Making the Personal Political: Parallels for Bim and Raja in 'Clear Light of Day' Anonymous College

Whatever happens in life, it is always political. Somehow and someway, even the most mundane thing connects back to bigger issues in the world. Even personal things can easily turn political without much effort. While the relation between how simple real-world things in your life may relate back to huge geopolitical issues may be subtle, the connection between the two becomes much more obvious in works of literature. By being able to see things happen from the outside perspective of an uninvolved third party, the relationship between the personal and political becomes easily noticeable for people. In Anita Desai’s novel, Clear Light of Day, the personal relationships found within the Das family, especially between Bimla and Raja, parallel the political relationship between the colonizing power of the British Empire and India as a colony.

Between the two siblings, Bim reflects the traits of a colonized India due to the way she has to take care of herself, her family, and her household because there is no one else present who can, or will, do it. Every moment after the death of her parents, Bim has been forced to take charge of not only her own life but especially the lives of those around her. She is always making sure that...