Gulbahar's language and mobility

Gulbahar aka Gullo Rani is a complex character, that fluctuates most evidently when in the public and private sphere. As discussed in class, Gulbahar undergoes social mobility through her marriage to Wadera Lal Hussain Shah. However, this mobility is strangely restricted within the boundaries of the home provided to her by Shah ji. Here her language is that of utmost repspect and humbleness as she refers to herself as transitioning from 'peetal' to 'sona'. Within these boundaries her language is refined and cultured as she frequently refers to him as her savior, giving her a life of 'izzat' which she doesn’t deserve. Hence, within her private sphere Gulbahar's language enables us to see how her social mobility is structured. She may be the feudal lords wife and that places her amongst the upper class but her position is very much restricted and almost prison like in those walls.

On the other hand when in the private her class ascendancy is perhaps more visible since it is here we actually see the perks of her being married to wadera Lal Hussain. However, her language takes a complete reversal in the public. More specifically when she visits Heera Mandi to meet the pimp, her language very conveniently interchanges words such as 'apkay' for 'teray'. The respect and humbleness is all lost, yet it is here that she is able to exert herself as someone from the upper class as she refers to herself by saying, 'Mein Gulbahar nahi shah ji ki biwi hoon'. In this way even though her language reverts to her original self, she still derives her social standing through her relationship to Shah ji.

Hence, even though she may have achieved social mobility, her language of humility restricts her from being vocal of her sentiments in the home provided by her savior. However, it is only in public that her new position manifests itself as in the private she is mostly restricted to being Shah ji's subordinate.