A Story About Masculinity, Desire And Sexuality, Caged Within Caste And Repression

Hungry Humans by Karichan Kunju, (translation by Sudha G Tilak) is the translation of the groundbreaking Tamil novel Pasitha Manidam, first published in 1978, offers deep insight into the conservative and caste-conscious temple town of Kumbakonam. An Excerpt

Ganesan stood staring at the car as it inched forward. He wanted to chase it, grab the woman by the shoulders and ask if it really was her! He wondered what would happen if he actually did that. But then he swung his bag over his shoulder and decided to walk a few paces behind the car. The traffic cleared up, and the vehicles surged forward. Everyone quickened their pace. Ganesan gave up the idea of giving chase.

He had recognized the couple by their speech and looks. He remembered the man as Kitta—the tubby Kitta of his childhood! He was a dull fellow; he hadn’t even cleared the fourth standard. Ganesan’s mind swirled with expletives for him.

Was the lovely Machi his wife now? Well, Machi and her family were known for their good looks and prosperous stature. He recalled her mother, Savitri—a statuesque woman who would make heads turn when she stepped out. Her husband, too, had been towering and handsome, but he had squandered away the family’s fortune.

Machi was Ganesan’s age. He remembered how each summer her clothes would become a little tighter. Her mother would complain loudly that buying clothes for the girl was eating into her budget.

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He recollected how they would sneak away to the gazebo by the temple tank, or head into the mango grove. He couldn’t remember the number of times she had clasped him tightly and covered his mouth with her hungry kisses. How many times had he bought his palm down on hers and clasped her hand, promising to marry her! Back then, he believed he was a tall chap, but Machi would love to brush her breasts against his chest and stand up to her full height, gloating that she was an inch taller.

Ganesan considered Kitta to be a rival. Machi, as his maternal cousin, was the family’s choice of bride for Kitta. Ganesan knew

about the minor scandal that had followed Savitri Maami’s death, when Machi’s father had disappeared—walking away from the

family, but not before hurriedly exchanging some bride price to get that clown Mathoor hitched to Machi. At that time, Kitta was a layabout with no income, which is why he was not married to Machi.

How did Machi end up with Kitta then? Ganesan knew that Mathoor, Kitta and Machi were kinsfolk, but what he had seen in the car was confusing. Machi had a younger sister, Ammu, who had been a toddler when Ganesan left the town. Oh yes, it must have been Ammu in the car! Ganesan’s doubts cleared as he realized that it was indeed Ammu, who looked like the spitting image of her sister. How did that louse Kitta hit the jackpot with both money and a gorgeous wife? Ganesan decided to find out about their whereabouts, especially Machi’s.

Many memories stirred in Ganesan’s mind. The vision of Ammu had not left his eyes. He found himself aroused, just like he had been at the hospital. He tried to battle these urges. He tried to steel himself to float through the currents of life with no attachment of the heart, mind or body weighing him down.

‘Excerpted with permission, from Hungry Humans by Karichan Kunju, translation by Sudha G Tilak published by Penguin.

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