nuleeni’s choice ‘to live her life in her own way is
concerned’ – How far the concept of free will is restrained?

4. HONOR KILLING
Honor killing, as more of a patriarchal concept is the murder of
a woman or girl (or sometimes her spouse if she chose court
marriage) by male family members (usually father, brother)
which is justified by claiming that the victim has brought
dishonor upon the family name or prestige. (J. Douglas Dailey)

5. ASSUMED REASONS
HONOR
KILLING
Not agreeing
to Arranged
Marriage
Obtaining
Divorce
Homosexualit
y
Rape
victim
Former
Spouse
(Male
Partner)

6. FORCED MURDER IN THE FAKEER OF
JUNGHEERA
• In ‘The Fakeer of Jungheera’, the concept of forced murder can be
clearly viewed while reading the funeral pyre scene in poetry.
• For example, after the chorus of Brahmins-
“Here was a heroine’s choice- she nobly strove
With all that bound her to the earth- but Love,
That one wild passion triumphed o’er them all-
And see! She comes unto death’s festival
As to her bridal bed. –That busy crowd
Thus in her praise their voices lifted loud;”
(The Fakeer of Jungheera , pg- 182)

7. THE LAST SCENE
• Nuleeni is all set to choose her life and her moments with Fakeer
at Jungheera hill constantly gives the reader a terrifying
impression.
• The following lines reveal the final scene-
“Nuleeni’s setteled glance is fixed upon
That dying form, as if for him alone
Her soft eyes’s lamp were lit- his brow is cold-
And now the soul is hastening from it’s mould-”
(The Fakeer of Jungheera , pg- 226)

8. EXAMPLE OF HONOR KILLING

9. Reading THE LAST SCENE from movie
‘Dhadak’
1 2
3
4

10. FEMALE
IDENTITY
• A female or a girl is always ‘looked at’, is always ‘observed’.
• After escaping the forced murder, Nuleeni’s identity is at
threat.
• Does there arise a need for Nuleeni to live after the death of
Fakeer?
• If yes, where will she go, the question of existence and
belonging?
• Do society ever care about individual?

11. CONCLUSION
• Hence, it can be said that social perceptions and societal
norms matters a lot than individual identity.
• Movies like ‘Sairat’ and ‘Dhadak’ are trying to reflect the
social evil of present day and this in same way helps us to
read the time, the age of the text ‘The Fakeer of Jungheera’.
• It can be said to that even today ‘casteism’ and social
hierarchy plays a vital role in doubting the individual identity
and this indirectly leads to mob lynching and honor killing
which is the horrific reality!

12. PURPOSE OF PRESENTATION
• To see how far the concept of honor killing or forced murder
is applicable in ‘The Fakeer of Jungheera’
• To observe Derozio’s portrayel of India had such social evils or
is it prevalent today also.
• If such a situation exists, in what forms do it exist?
• To measure- to what extent a female identity is threatened
and how she will survive the consequences?
• How the linear way of society functions?

14. Bibliography
• Henry Derozio , “Complete works” – (the Fakeer of Jungheera)
• Aisha K. Gill, Carolyn Strange and Karl Roberts. honor killing and violence. n.d.
• J. Douglas Dailey, Raghu N. Singh. Honor Killing. 03 August 2016. 07 10 2019
<https://www.britannica.com/topic/honor-killing>.
• Release, Press. SECRETARY-GENERAL, IN ADDRESS TO "WOMEN 2000" SPECIAL
SESSION, SAYS FUTURE OF PLANET DEPENDS UPON WOMEN. 5 June 2000. 07
October 2019 <https://www.un.org/press/en/2000/20000605.sgsm7430.doc.html>.
• UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), UNHCR Guidance Note on Refugee
Claims Relating to Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity, 21 November 2008, available
at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/48abd5660.html [accessed 7 October 2019]
• https://web.archive.org/web/20170621134325/http://www.honordiaries.com/wp-
content/uploads/2013/06/HD-FactSheet-HonorViolenceEast.pdf