Aggression poem by the Meena Kandasamy.docx

Aggression by Meena Kandasamy is a bold feminist poem that redefines aggression as a positive force of resistance and empowerment rather than something negative. Written in free verse, the poem explores the silence and pain women endure, and how that silence eventually breaks into wails, protest, or even revolution. Kandasamy presents aggression as a necessary response to oppression, especially for marginalized women who face caste, gender, and class-based discrimination. Through powerful imagery, repetition, and a rebellious tone, the poem emphasizes that aggression can be the best way to fight injustice and reclaim dignity. It is both a personal and political statement, reflecting Kandasamy’s identity as a Dalit feminist poet who uses her words as weapons of survival, protest, and change.

1. "Aggression" by Meena Kandasamy
Facts about the Poem “Aggression” – Meena Kandasamy
1. Author:
●Written by Meena Kandasamy, a contemporary Indian poet, Dalit activist, feminist, and
writer.
2. Title Meaning:
●The word “Aggression” is usually seen as negative, but in this poem, it is shown as a
positive force of resistance and courage, especially for women.
3. Theme:
●Feminist resistance
●Breaking silence and speaking out
●Turning pain into power
●Reclaiming the idea of aggression as strength
4. Tone and Style:
●Bold, direct, emotional, and powerful
●Uses simple language but with a strong message
●Free verse (no fixed rhyme or meter)
5. Message:
●The poem says that silence and pain, when held in for too long, can lead to emotional
outbursts or even revolutions.
●Aggression is shown as a necessary and empowering tool to fight oppression,
especially for marginalized women.

2. 6. Social and Political Context:
●The poem reflects real struggles of women, especially those who face caste, gender,
and class-based oppression.
●It challenges patriarchal and cultural expectations that women should be silent and
obedient.
7. Repetition and Emphasis:
●The word “waits” is repeated to show how long women stay silent.
●The line “Aggression is the best kind of trouble-shooting” is a key statement —
showing aggression as a smart and strong solution.
8. Literary Techniques Used:
●Metaphor – “our dreams explode” represents how hope and pain can lead to change.
●Imagery – Emotional images like silence, wails, explosions.
●Contrast – Between silence and aggression, pain and power.
9. Published In:
●The poem is part of Meena Kandasamy’s early poetry collections such as Touch (2006)
or Ms. Militancy (2010), which focus on feminist and anti-caste themes.
10. Why it’s important:
●It gives voice to women’s anger.
●It redefines aggression as a form of strength, not weakness.
●It is a great example of feminist poetry from modern India.
●Dalit writer or write in english
●Two collection
1.Touch 2006
2.Ms Militancy 2010

3. ●Based on Double marginalisation
1.Gender
2.Caste
●Dalit is a term coined by Jyoti Rao Phule, Dalan means oppressed
●Brahmans
●Kshatriyas
●Vaishyaas
●Shudras
●Dalits
●Triple marginalization
1.Gender women
2.Class dalit
3.Class poor
●Concept of devdasi, the servants of God mainly serve women's
Ours is a silence
that waits. Endlessly waits.
And then, unable to bear it
any further, it breaks into wails.
But not all suppressed reactions
end in our bemoaning the tragedy.
Sometimes,

4. the outward signals
of inward struggles takes colossal forms
And the revolution happens because our dreams explode.
Most of the time:
Aggression is the best kind of trouble-shooting.
Line 1-2:
"Ours is a silence / that waits. Endlessly waits."
This means women are often silent, not because they agree, but because they are
forced to wait , suffer, or stay quiet .
The silence is not peaceful — it is tense, full of held-back feelings.
Line 3-4:
"And then, unable to bear it / any further, it breaks into wails."
The silence doesn’t last forever.
When the pain becomes too much, it bursts out as cries or emotional outbursts
(wails = loud cries).
It shows that silence can turn into visible pain.
Line 5-6:
"But not all suppressed reactions / end in our bemoaning the tragedy."
The poet says that not all reactions to pain end in just crying or complaining
(bemoaning).
Sometimes, something stronger and more powerful happens.
Line 7-10:
"Sometimes, / the outward signals / of inward struggles takes colossal forms /
And the revolution happens because our dreams explode."

5. Sometimes, the struggles inside us become so big that they burst out in the form of
huge action or revolution.
Our dreams and hopes, when denied or crushed, can explode — and this explosion
becomes a movement for change .
It means: pain can turn into protest and silence into revolution.
Line 11-12:
"Most of the time: / Aggression is the best kind of trouble-shooting."
The poet ends by saying that being aggressive — standing up, speaking out,
fighting back — is often the best solution.
Here, aggression is not negative — it’s shown as bold, brave, and necessary to
fight injustice and pain.
Summary of the Meaning:
This poem tells us that women are often silent, but that silence is filled with pain and anger.
When that silence breaks, it can come out as crying, or even as strong actions like revolution.
The poem says that being aggressive is not wrong — sometimes it’s the only way to fix things.
Aggression becomes a tool of resistance, courage, and change.
The poem “Aggression” talks about the hidden pain and silent suffering that women often go
through. In the beginning, the poet says that this silence keeps waiting, quietly holding back
emotions. But after a point, this silence becomes too heavy and bursts out in loud cries.
However, not all pain leads to crying. Sometimes, the inner struggles grow so big that they turn
into bold actions and revolution. The poet believes that aggression is not always bad. In fact,
many times, aggression is the best way to fight back against injustice and solve problems.
Through this poem, Meena Kandasamy redefines aggression as a powerful and positive force
— a way for women to resist, survive, and create change in a world that tries to silence them.
About the Poet:
●Meena Kandasamy is a contemporary Indian poet, writer, and activist.
●She writes on caste, gender, identity, and resistance.

6. ●Her poetry is known for being bold, direct, and political.
About the Poem:
●The poem “Aggression” redefines the word from a feminist point of view.
●Usually, aggression is seen as something negative or violent, especially when shown by
women.
●But in this poem, Kandasamy shows it as a positive force — an energy that helps
women fight back against oppression.
Theme:
1.Feminine Resistance – How women use their inner strength to fight back.
2.Reclaiming Power – Women taking control of their bodies, voices, and lives.
3.Breaking Stereotypes – Challenging the idea that women should always be quiet, soft,
or submissive.
4.Empowerment through Aggression – Turning anger and resistance into creative,
powerful acts.
Explanation (Simplified):
●The poem shows a woman who refuses to stay silent.
●Her aggression is not cruelty, but courage.
●She uses her words as weapons, poetry as protest.
●She does not apologize for being angry or loud — instead, she celebrates her strength.
●Her aggression is her freedom, her feminism, and her self-respect.
Tone of the Poem:
●Bold, Rebellious, Powerful
●It inspires women to rise up and speak out.
Important Lines & Meaning:

7. ●"I found my voice.
→ She has discovered her ability to speak for herself.
●"Aggression is my language.
→ Her way of expressing truth and justice is through strong, bold words.
Key Points for Quick Revision
●Written by Meena Kandasamy, a feminist Dalit poet.
●Challenges traditional ideas of how women should behave.
●Aggression is not negative — it is a form of strength.
●The poem supports women’s freedom, power, and protest.
●Uses direct language to show anger as a form of resistance.
Why It Matters in Exams:
●Shows modern feminist ideas.
●Connects personal voice with political protest.
●Great example of how poetry can be used as activism.
Background understanding
The poem "Aggression" was written by Meena Kandasamy, an Indian poet, activist, and writer
known for speaking out about caste discrimination, gender inequality, and women's rights.
As a Dalit woman and feminist, Kandasamy writes from her own experiences of oppression,
resistance, and struggle. This poem reflects the anger and strength of women who have been
silenced for too long. It shows how silence is not acceptance, but something that can turn into
powerful action. The background of the poem is rooted in the realities faced by marginalized
women, especially in India, and it calls for breaking silence and using aggression as a form of
protest. Kandasamy redefines aggression as a tool for survival, empowerment, and change.