#BookReview ; Poonachi by Perumal Murugan

Through a seeming act of providence, an old couple receives a day-old female goat kid as a gift from the cosmos. Thus begins the story of Poonachi, the little orphan goat.

As you follow her story from forest to habitation, independence to motherhood, you recognise in its significant moments the depth and magnitude of your own fears and longings, fuelled by the instinct for survival that animates all life. Masterly and nuanced, Perumal Murugan’s tale forces us reflect on our own responses to hierarchy and ownership, selflessness and appetite, love and desire, living and dying. 

Poonachi is the story of a goat who carries the burden of being different all her life, of a she-goat who survives against the odds. It is equally an expression of solidarity with the animal world and the female condition. The tale is also a commentary on our times, on the choices we make as a society and a nation, and the increasing vulnerability of individuals, particularly writers and artists, who resist when they are pressed to submit.

Poonachi or The Story of a Black Goat is originally written in Tamil by Perumal Murugan, translated into English by N. Kalyan Raman & published by Context, an imprint of Westland. Perumal Murugan heads the department of Tamil literature at a government college in Attur, Tamil Nadu. He is the author of ten novels & five collections each of short stories & poems, as well as ten books of non-fiction. N. Kalyan Raman is a Chennai based translator of Tamil fiction & poetry into English. He has published ten works of translated fiction & over 200 anthologies in India & abroad.

The story revolves around Poonachi, a black goat who was gifted to an old man by a mysterious person. Being a day old, the old man & his wife both were worried about her well being & from then her story of survival began. As she was already quite weak & frail, the old woman paid special ate ntion to her & gradually started feeling quite close to her. But as she grew up along with other goats that belonged to the old couple, she learns a couple of things about the lives of goats. In a series of events which leave her heartbroken & dejected, she realizes the bitter truth of life. A story about a goat but not entirely. Do get this book here,

I love Perumal Murugan hence I had a feeling that I’ll love this book too & that’s what happened. Though the story revolves around a goat we have to understand the underlying theme. The author has successfully layered several themes like politics, superstition, etc into the storyline without overpowering it. Whether it’s the compulsory tagging of goats or standing in queues, each subplot is a brilliant work in itself. The story turns emotional in several chapters where the reader would definitely feel the pain of the goat & that is only possible because of a strong storyline. I won’t forget to mention how amazingly it has been translated. The language is extremely easy, the title can’t be better & the cover is unforgettable. Deserves to be read by everyone.