Why is Jamini’s death in Anjum Hasan’s “Sisters” significant?
In Anjum Hasan’s story ‘Sisters’ we’re told the devastating story of illness, motivation, privilege, and connection. Jaan, a luckier individual in the grand scheme of social class but unlucky in the health department lives a well-structured life in her apartment complex. Jamini, a migrant from the Indian State of Andhra Pradesh, moved to Bangalore in hopes to make better money. Jamini works hard labour, preparing foundations for large buildings to begin construction. She decides to apply for the domestic help in Jaan’s apartment. It’s important to mention Jaan’s abysmal health, and how her inability to stay healthy forced her to stay in bed and sleep. They’re relationship started strong beginning with Jamini approaching Jaan sick in bed and inquiring into the details of her health. Concerned, Jamini begins to cook home meals rather than the takeout Javed and Jaan typically ordered, as well as buying their groceries, and taking subtle leadership around the house. With time, Jaan and Jamina’s relationship deepens and Jaans health slowly starts to incline, she quickly becomes more able. But with such change comes consequences, which was Jaan’s sudden vertigo. Slowly her days come together, and Jaan’s able to return to work. One day, Jaan is waiting for Jamini to come home and begins to become restless waiting. She decides to call her previous help in order to find out about Jamini’s whereabouts. When her previous maid informs her of Jamini’s sudden death, Jaan is in disbelief and decides to take the matter into her own hands by getting Jamini’s address. She approaches the house in the slums with people living “half indoors and half out” (page 4) and talks to the man taking care of Jamini’s younger brother. He makes it clear that she’s no longer living and how she was struck by a car and ignored any serious injuries. Jamini died in her sleep after not going to the hospital from the accident, leaving Jaan without her dependant and confused.
In the story, we quickly learn more and more about Jamini’s background. Jamini came from her village in Andhra Pradesh to Bangalore with the promise of making more money than the pittance she earned working out in the fields (page 1) Her work composed of laying out rice saplings, pushing bullocks onto the soil, and wielding the sickle barefoot through all weathers. Starting her life in Bangalore, she belonged to a group of women who worked on construction sites before foundational construction began. When she was introduced to Jaan, her lifestyle compared to Jaan’s was a shock to her, all Jamini knew was work meanwhile all Jaan knew was illness. Jamini knew it was in her care to come up with some sort of solution, she removed all unhealthy leeches in her life like ridding take-away meals, providing home cooked meals, ensuring groceries we’re spent wisely, and daily massages. Jaan’s health slowly started to improve, all while Jaan’s dependence for Jamini started to grow. Jamini’s presence benefited Jaans existence, and with Jamini’s continuous work ethic was very prided. All Jamini knew was work, she had gotten used to harsh sun conditions and had a strong muscular build from hard labour. When Jamini was hit by the car, she knew that it wasn’t in her right mind to rest and how work was her priority was to get to work in the morning. For Jaan to hear this after all Jamini did for her was detrimental to her mentality, thinking how she’s the reason why she is better and doesn’t know how to get better from there. Her death was a lesson for Jaan, how she has in order to continue her new life she needs to continuously push for the better of herself and work.
To the reader, the story between Jaan and Jamini is a touching tale between two levels of people on the privilege scale. But when you begin to analyze the story more, it clearly poses as a lesson. Jamini’s death is significant because we learn to look at life freely, rather than in one clear direction. The problem with both “sisters” in the story is how both vividly focused on one thing, work and health. When Jaan was shown discipline and Jamini’s disobedient persona, she knew it was her time to compile herself. She began to look at her life preciously, and how there’s so much at stake by not maintaining her health and not wanting to get better. Reading this story, I learn more about how to live more freely, and how life is not all about continuous work, it’s also about the small things that matter and how we should fulfill our lives with what we can do right now at this moment. Whatever is in your capability, do the most with what you can.
In conclusion, the story of Jamini’s work ethic and sudden death can be interpreted in different ways. Jaan is someone who never put her health forward and let her delusion get to the best of her. Jamini is a hard-working woman with a set mind, but still never had time to worry about herself. Coming from Jamini’s background, she always prioritized supporting her family and providing an adequate income never for her own benefit. Her life in Bangalore gave her the income, but that began to be applied to her daily, and she didn’t have the opportunity to ask herself if she is doing alright. That being said, take this story as an opportunity to ask yourself whether or not you are focusing on the right things, and that it’s healthy to balance helping others and yourself.