A.K. Ramanujan’s “Obituary” is a moving and reflective poetry that examines the aftermath of the speaker’s father’s passing. The poem explores the material and immaterial legacies that the dead leave behind, looking at how they affect family interactions, memorial ceremonies, and how society as a whole views them.

Loss and Tangible Remains:

Upon the father’s death, the poem begins with a sombre acknowledgement, stating that he left behind “dust on a table of papers.” This material residue represents the physical traces and remains left over after death. The poet deals with debts and daughters right away, as well as the practical effects of the father’s absence.

Family Dynamics and Inheritance:

Beyond financial belongings, a father’s legacy consists of his ties with his family. The reference to a “bedwetting grandson” and the explanation that the naming procedure was determined by tossing a coin after the father emphasise how the father’s life and death affected the family dynamic across generations. The house, represented by a sagging building on a crooked coconut tree, turns into a symbol for the family support network that grew weaker over time.

Rituals and Cultural Practices:

The poem explores the cultural customs surrounding the father’s cremation as well as the rites surrounding death. The father, who is referred to as “the burning type,” is shown as someone who both died with some ease and lived with passion. The poet emphasises the father’s full completion by describing the burning process in great detail.

Symbolism and Ashes:

The description of the father’s remains is symbolic; “eye coins in the ashes” refers to the traces of the deceased’s gaze that remain. Mention of spinal discs, some of which have been burned to coal, is a sobering reminder of one’s own mortality and the physical deterioration that follows death. Sons carefully gathering these remnants lends a tone of ceremonial seriousness.

Societal Recognition:

In spite of the father’s death’s personal toll, the poem also examines how society deals with similar losses. What remains of the father’s memorial is “two lines in an inside column of a Madras newspaper.” The sharp contrast between the loss’s personal significance and its scant public recognition highlights how fleeting people’s lives are in the grand scheme of things.

Legacy and Unfulfilled Actions:

The poem alludes to the father’s unfulfilled actions and the absence of a proper headstone to encapsulate his life in the parentheses of birth and death dates. This lack of a permanent marker contrasts with the father’s burning at both ends, metaphorically representing a life lived intensely.

Personal Reflection and Hope:

The speaker acknowledges the changed dynamics within the family, especially in the persona of the mother, who is now “changed.” The annual rituals mentioned at the end hint at the ongoing process of remembering and commemorating the father’s life, suggesting that his influence lingers even after death.

Conclusion:

“Obituary” is a poignant exploration of the multifaceted nature of loss and the complex ways in which individuals and societies grapple with the aftermath of death. Ramanujan’s use of vivid imagery, symbolism, and personal reflection creates a nuanced portrayal of the impact of the father’s passing on both the familial and societal levels. The poem invites readers to contemplate not only the physical remnants left behind but also the intangible legacy of memories, rituals, and changed relationships that persist in the wake of death.