Clear light of day- Significance of Baba

The Significance of Baba

Baba, like the major characters of the Clear Light of Day plays a vital role although he is speech impaired due to his mental disability. Baba's mental capacity is not equivalent to that of his age. His character symbolises or reflects Old Deli- " Old Delhi dies, not changes. It only decays." because he does not speak verbally but instead through his actions. This can be seen through his attraction to the "gramophone" and "marbles". Baba can be considered to have ousted Tara out of her position of bieng the youngest in the Family. He was also the reason why Mrs. Das sought for the help of Aunt Mira who aided in his development by playing games and practiciing his speech along with his cognition of his surroundings. Aunt Mira helped Baba to relate his needs to his family members which created their acceptance of disabled individuals and Bim, his older sister loved him dearly while taking it upon herself to care for him daily as they grew older. Baba was seen as equal within his siblings' eyes since they never treated him as if were different and they tried to encourage him to break through his barrier of which he was mentally incapable of doing. For example, his siblings encouraged him to go to work in their offices of which he was suppose to assume the position left for Raja upon the death of Mr. Das. Finally, Baba's view on life remained stagnant as was Old Delhi while his siblings' lives were continously changing like New Delhi.