Dumb Blonde, Dumb Dora, Blondie etc.

WORD PLAY: In the modern period, the expression ‘dumb blonde’ becomes a marker, typifying golden-haired Caucasian women as possessing limited intelligence. The idea of women as attractive but foolish was acceptable in most parts of the world, because everywhere average women had less rights, dignity and opportunities than the average man.

By Ratna Raman

WORD PLAY: The sounds humans make through languages sets up various field of communication. Humans not only speak but also write various scripts as they put together thoughts that come to the mind. Spoken and written languages constitute a complex cultural artefact that allows us to navigate the world we occupy. Yet, very often, language can misrepresent or overlook truths.

Take for instance the fact that people who were unable to speak or hear were classified as mute and deaf and remained objects of censure or ridicule for an incredibly long time. Helen Keller’s story began when after an illness of 19 months, she was unable to see or hear. Her life in a wealthy American home highlights the possibility of life transformation, wherein resources, along with a questing spirit and hopefulness, can make a difference. Helen’s family found her a tutor, Anne Sullivan, who wrote words upon her palm and introduced her to the world of language.

Helen’s transformation, however, did not halt the metaphorical use of terms such as ‘deaf’ and ‘mute’ to refer disparagingly to people who were perfectly normal.

In America, in spite of Helen Keller’s inspiring story, Chic Young in the 1930s ran a cartoon strip called ‘Blondie’ (1930-1972) that evolved from the alliterative ‘Dumb Dora’ (American slang for a foolish woman) narratives he had spun previously.  As female cartoons who were not too bright.

‘Dumb Dora’ and ‘Blondie’ were the prototypes for the ‘Dumb Blonde’ who punctuated narratives and cinema, while real women were battling over laws, rights and suffrage in the midst of world wars, re-scripting their lives and redefining their roles.

In the modern period, the expression ‘dumb blonde’ becomes a marker, typifying golden-haired Caucasian women as possessing limited intelligence. The idea of women as attractive but foolish was acceptable in most parts of the world, because everywhere in the world average women had less rights, dignity, and opportunities than the average man.

Closer home in India, Indira Gandhi was described as ‘goongi gudiya’ (dumb doll) when she newly arrived at the citadel of power in the 1960s. Dumb doll or ‘goongi gudiya’ is the Indian variant of Dumb Blonde, perhaps, suggesting both powerlessness and lack of vision.

Demonstrating that she was articulate, resilient, intelligent and strong, Indira Gandhi took down Pakistan and liberated Bangladesh in 1971, defending her decision in international forums. She stood up to America, with statesmanship, crafted diplomacy, and visionary defiance. She signed a 20-year treaty with Soviet Russia. She nationalized the banks. She was also called ‘the only man in her cabinet’.

A few years down the line she bore down on the right of her opponents to speak, protest and write, declaring a state of Emergency in India. She had to revoke the clampdown very soon thereafter because the people of the country, trained in democracy since the freedom movement, voiced their strong objection to the Emergency. 

In India’s public sphere, muteness is no longer an honorific solely associated with women. Another prime minister, Manmohan Singh, a quiet, taciturn economist, who made no bombastic speeches, was termed ‘Maun’ (silent or non-speaking) Mohan Singh, by certain opposition leaders who accused him of remaining silent on crucial issues. This was of course at a time when prime ministers were accountable and addressed Press Conferences.

Our current PM (red eyes, etc,), otherwise highly articulate, observes a studied radio silence on crucial national issues such as the negative consequences of demonetization, dissenters and young scholars, among others, jailed for speaking out, arrested using coercive laws, reminiscent of the colonial era. His silence is stark on issues of mob-lynching (and bulldozers) of hapless members from the minority community, the correct number of Covid deaths, mass unemployment, the trauma of Manipur, the horror of Gaza, the brazen security lapse during the Pahalgam killings -- and, of course, China.

All of which is in sharp contrast to his periodic ‘Man ki Baat’ to the nation. What we have learnt through the silence, which is his chosen mode of articulation on certain delicate or burning issues, is that these important issues are not on his mind and are unlikely to be given utterance.

In times long gone by, the proverb, ‘Silence is Golden’ did the rounds. At this time speech was seen as ‘silver’. These associations have shifted in the face of modernity.

At a time when silence was valued, it could be seen as golden. At the still point of the world, perhaps, ‘golden silences’ exist, at sunrise and at sunset. Now, in our very noisy and cacophonous biosphere, new scientific discoveries speak about the healing power of sound in varying megahertz.

In the turbulent and twisted times that we occupy, silences can become intimidating, threatening and terrifying, despite the absence of eerie sound-effects created on television and box office Bollywood, to accompany ominous situations. Or, while manufacturing fake (or objective) news, such as during Operation Sindoor.

Indeed, speech itself is under threat

We cannot speak our mind and we are no longer free to do so, in contemporary India, and in many parts of the world.  In ancient Greece, there is the story of Philomela, who is pursued and raped by her brother-in-law and has her tongue cut off so that she does not articulate either her grief, or reveal the name of the person who had so grievously wronged her.

Silence in Philomela’s instance was not golden, but ghastly

Silence is viewed as golden only by people in authority, since it allows them to quell dissent. Speaking truth to power, as we all know, has a great cost. 

Today, silver remains an expensive metal and while eloquent speakers are termed ‘silver-tongued orators’, our underlying anxiety is that they should not turn out to be demagogues who will sell us down the river for a few pieces of silver.

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Ratna Raman is Professor, English Department, Sri Venkateswara College, Delhi University.