“…we will take care of the lip… And school, too": A Feminist Investigation of Prajwal Parajuly’s “The Cleft” Anonymous College

Prajwal Parajuly’s “The Cleft” discusses the theme of gender experiences in detail; the theme is intertwined with physical disability. Kaali’s adverse experiences stem from the cleft on her lips. Even though this short story seems like a casual exchange between a mistress and her maid;’ it explores deep rooted issues that call for a feminist criticism. “The Cleft” has a feminist agenda of empowering females that have physical disabilities; from a feminist angle, Prajwal Parajuly’s “The Cleft” explores the convergence between physically disability and gender experiences.

Parvati’s utterances are prejudiced. In the course of their discussion, Parvati tells Kaali “not to forget the way you (Kaali) look—black as coal and those grotesque lips.” Here, Parvanti subjects Kaali to psychological torture. She hurts her by reducing her worth to the cleft . The psychological torment is aimed at making Kaali feel privileged to work for Parvati. Why would a fully grown woman like Parvati make a thirteen year old girl feel bad because of how she looks? Parvati believes in the mentality that looks are what define a girl, a girl should be good looking for her gender experiences to be better; in other words, men will like her if she is not “black...