The Portrait of a Lady – Detailed Notes

By Khushwant Singh

Introduction

• The Portrait of a Lady is the opening chapter of Khushwant Singh’s Hornbill.
• It is an autobiographical account describing the author’s grandmother and their relationship across different stages of his life.
• Through a simple narrative, the author highlights the unchanging character of his grandmother, her religious devotion, and her calm acceptance of death.
• The story is not just about one woman, but also about the value of tradition, spirituality, and familial love in Indian society.

Detailed Summary

1. Description of the Grandmother

• The narrator’s earliest memories are of his grandmother always being old.
• She was short, fat, slightly bent, with a face marked by countless wrinkles.
• Always dressed in a spotless white sari, with silver hair scattered on her face.
• Appeared to him as a picture of serenity and deep spirituality.
• Always busy in prayers, carrying rosary beads.

Interpretation:

• The grandmother symbolises tradition, purity, and timeless values.
• Her appearance makes her seem eternal, beyond the passage of time.

2. Early Life in the Village

• The author spent his childhood with her in the village.
• She woke him up in the morning, bathed and dressed him, and accompanied him to school.
• School was attached to a temple → children learned alphabets and religious texts.
• The grandmother read scriptures while waiting for the children.
• On the way home, she fed stray dogs with chapatis.

Analysis:

• Shows the closeness between the grandmother and grandson.
• Also reflects the integration of education and religion in village life.
• Feeding dogs → compassion and selflessness.

3. Shift to the City

• A turning point in their relationship.
• Narrator started going to an English school by bus.
• New subjects: science, English, western education → no teaching of God or scriptures.
• Grandmother could no longer help him with studies.
• She disapproved of music lessons, as music was associated with beggars and prostitutes in her mind.
• Their friendship weakened, though she still loved him silently.

Analysis:

• Contrast between traditional grandmother and modern education system.
• Illustrates the generation gap and the pain of cultural transition.

4. Before Going Abroad

• The narrator went abroad for five years.
• Grandmother was not upset, showed no emotions, only prayed silently.
• Kissed him on the forehead before departure → symbol of blessing.
• He thought it might be their last physical meeting.

Analysis:

• Her calmness shows her acceptance of life’s truths.
• The kiss becomes symbolic of unconditional love and farewell blessing.

5. Reunion After Five Years

• Narrator returned after five years.
• Grandmother’s appearance was unchanged.
• She welcomed him with affection.
• Celebrated his return by singing of warriors’ homecoming, collecting neighbours, beating drum, and singing.
• Unusual behaviour, as she usually spent her time in prayer.

Analysis:

• Joy breaks her religious routine.
• Shows her deep emotional attachment to her grandson.

6. Her Illness and Last Days

• Next day, she fell ill with mild fever.
• Declared that her end was near.
• Spent her last hours praying, refusing to talk to family.
• Peacefully passed away.

Analysis:

• She remained true to her spirituality till the last moment.
• Her death is shown as serene and natural, not fearful.

7. Mourning and the Sparrows

• A strange mourning followed.
• Thousands of sparrows sat quietly in and around the house.
• No chirping, no movement.
• They seemed to mourn silently, as if they knew the grandmother’s greatness.
• Next morning, they flew away quietly.

Analysis:

• Symbolises the grandmother’s saint-like personality.
• Shows the respect she commanded from all beings, not just humans.

Themes

1. Bond Between Grandmother and Grandson
   • Loving, nurturing, selfless care.
   • Changes with time but emotional depth remains.
2. Tradition vs. Modernity
   • Village education = scriptures, religion.
   • City education = science, English, music.
   • Conflict between old and new values.
3. Religion and Spirituality
   • Grandmother’s life revolves around prayer, scriptures, and compassion.
   • Symbol of unwavering faith.
4. Love and Sacrifice
   • She devoted her life to the narrator’s upbringing.
   • Even when distant, her love was unchanged.
5. Death as Peaceful Transition
   • Not a tragedy, but an accepted, calm end.
   • Her spiritual strength made her death dignified.

Character Sketch of the Grandmother

• Appearance: Old, wrinkled, white sari, silver hair.
• Religious: Deeply devoted to prayers, scriptures, feeding animals.
• Affectionate: Took care of her grandson with selfless love.
• Traditional: Disapproved of western education, science, and music.
• Calm and Strong: Accepted life’s changes, even her own death, with serenity.
• Respected: Loved by all, even sparrows mourned her passing.

Symbolism in the Story

• The Portrait: Represents permanence of her image and values.
• White Clothes: Purity, simplicity, spirituality.
• Sparrows: Universal mourning, symbolic of her saintly nature.
• Forehead Kiss: Blessing, eternal bond.

Important Question–Answer Bank

Short Questions (30–40 words each)

1. What was the grandmother’s daily routine in the village?
   She woke the narrator, bathed and dressed him, took him to school, and fed stray dogs on the way back. She herself read scriptures at the temple.
2. Why did the grandmother disapprove of music lessons?
   She considered music indecent, associated with beggars and harlots. For her, music did not match the dignity of education.
3. How did the grandmother prepare for her own death?
   When she fell ill, she declared her end was near, stopped talking, and spent her last hours in prayer, accepting death peacefully.
4. What role did sparrows play after her death?
   Thousands of sparrows sat silently mourning her, without chirping or eating. Their behaviour symbolised universal respect and sorrow for her passing.
5. Why does the narrator describe his grandmother as “always old”?
   Because his earliest memories were of her wrinkled face and white clothes, making her seem eternal and timeless in appearance.

Long Questions

Q.1 Describe the changing relationship between the author and his grandmother.
In the village, they were inseparable—she cared for him, took him to school, and taught prayers. After moving to the city, distance grew as she could not help with English or science subjects, and disapproved of music. When he went abroad, they were physically apart, but her love remained unchanged. Their relationship, though weakened in companionship, stayed strong in affection.

Q.2 How does Khushwant Singh present the grandmother as a symbol of tradition?
She is shown as deeply religious, wearing white, feeding animals, reading scriptures, and disapproving of modern education. She represents values of faith, simplicity, and devotion, contrasting with western modernity.

Q.3 The sparrows in the story are more than just birds. Comment.
The sparrows’ silent mourning reflects the universal respect for the grandmother. Their behaviour elevates her death to a spiritual event. They symbolise that her piety and love were recognised not only by humans but by all of nature.

Exam-Oriented Pointers

• Focus on grandmother’s character sketch.
• Emphasise tradition vs. modernity conflict.
• Use symbolism of sparrows and portrait in answers.
• In long answers, trace the relationship through different stages (village → city → abroad → death).

Value-Based Understanding

• The story teaches that love does not need constant words—it can exist silently.
• Highlights the importance of respecting elders, their traditions, and their faith.
• Suggests that modernity should not erase spirituality.
• Shows death as natural, not to be feared.

Sample Extract-Based Question

Extract: “She kissed my forehead and I thought perhaps it was the last sign of physical contact between us.”

Q. What does this line tell you about the grandmother’s emotions?
It shows her silent love and blessing for her grandson. She expressed affection not through words, but through actions. The kiss symbolised eternal love and farewell.

Conclusion

• The Portrait of a Lady is a touching tribute to Khushwant Singh’s grandmother.
• Through simple but vivid narration, the story conveys values of love, tradition, spirituality, and acceptance of life’s cycle.
• The grandmother emerges not just as a family elder but as a symbol of timeless Indian culture and devotion.