05. CE 101 - The Reddening Tree by SR Harnot
Channel: Ishan Marvel
Date: 2020-10-28

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLTSoWRKkWJTZHH9sr7bmr37Wd16TTbRbr
From LIFE UNFOLDED

SR HARNOT
* Born in 1955 in a small village in Shimla district of Himachal Pradesh.
* Published short stories, a novel called 'Hidimb' and books on culture of Himachal Pradesh.
* Has won awards such as the HP State Academy and Indu Sharma International Awards.

THE REDDENING TREE
The present story has been translated from the short story 'Lal Hota Drakht'
* The story is about a farmer family from Himachal Pradesh. Mathru, the head of the household is poor and earns a meagre living through odd jobs. His wife and he struggle to fulfill their duties within their limited means.
* The family mortgaged most of their land to pay for the wedding of their elder daughter and for the ceremonial wedding of a tulsi plant. Now, they only have one small field left, but that too must be mortgaged for the wedding of the younger daughter, Munni and for another ceremonial wedding of the peepal tree growing on their land. 
* Munni is overcome with sorrow when she realises that she and the peepal tree are a burden for her parents. Thus, in her innocence, she decides to solve the problem by secretly marrying the peepal, so that the field need not be sold anymore and that her parents do not lose face in the village for not fulfilling their duty.
* Through this story, Harnot raises several questions regarding gender, faith, superstitions and customs in our society.