TITLE- POONACHI OR THE STORY OF A BLACK GOAT
AUTHOR- PERUMAL MURUGAN
NUMBER OF PAGES- 170
GENRE- FICTION
PUBLISHERS- WESTLAND BOOKS
FORMAT- HARDCOVER
About the book-
An old man is watching the sunset over his village one quite evening when a mysterious stranger turns up with the gift of a day old goat kid. Thus begins the story of Poonachi, the little black goat whose fragility and fecundity becomes cause for wonderment to all those around her.
From the eagle that swoops down on her to the wildcat that attempts to snatch her away within days of her arrival, the old man and his wife struggle to keep their tiny miracle alive. Before they know it, Poonachi has become the center of their meagre world and the old woman and she are inseparable.
Life is not easy for any of them- farmers, goatherds or goats. The rains play truant, the Gods claim their sacrifices, and the forest waits to lure unwary creatures into its embrace. Through it all, Poonachi watches and silently questions the ways of the humans who alternately protect and wound her.
Wrought by the imagination of a skilful storyteller, this delicate yet complex story of the animal world is about life and death and all that breathes in between. It is also a commentary of out times, on the unequal hierarchies of class and colour, and the increasing vulnerability of individuals who choose to speak up rather than submit to the vagaries of an ambitious incomponent state.
My rating- ★★★★.5☆
My review-
"Everyone was well versed in how they were expected to behave towards the regime. They had mouth only to keep shut, hands only to make obeisance, knees only to bend and kneel, backs only to bend and bodies only to shrink before the authorities."
This is the story of Poonachi or the black goat who was handed over to the old man as an infant- thus began her journey with the human world. The story revolves around the care with which she was bought up, her moments of happiness and her moments of struggle with her family. She goes through various experiences- she is subjected to scorn and love alternately, she learns about the ways of love- the happiness of being with the one she loved, the sorrow of separation, her struggle to keep herself and her children alive, her desire to break free from her family at one point of time and many more.
The life of Poonachi reflects the human life on the greater aspect- focusing on their day to day struggle just to stay alive, the discrimination faced by them in the hands of authorities,the way one becomes famous only when they become a part of a miracle- and ordinary lives are forgotten, the difficulties faced by them to make the ends meet, the emotional attachment they experience at different stages of life, the worldly desires that they possess and the raw human emotions enveloping their wants and needs.
This is a story which speaks volumes of the common human life, the life of the females specifically in the present society by the personification of the black goat. Poonachi's life story is described very elaborately, with the exact emotions that she feels at every point- it gives the readers something to relate with, her experiences describing how the humans would have felt in those situations.
A few pages spanning over a whole lifetime containing powerful words- this is one piece of dystopian literature which not only serves as a simple yet realistic story but has a deep hidden meaning which not only points out to the wrongs in the system but also human beings as a whole. A heart breaking story which leaves the readers pondering over a lot of questions.
Characters-
Poonachi- she is the protagonist of the story who is the one personified- she brings to the readers the perils of life and snatches of happiness in between. She is symbolic of all the things females are subjected to and how they should become resilient to everything. She is portrayed as a strong female character who survives every adversity life subjects her to- only to make her a stone idol in the end.
The old lady- she is the one who bought up Poonachi with all the love and care she could provide. Despite being an old soul with necessities of her own she protected Poonachi all her life. She symbolizes the human nature which helps mother's nurture their own child. As the story progresses she develops into a character torn between protecting and giving up on Poonachi. She is a perfect example of the love humans show to their gains and the scorn they show to their loses.
The old man- he is the one who was handed over the black goat. More like he is the father, who protected her from her initial adversities, but later he goes on to play the role of a supporting character. He is symbolic of those humans who hardly think of beyond their own profits.
Writing style-
The story is rather a simple one, descriptions being it's main component. On the surface the narration in straight forward and simple but beneath it is a layered structure giving way to important messages. Written in lucid language this book dwells on a number of social evils- the satire revealing itself as the story progresses.
A solid plotline, heart breaking story, a thought provoking text and an amalgamation of human and animal world- this is one book everyone should read- if you have read George Orwell's Animal farm and have loved it- you are sure to love this too.
Recommending it to everyone- a story which can be finished in a single sitting but it leaves you wondering about the beauty of this book.
Purchase link-
https://www.amazon.in/gp/aw/d/9386850494/ref=ppx_yo_mob_b_old_o0_img?ie=UTF8&psc=1
About the author-
Perumal Murugan heads the department of Tamil literature at a government college in Attur,Tamil Nadu. He is the author of 10 novels and 5 collections each of short stories and poems, as well as 10 books of nonfiction. Several of his novels, stories and poems have been translated into English including Seasons of the Palm, which was shortlisted for the Kiriyama Prize, Current show, One part woman and Pyre. He has also written a memoir, Nizhal Mutrattu Ninaivugal.
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