This blog is written as part of a group discussion task assigned by Prakruti Ma'am. The focus of the blog is on the poem “One-Eyed” by Meena Kandasamy.
About Meena Kandasamy :-
Meena Kandasamy is an Indian poet, writer, and activist born in 1984 in Chennai. She writes in English and focuses on caste discrimination, women's rights, and social justice. Her famous books include the poetry collections Touch and Ms Militancy, and novels like The Gypsy Goddess and When I Hit You. Her writing is bold and powerful, giving a voice to the oppressed and lower caste communities. She has received many awards and is known for using literature to fight against injustice.
Question:
What kind of treatment is given to the untouchables? Discuss with reference to the poem “One-Eyed” by Meena Kandasamy.
Answer:
In the poem “One-Eyed,” Meena Kandasamy gives us a real and painful picture of how untouchables or Dalits are treated cruelly and unfairly in society. The poem talks about a young Dalit girl named Dhanam, who is beaten and loses her eyesight simply because she tries to drink water from a pot meant for upper castes.
This act something as simple and basic as drinking water becomes the reason for violence against her. Kandasamy uses this incident to show how deeply caste-based discrimination is still rooted in our society.
Lines 1–3: Nature Sees Innocence:-
“the pot sees just another noisy child
the glass sees an eager and clumsy hand
the water sees a parched throat slaking thirst”
Explanation:
These lines are very poetic and full of personification. The non-living objects like the pot, glass, and water are described as if they can see and feel. But they don’t see caste.
They see only what is natural:
The pot sees a child being playful.
The glass sees a child trying to drink.
The water sees a thirsty throat that needs relief.
This shows that nature treats everyone equally. Water, pot, and glass do not judge who is Dalit or upper caste. They respond only to human need, not to social rules.
This part of the poem shows the innocence of the Dalit girl she is just a child, like any other, doing something very simple: drinking water.
Lines 4–7: Society Responds Cruelly
“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”
Explanation:
Here, the poem shifts tone. Now we move from the natural world to society’s response and it is filled with prejudice, selfishness, and inhumanity.
The teacher is not worried about the child’s thirst or rights instead, she thinks the girl broke a rule (because Dalits are not allowed to touch water or drink from the same pot in some caste-based spaces).
The doctor sees her injury but only as a medical case, not as a victim of caste violence.The school is concerned about its image. It doesn’t support the girl; instead, it wants to avoid being blamed.
The media sees a chance to make news, not to fight for justice. Her pain becomes a “headline” a story to sell.
This shows how each part of the system education, medicine, institutions, and media fails her. Instead of protecting or helping Dhanam, they ignore the real reason for her suffering caste discrimination.
This reflects how Dalits are treated as invisible or unimportant in many public spaces. Their pain is not taken seriously, and they are often blamed for the injustice they suffer.
Lines 8–10: The Girl’s Pain and Caste Reality :
“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.”
Explanation:
VIn these final lines, we finally hear Dhanam’s view the view of the victim.And it is heartbreaking.
She sees the world as divided: One part for those who are allowed to drink water, and the other part (where she belongs) that is punished for touching it.
Her left eye is injured it is open but cannot see. She has lost her eyesight, not by accident, but as punishment.
All she did was drink "touchable water" water meant for upper castes. But since she is “untouchable,” her act of touching that water becomes a crime in society’s eyes.
This line “the price for a taste of that touchable water” shows the cruel reality of caste. Even today, in many places, Dalits face violence just for using a public water source.
This part of the poem shows the physical and emotional damage caused by untouchability.
Dhanam doesn’t just lose her eye she loses faith in the fairness of the world.
What Kind of Treatment is Given to Untouchables?
1) Dehumanizing :-
People from lower castes are often not treated as full human beings. Their basic needs, such as drinking water, education, and self-respect, are ignored or denied. In the poem, the girl is not treated with kindness or care instead, she is punished for simply trying to drink water. This shows that lower caste individuals are seen as unworthy of the rights that others enjoy freely. Society judges them unfairly and sees them as less important.
2. Violent and Brutal :-
The response to the girl’s action is not just verbal or emotional it becomes physically violent. A small girl becomes blind in one eye only because she touched a water pot. This act of violence shows how cruel the treatment of lower caste people can be. Even innocent actions are seen as offenses, and the punishment is extremely harsh. It reflects a deep hatred and cruelty that still exists in caste-based discrimination.
3. Ignored by the System :-
When injustice happens to people from lower castes, institutions like schools, hospitals, and officials often ignore them. In the poem, the teacher focuses only on rules, the doctor treats the case without asking why it happened, and the school worries about its image. No one thinks about the injustice faced by the girl. This shows that the system does not support lower caste individuals instead, it tries to hide their pain or avoid taking responsibility.
Conclusion :-
Through the poem “One-Eyed,” Meena Kandasamy gives us a powerful message: Caste violence is still real, and the untouchables are still not treated as equal citizens. Dhanam’s story may seem small, but it represents the pain of many Dalits in India who are punished just for existing, for touching, or for being seen in the wrong place.
What does the “one eye” symbolize in the poem?
In Meena Kandasamy’s powerful poem One-Eyed, the “one eye” is not just a description of a physical injury it becomes a strong symbol of caste discrimination, injustice, violence, and painful awareness. The poem tells the story of a lower-caste girl named Dhanam, who loses vision in one eye after being beaten for drinking water from a pot that was meant for upper-caste people. Through this event, the poem explores how deeply rooted caste-based hatred can destroy not only the body but also the dignity and freedom of an individual.
1) Caste-Based Violence and Cruelty :-
The “one eye” is a direct result of physical violence done to a lower caste girl for doing something as natural as drinking water. This act of cruelty is a punishment for crossing a caste boundary even though it was an innocent action by a child. The poet writes:
“her left eye, lid open but light slapped away,
the price for a taste of that touchable water.”
These lines show that Dhanam’s eye is open, but she has lost the light her vision is gone forever. This image is not just about blindness it becomes a symbol of how violently the caste system punishes those who try to live equally.
This tells us that caste discrimination is not just about untouchability in words it leads to brutal actions where even children are harmed for touching water that is not “allowed” for them. The “one eye” becomes a mark of caste cruelty.
2. Loss of Innocence and Basic Rights
The poem begins with nature’s view of the girl:
“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 show that non-living things like the pot, the glass, and the water do not discriminate they accept the girl as just a child. But the teacher sees a girl breaking a rule, and the school and doctor also focus on discipline or embarrassment, not justice.
The “one eye” in this case becomes a symbol of how a child’s innocence is destroyed because of caste rules. A child should be free to drink water when thirsty but here, her thirst leads to punishment. The injury becomes a symbol of lost freedom, stolen childhood, and denied basic human rights.
3. Failure of Institutions and Society :-
The “one eye” also reflects the failure of society’s institutions school, teacher, doctor, and media to support the victim. Each one avoids the truth:
The teacher only sees a broken rule.
The doctor only sees a medical case.
The school worries about its image.
The media uses the story for headlines and photos.
None of them sees injustice. But the girl, even with just one eye, sees the truth clearly:
“Dhanam sees a world torn in half.”
Her one eye sees a world divided by caste, where power lies with those who can choose to ignore pain, and suffering is reserved for the powerless. So, the one eye becomes a symbol of truth and painful awareness. Even though she is injured, Dhanam is the one who understands the real face of society.
4. Permanent Scar and Silence :-
The one-eyed girl now carries a permanent scar both physical and emotional. This scar is not just her injury but also a reminder of how society silences the voices of lower caste people. The violence done to her is also a message to others: “stay in your place, or suffer the same.”
She does not speak in the poem, but her injured eye speaks for her. It represents:
Pain that cannot be erased
Injustice that cannot be forgotten
Fear that controls others silently
The “one eye” becomes a symbol of oppression, showing how caste society uses fear and violence to maintain its power.
conclusion :-
In the “one eye” in Meena Kandasamy’s poem One-Eyed is not just about a girl losing her eyesight. It shows the pain and unfair treatment that lower caste people, especially children, face in society. Dhanam is punished for doing something very simple drinking water. This shows how cruel and unjust the caste system can be. The people around her the teacher, doctor, school, and media do not help her or understand her pain. But even with one eye, Dhanam sees the truth: that the world is divided and unfair. The “one eye” becomes a strong symbol of suffering, truth, and the need for justice and equality for everyone.
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?
In our group, we discussed the poem "One-Eyed" written by Rachana Joshi. The poem is about a woman named Dhanam, who belongs to a lower-class community and has suffered a lot in her life. She lost one of her eyes, which becomes a powerful symbol in the poem. We talked about how this loss is not just physical, but also emotional and social. The poem shows how women like Dhanam, who come from poor and oppressed communities, are often victims of violence, injustice, and discrimination.
We also discussed how the image of Dhanam with one eye represents the idea that even though society tries to silence and ignore her, she still sees the truth. Her one eye becomes a symbol of strength, survival, and awareness. Dhanam may have lost one eye, but she has not lost her spirit or her ability to observe and understand the cruelty of the world around her. This makes the poem very emotional and powerful.
One of the most important points we discussed was how this poem is still very relevant in today’s time. Even now, many people from lower-class or Dalit communities face class discrimination. They are not treated equally in society. They suffer from poverty, lack of opportunities, and social injustice. Many of them, especially women, go through similar pain and suffering as Dhanam. The poem gives voice to these people who are usually ignored or unheard.
Our group also talked about the different ways we can understand and look at this poem. Some of us focused on Dhanam’s pain and helplessness, while others saw her as a symbol of courage and resistance. We discussed how the poem allows us to see the reality from many angles like gender, class, and power. This shows that the poem is not only about one person, but about many women and lower-class people who face similar struggles.
Which points were easy and which ones were difficult for everyone in your group to understand?
In our group, all the members understood the basic idea of the poem One-Eyed by Rachana Joshi. Everyone understood what the poem is about and how it is connected to real life and society. We talked about how the poem shows the pain of lower-class people and how they still face discrimination even today.
Some members had a little difficulty with a few points when we tried to look at the poem in a deeper and critical way. But we all discussed together and helped each other. Because of this, everyone was able to understand the poem better and learn more about its meaning.
Thank you for reading..
Reference:-
Kandasamy, Meena. “ONE-Eyed.” PoemHunter, 4 Aug. 2016, www.poemhunter.com/poem/one-eyed-2/. Accessed 16 July 2025.
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