BREAKING THE SILENCE : A CRITICAL READING OF MADHAVAN’S FEAR OF PULAYAS

Abstract

This paper is an attempt to bring out the marginalised sect into the limelight to make an awareness of the depth of inhuman atrocities meted out to the oppressed of the suppressed class of people, especially women. To be more precise, the story speaks volumes of the sufferings that have been silently endured by the women of the upper caste, more so of the cries of widows, due to the orthodox practices in the upper caste, Namboodar is in the state of Kerala. The story, Fear of Pulayas authored by N.S. Madhavan mirrors the condition of living of these subaltern women. Madhavan has given a befitting climax to the social evils that had prevailed in Kerala in the name of following certain age-old practices in a patriarchal perspective. Breaking the norms and liberating herself from the clutches of the caste system, Savitri, the victim of humiliation, the upper caste Antherjanam holds the hands of Chathan, the Pulaya and hoots like a Pulaya.

Keywords

breaking, silence, fear, pulayas, reading, madhavan

Works Cited

Abdulla. V. & R.E. Asher eds. Wind Flowers Classic Malayalam Stories, Penguin books, 2004.

Alexander, K. C. “Changing status of Pulaya Harijans of Kerala.” Economic and political Weekly, vol. 3, no. 26/28, special number (Jul, 1968), pp. 1071-1074.

“Early Evidence for Caste in South India.” Dimensions of Social Life: Essays in honor of David G.Mandelbaum, edited by Paul Hockings and Mouton de Gruytres, Berlin, New York, Amsterdam, 1987. pp. 467-492.

Madhavan, N.S, Beerangi Paadalgal, Translated by Era Murukan, Kizhakku Pathipagam, 2018.

Madhavan, N. S, Praryayakathakal.  D. C. Books, 2000.

Madhavan. N. S, ed. Malayalakatha-60 Kathakal. D.C.Books. OCLC 10152 64445.

To cite this article

Srilata, K. (2019). Breaking the Silence : A Critical Reading of Madhavan’s Fear Of Pulayas. John Foundation Journal of EduSpark, 1(3), 53-58.