Summary of the Poem Gangrene by Taufiq Rafat

Introduction

Gangrene by Taufiq Rafat is a thought-provoking poem. The poem is the story of a twelve-year-old
innocent young boy. This boy fell from the roof while flying a kite. He received a severe injury on his
elbow. His parents got him treated by a local wrestler. The wrestler spoilt the case and the boy
developed gangrene and died at last. The poet has related this story in this poem with the minutest
possible detail. The description shows that the narrator of the poem is the poet himself. It must have
been one of the many events in his life which form the background of his poems.

The Description of the Boy

Gangrene by Taufiq Rafat begins with the poet telling us about the boy. He was a shy, quiet, and well-
mannered boy of twelve. There were dirty bandages wrapped around his arm. The boy came from the
poet’s ancestral village. He was the son of a carpenter who was a cousin-by-marriage of a tanner with
whom the poet traded. It was for this relationship that they had brought the boy to him. They needed
the poet’s help to get the boy’s wounded arm examined by a doctor in the city.

The Story of the Boy’s Damaged Arm

The boy hurt himself when he fell from the roof while flying a kite. He fell on a pile of bricks and might
have broken his neck. However, his folks considered it a miracle that it did not happen. He received, as
they considered it, only a minor injury in the form of a dislocated elbow. His parents took him to a local
wrestler who was famous as a mender of bones. The wrestler casually examined the boy’s shattered
elbow, applied oil to it, and covered it with lint. He charged his fee and declared that it was a slight
fracture that would heal soon. However, the wound continued to get infected till it became gangrene.
The wrestler, who had miscalculated the damage, did not admit his fault. Instead, he attributed it to the
influence of some supernatural presence that hampered the recovery of the bone.

The Decision to Consult a Doctor

The wrestler tried, again and again, to somehow treat the shattered elbow of the boy. Anyhow, with no
actual knowledge of bone therapy, he failed miserably. When the boy began to develop gangrene, his
parents decided to get him examined by a doctor in the city. The simple villagers thought it befitting to
involve the poet who belonged to their village but lived in the city. They believed that he could get them
to some specialist doctor. No sooner did the poet see the boy’s arm, he realized that the villagers had
gone late. Still, he took them to a surgeon.
The Diagnosis

The poet lived near a mission hospital. He took the boy to this hospital where the doctor confirmed that
it was gangrene. He added that the amputation had become inevitable. If delayed, the boy would die of
it.

The Reaction of the Poet to the Diagnosis

The poet felt sorry for the little boy who was unaware of the severity of his wound. He was busy
watching pigeons. The poet could not find words to break the news to the boy’s father. The tanner,
however, realized the seriousness of the matter and tactfully took the poet aside. The poet disclosed the
matter to the tanner who informed the boy’s father.

The Reaction of the Boy’s Father

As soon as the boy’s father came to know of the situation, he flared up in rage. The poet could not
distinguish whether it was rage, grief, or a combination of both. The boy’s father declared that a son
with only one arm was a shame. He could not stand amputation. He insisted that the doctor knew
nothing. Once again, he asserted his faith in the village wrestler. Furthermore, he insisted on going to
some other hospital for the treatment of the boy. The poet did his best to make the boy’s father
understand the gravity of the situation. But he did not listen to anyone. He walked out of the hospital.

The Consequence

The stubbornness of the boy’s father brought about disastrous results. In a few days, the poet came to
know that the boy had passed away on the operating table. The ignorance and adamancy of the boy’s
father took the boy’s life.

Analysis of the Poem Gangrene by Taufiq Rafat

Introduction

Gangrene by Taufiq Rafat is an issue-based poem. In this poem, Rafat raises questions on many social
aspects and issues. He picks the story of a young boy who develops gangrene and dies of it. In this story,
Rafat highlights a lack of awareness, excessive selfishness, gross mismanagement, and the baseless
belief system of society. The poem is also a comment on the weak implementation of law and order in
Pakistan.
A Lack of Awareness

Gangrene by Taugfiq Rafat presents a situation in which a boy fell from the roof while flying a kite. He
fell on a brick pile and hurt his elbow. In a situation like this, the parents must have taken the boy to a
hospital. Instead, they took the matter lightly. They considered the shattered elbow a slight injury and
were satisfied that the boy did not break his neck. They took the boy to a local wrestler whom they
considered an expert in mending bones. It is a clear sign of a lack of awareness. In rural Punjab where
the literacy rate is quite low, such cases are common. Wrestlers and quacks take full advantage of
illiterate and unaware people. Also, it raises a question about the health system in Pakistan where
doctors have lost the faith of the people.

Excessive Selfishness

Selfishness in Gangrene by Taufiq Rafat reflects in the behaviour of the wrestler. His only concern is
money. He is not a certified orthopaedic. But he claims to cure a critical case. The boy’s elbow is badly
hurt. The wrestler should have advised his parents to take him to the hospital. However, he uses his
misguided technique and spoils the case further. The most shocking aspect of the matter is that he does
not admit his mistake. He continues to pocket money from the boy’s father. Rafat criticizes this
unethical behaviour. The wrestler’s selfishness was one of the factors that killed the boy.

Gross Mismanagement

Gangrene by Taufiq Rafat presents a deplorable condition of a village where a basic health unit is not
available. It is a criticism of the policymakers of the country. Health services should be provided to all at
their doorsteps. But even today, there are many villages and small towns where you will not find even a
dispensary. If something serious happens in such areas, people are at the mercy of quacks and wrestlers.
The newspapers keep publishing news featuring the quacks and wrestlers who have killed so many
people. In the end, all such cases are attributed to the will of God.

Baseless Belief System

The boy’s father in Gangrene by Taufiq Rafat is a stereotypical person with a mindset that follows
baseless beliefs. He believes that the wrestler can mend his son’s broken elbow. This baseless belief
aggravates the situation. It prolongs the agony of his son who develops gangrene because of the
mistaken treatment of the wrestler. Again, when the doctor confirms the gangrene and suggests
amputation, the boy’s father flares up. He should have shown interest in saving the life of his son.
However, he considers it a matter of shame to have a son with only one arm. This again is reflective of
an approach based on a baseless belief system.
Implementation of Law and Order

Kite-flying is a favourite sport in the Punjab province of Pakistan. Every year, it claims the lives of many
people. There have always been rules and regulations about this sport. But no one follows them in letter
and spirit. Law enforcement agencies do little to ward people off the hazards of this sport.

Conclusion

Gangrene by Taufiq Rafat strengthens the poet’s status as an accomplished storyteller. Rafat possesses
the ability to use social events as the background of his poems. His poems are stories of common men
whom we may encounter somewhere in society. This poem raises questions and inspires the readers
and the public to look for solutions to their problems. Negligence in issues of social level may lead to a
gangrene sort of situation. We will have to react quickly and positively before our social system begins
to stink.

CRITICAL APPRECIATION OF THE POEM “KITCHEN” BY TAUFIQ RAFAT

Introduction

Kitchens by Taufiq Rafat is a nostalgic poem. We can divide this poem into two parts. The poem begins
with the poet’s description of a rural kitchen. The poet recalls the vastness of the kitchen in which he and
his siblings dined. He also shares with us the activities and discussions that took place in the kitchen. The
poet remembers the smell of spice and the coziness in that kitchen. However, in the latter part of the
poem, Rafat describes the cramped atmosphere of a modern urban kitchen. He misses the noises of his
childhood. Despite modern facilities, the urban kitchen lacks a sense of attachment to the Earth. The
poem is a comment on the modern way of life that has taken us away from the natural way of life. It is a
requiem to the culture and tradition that are dying away in the modern world.

The Description of the Rural Kitchen

Kitchens by Taufiq Rafat begins with a curious statement. The poet says that they, he and his siblings,
grew up in kitchens. It means that they learnt many mature things in the kitchen. This vast place attracted
them all. In winter, they left their beds and rushed to it. The smell of smoke and spice enticed them. They
enjoyed the warmth of the wood fire burning in the hearth. The sound of the simmering curry in the kettle
was pleasing like a song. They slowly ate fresh bread with this curry. They also enjoyed eggs and tea
served in big bowls. The breakfast time was a kind of family meeting in which they discussed topics of
primary nature. They talked about deaths, births, marriages, and crops. The mother joined this
conversation with only her presence. She continuously poured curry into their pots using a ladle.

The Description of a Modern Kitchen

Taufiq Rafat calls modern kitchens ‘cramped spaces’ which means that they are not as spacious as ones of
their childhood. He criticizes the modern preoccupation which allows one no time to have small talk at
the dining table. Now, people are in such a hurry that they cannot eat their breakfast peacefully. The
chairs have replaced slats. It has created a distance between man and the earth. The chairs have also
obliterated the sense of intimacy that the siblings once enjoyed on slats. Now, a kitchen is not the kind of
place where one can share one’s pleasure or pain. The artificiality of chromium and formica has replaced
the culture of plaster, colours, and teak. Life has grown monotonous. The cleanliness of the kitchen
makes it look like a hospital ward. It is a sign that the poet has grown sick of the modern kitchen.

Tradition vs Modernity

Kitchens by Taufiq Rafat is based on a comparison of two different types of kitchens. One is the
traditional rural kitchen while the other is the modern urban kitchen. The rural kitchen was very spacious.
The poet and his siblings would dine in it. It was especially inviting in winter. The warmth of the fire and
the smell of food lured them out of their cozy beds. They sat on the slats very close to one another. The
practice strengthened the bond of love and care among the siblings. They had much time and ate lazily
while discussing everyday affairs of life. Modern kitchens, however, present a quite different picture.
People are so preoccupied with material achievements that they cannot dine calmly. They are in a hurry
and cannot spare time to share a few words. The chairs have replaced the slats, and so has distance
replaced the closeness.

Nature vs Artificiality

The rural kitchen as presented by Taufiq Rafat is a symbol of the natural way of life. It is free from the
artificiality of a modern kitchen. The spontaneity of noisy activity is a contrast to the regulated silence of
the modern kitchen. There is openness in sitting on slats which is different from sitting on chairs with
bellies tucked under the table. The rural kitchen exudes a homely feeling with its plastered walls and slats
made of teak. The modern kitchen, however, is a display of chromium and farmica. The nostalgic tone of
the poet and his ending remarks about the modern kitchen are significant. To him, a modern kitchen is
like a hospital. It shows that nature is preferable to artificiality.

Growth in the Kitchen

It is a fact that man learns a lot from the company of his fellow beings. The sharing of ideas adds to the
experience of man. That is what the poet mentions in the beginning lines of the poem. In a rural setup, a
kitchen is a place where family meetings take place at every meal. All the members of the family sit
together and discuss various topics. These discussions open many secrets of practical life. In this way, the
young ones grow to maturity listening to the experiences of their elders and siblings.

Motherhood
In the poem Kitchens by Taufiq Rafat, the mother presides over the meetings in the kitchen. She listens to
the young ones talking noisily at the time of breakfast. However, she does not add any remarks to their
discussions. Her only focus is to ensure that her children get their meals on time. She keeps baking bread
and ladling curry. Nevertheless, her silent presence is not less significant. By providing her children with
healthy meals she is making them grow physically. At the same time, she is allowing them a chance to
grow intellectually by permitting them to speak freely.

Conclusion

No household is complete without a kitchen. On the surface level, it is only a part of the house where
meals are cooked. But with the memories such as the poet shares attached to it, a kitchen gains
extraordinary importance for a lifetime. Kitchens by Taufiq Rafat is a poem with a message. It is a
critique of the modern tendency of giving up culture and tradition for up-to-dateness. The comparison and
contrast of traditional and modern kitchens highlight what man has lost to gain modernity.