Panchlight

                                                                          Analysis

Panchlight is one of the most popular short stories of Phanishwar Nath Renu. The narrative of the story revolves around the arrival of Panchlight (Petromax) in Mahto Toli (caste-based the group in the village) of an undisclosed village in rural Bihar. Panchlight is the central character around which Renu weaves his narrative.

The Panchayat of Mahto Toli decides to purchase a Panchlight from the fines collected over a period of several months. Panchlight has become some sort of prestige issue of possession for the Mahto Toli, more, since the rival Toli has already purchased it. The author carries the readers from the fair to the village and finally establishes the climax where the villagers are caught in a catch-22 situation in front of their Panchlight, since no one knows how to light it in the Toli. Quite vividly, Renu depicts the anxiety and impending dishonour and humiliation the Toli is bound to face if a member of rival Toli lights their Panchlight.

In such a scenario, the Toli will lose all honour and will become a butt of laughter among the other Tolis of the village. However, in an anti-climax, a young man named Godhan, who faces social expulsion from the Panchayat, for an alleged eve-teasing and singing lewd cinema song to his lady love Munari, restores the honour of the Toli by lighting the Panchlight. 

The theme of honour is one of the vital themes in Panchlight. This theme operates at two levels in the narrative – one, at the individual level and the other, at the level of the community collective. Renu, quite cleverly juxtaposes the two. In order to analyze this juxtaposition, it is imperative for us to see its individual and collective operation. Godhan, the young man of the Toli, who is socially expelled, is guilty of defying the individual honour of Munari, Gulri Kaki’s daughter and the ‘collective daughter’ of the Toli. The Panchayat unanimously pronounces the verdict when Godhan threatens this individual honour of the “daughter of the village”: Munari’s mother had filed a complaint against Godhan in the Panchayat that he sings lewd songs by looking at her daughter. The Panchayat already had a grudge against Godhan. He has settled here from another village and so far did not extend any offerings to the Panchayat. The Panchayat got the chance. It slapped a fine of ten rupees on Godhan, failing which he will be expelled from the Toli… till today Godhan is facing expulsion.

However, this individual honour is abandoned or rather pushed aside when the collective honour of the Toli is at stake. Godhan is the only one in the Toli who has the expertise to light the Panchlight. The situation is full of anxiety for the Panchayat and the Toli, though eventually, the collective honour of Toli prevails over the individual honour: …Till today Godhan is facing expulsion. How does one ask him to come and lit the Panchlight! On the other hand, the entire caste was losing face. Quite cleverly, Munari puts the suggestion (that Godhan knows to light the Panchlight) in Kaneli’s ear. “Godhan knows how to light the Panchlight.” Kaneli declared. “Who? Godhana? He knows! But....” The Chief looked at the secretary and the secretary looked at the members of the Panchayat. After all, the decision to expel Godhan was unanimous. The entire village was angry with Godhan singing vulgar cinema songs and making sheep’s eye towards village girls. The chief said, “What is the logic of expelling him from the caste when the honour of the caste is itself at stake!” What is your take, Mr. Secretary? True, true- replied the secretary. The members of the Panchayats pronounced unanimously, “All right. Let the expulsion be lifted away from Godhan.”

After the ban is lifted, Godhan is called upon to light the Panchlight and save the day for the Toli. Once the Panchlight is lit, the villagers and the Panchayat experience a change of heart towards Godhan. The Toli makes him a hero though he was a zero a few moments ago. Munari’s mother, who complained against him a few days ago for eve-teasing, invites Godhan for the supper. This shows the fluid nature of honour and its obedience in the rural set-up.

 The innocence and the simple-mindedness of the villagers could be observed through the superstitions which surround the lamp and through the depiction of their struggles and actions when they are subjected to modern technology.