One Eyed- Meena Kandasamy
One Eyed- Meena Kandasamy
This blog is part of the group discussion we had in our classroom about One-Eyed by Meena Kandasamy. This task was assigned by Prakruti Ma’am
Ilavenil Meena Kandasamy (born October 12, 1984) is an Indian poet, fiction writer, translator and activist from Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India Click here
Poem :
One-Eyed:
the pot sees just another noisy child
the glass sees an eager and clumsy hand
the water sees a parched throat slaking thirst
but the teacher sees a girl breaking the rule
the doctor sees a case of medical emergency
the school sees a potential embarrassment
the press sees a headline and a photo feature
dhanam sees a world torn in half.
her left eye, lid open but light slapped away,
the price for a taste of that touchable water.
Group -B
Members
Nirali Vaghela
Nikita vala
Kumkum Hirani,
Khushi Makwana
Krishna Baraiya
Tanvi Mehra
Step 1: Based on the poem assigned to your group, discuss the thematic and critical aspects, and prepare one long and one short answer from the question bank.
Long question :
What Kind of Treatment is given to the Untouchables? Discuss with reference to the “One Eyed” by Meena Kandasamy.
Meena Kandasamy’s poem “One-Eyed” is a stark, unsettling, and emotionally charged reflection of the brutal treatment of untouchables (Dalits) in Indian society. It focuses on Dhanam, a young Dalit girl, who becomes a victim of caste-based violence simply for drinking water from a pot not meant for her. Through minimalist yet evocative verses, Kandasamy presents a multi-layered critique of caste, social institutions, and collective apathy.
1. Everyday Human Needs Become 'Criminal Acts' for Dalits
"the pot sees just another noisy child
the glass sees an eager and clumsy hand
the water sees a parched throat slaking thirst"
These lines portray how natural, non-human elements are unbiased—they accept all equally. Water quenches thirst; pots and glasses do not care who uses them.Dalits are criminalized for accessing basic needs like water.Even childhood innocence is not spared; Dhanam is punished just for being thirsty and curious.
2. Enforcement of Caste by Authority Figures
"the teacher sees a girl breaking the rule"
The teacher, a figure of guidance, upholds caste hierarchy rather than educating against it.Her role shifts from nurturing to policing, exposing the internalized caste bias in educators.This also shows how children are socialized into caste divisions from a young age, often by the very system that is meant to empower them.
3. Schools as Spaces of Discrimination
"the school sees a potential embarrassment"
The school, rather than supporting the victim, fears bad publicity or scandal.Educational institutions are more concerned with reputation than justice.This shows that even schools, which should be agents of social change, become instruments of silence and complicity.
4. Objectification and Exploitation by the Media
"the press sees a headline and a photo feature"
Instead of activism or justice, the media sensationalizes suffering.The girl’s trauma becomes a commodity for viewership and readership.The media’s failure to address systemic issues reflects the superficial nature of public empathy.
5. Institutional Failure in Healthcare and Justice
"the doctor sees a case of medical emergency"
The doctor only intervenes after the damage is done.No focus is placed on preventing such violence or seeking justice.It reflects how public services remain reactive, not proactive, especially for marginalized communities.
6. Physical and Symbolic Violence
"her left eye, lid open but light slapped away"
The physical injury to her eye represents both literal violence and a metaphor for lost innocence.The “light slapped away” indicates a forced blindness, not just of sight but of hope, education, and future potential.Violence becomes a way to discipline Dalits into silence and reinforce social control.
7. Permanent Emotional and Psychological Damage
"dhanam sees a world torn in half"
Dhanam, though a child, is forced into an early understanding of social injustice.The world is now split into “us” and “them”, a cruel realization of caste apartheid.It shows how trauma not only injures the body but also fractures one’s worldview and self-worth.
8. Caste Discrimination as a Deep Structural Problem
The poem suggests that casteism is not isolated, but deeply embedded in:
Education
Healthcare
Media
Social customs
These systems don’t just neglect Dalits—they actively contribute to their oppression.
9. Gendered Dimension of Caste Violence
Dhanam is a young girl—and her gender makes her even more vulnerable.Dalit women face intersectional oppression—at the hands of caste, patriarchy, and poverty.The violence against Dhanam is also a message to discipline Dalit femininity, reinforcing their place at the bottom of the social hierarchy.
10. Lack of Legal Accountability
The poem indirectly questions: Where is the law?
Despite being illegal, untouchability continues in practice, especially in rural India.There is no mention of police or justice in the poem, highlighting the absence of legal intervention for Dalit victims.
11. Hypocrisy of 'Modern' India
India claims to be a modern democracy, but ancient caste practices still govern daily life.The poem challenges the myth of progress, showing how ritual purity and caste identity still dominate public behavior.
12. Resistance Through Voice
Though Dhanam is injured, Meena Kandasamy gives her a voice.The poem itself is a form of protest literature, part of a larger Dalit feminist movement.It insists that silence is not an option—telling Dhanam’s story is an act of resistance and healing.
Short question :
What does the “one eye” symbolize in the poem?
In Meena Kandasamy’s poem “One-Eyed”, the “one eye” of the young Dalit girl Dhanam holds deep symbolic meaning. It is not just a physical injury, but a powerful metaphor that reflects multiple layers of social injustice, trauma, and resistance. Here's a detailed explanation of what the “one eye” symbolizes in the poem.
1. Loss of Innocence
Dhanam is a child, full of curiosity and innocence, simply trying to drink water.When her eye is damaged, it symbolizes the violent end of her childhood innocence.The injury marks her forced entry into the harsh realities of caste and cruelty.
2. Social Blindness and Caste Oppression
“her left eye, lid open but light slapped away”
Though her eye is physically open, it can no longer see—this line reflects how society sees Dalits, but refuses to acknowledge their humanity.The “light slapped away” suggests a deliberate act of suppression, echoing how caste society keeps Dalits in metaphorical darkness—denying them education, dignity, and equal rights.
3. Permanent Scar of Discrimination
The one eye becomes a visible reminder of caste violence.It is symbolic of how Dalits are marked and mutilated by society, both physically and emotionally.Dhanam carries this scar for life, reflecting how caste-based trauma leaves lifelong impact.
4. Fragmented Vision of the World
“dhanam sees a world torn in half.”
With only one eye left, Dhanam’s vision is incomplete—just as her social reality is divided.She now sees the world as it really is: one side privileged, the other oppressed.The one eye symbolizes the split between the touchables and untouchables, a world divided by caste and cruelty.
5. Silencing and Punishment for Crossing Boundaries
The attack on her eye is a punishment for breaking caste boundaries—for touching water meant for upper castes.The loss of her eye symbolizes how Dalits are “blinded” or punished whenever they try to assert their rights or humanity.
6. Suppression of Knowledge and Awareness
Eyes are often symbols of knowledge, learning, and enlightenment.By damaging her eye, society metaphorically attempts to keep her—and her community—away from empowerment.It reflects how access to education, self-awareness, and agency is violently restricted for Dalits.
7. Symbol of Resistance and Testimony
Even though Dhanam loses one eye, she still sees the world with the other.Her survival and awareness despite the violence makes the “one eye” a symbol of resistance—she sees the truth and can bear witness to it.Through Meena Kandasamy’s poetry, this one eye becomes a lens for exposing caste injustice to the world.
Step 2: Prepare a report of the group discussion addressing the following questions:
Which poem and questions were discussed by the group? Was there any unique approach or technique used by your group to discuss the topic?
We discussed the poem One-Eyed by Meena Kandasamy. We gave priority to our own perspectives. The questions we discussed were:
1. Theme of the poem
2. Symbolism in the poem
3. Caste discrimination
4. Reference to the poet
5. Nature vs. Human
6. Humanism
7. Reality of the people."
Who led the discussion or contributed most to the discussion? Did everyone contribute equally?
In our group, we contributed equally. I (Nirali) discussed the concept of humanism and the basic idea of the poem. Kumkum explained the entire story to Tanvi, as she was absent when Ma’am gave the lecture on One-Eyed. Nikita talked about the significance of 'one-eyed' and what it symbolizes. Khushi spoke about caste discrimination in India and the construction of Indian society. Krishna mentioned that Meena Kandasamy also belongs to the Dalit community, which makes the poem even more impactful. Finally, Tanvi also shared her views on the poem. Overall, we all gained a clear understanding of the poem
Which points were easy and which ones were difficult for everyone in your group to understand?
Easy Points:
The easy points for us were caste discrimination, the significance of "one-eyed," and the use of natural elements in the poem.
Difficult Point:
The difficult point for us was understanding how even the education system is biased and does not treat everyone equally. We understood this idea, but it was hard for us to accept.
Step 3: Briefly present your learning outcomes from this activity.
The learning outcomes from this discussion are that we got to know each person’s views and how they think about certain topics and their level of understanding. It also helped us for academic purposes and made our bond with friends in the group stronger.
Thank you
