Perumal Murugan Q&A: ‘It has always been my nature to go against the grain’
Acclaimed Tamil author (most-recently of Resolve) Perumal Murugan spoke about satire and literature, about men and women, and about being ‘controversy’s favourite child’.
Tamil author Perumal Murugan has said that his work allows everyone to fit in, for everyone to debate. He has said that he wants to communicate across time and space.
Murugan’s writings are primarily bold conversations provoking deep thought; but often, those thoughts have built up to action, as well. In 2015, he proclaimed his own ‘death’ after right-wing groups agitated against his fifth novel, Madhurobhagan (One Part Woman). He resumed writing the next year after a Madras High Court ruling in his favour.
His recent book, Resolve—the translated version of the 2014 Tamil novel Kanganam—tells the story of a young man looking for an elusive bride. Marimuthu is a 35-year-old farmer, who is vying with 66 others for the hand of one of the only three young women in the village that are looking for a groom. The novel talks about issues of caste and the societal pressures from family members, astrologers, neighbours and the entire community.
I spoke to the author about satire and literature, about men and women, and about being ‘controversy’s favourite child’. Here are edited excerpts from the interview:
The Chakkar: Why do you write?
Murugan: Even I don’t know the reason! Writing enthralled me at a very young age. I think I discovered it as a way of expressing myself. It turned out to be a path I liked, and it continues on to this day.
The Chakkar: Tell us about Resolve—how did this story come along?
Murugan: Fifteen years have passed since I wrote Resolve in Tamil. I wanted to write a novel based on female infanticide, a topic of widespread discussion during the latter years of the 1980s in Tamil Nadu. It stayed on my mind for a very long time, until 2007, when I finally was able to write it. This is a novel that has come to be after relentlessly pushing me to write it.
The Chakkar: This book is a cultural critique in a satirical tone. Was that always your intention for this project?
Murugan: That is right. My attempt to write this as a parody was successful only to a certain extent. What I wanted was to largely take apart the values related to marriage. This style of writing helped me with that. But it was in Kazhimugam (Estuary) that I found the fullest sense of contentment from the use of this style.
The Chakkar: Speaking of the themes explored in this novel, how would a world bereft of women be?
Murugan: A world without women will be barren. So will be a world without men. It is the intermingling of the two countering opposites that forms this world. There cannot be one without the other.
The Chakkar: Resolve’s protagonist Marimuthu’s matrimonial quest is reminiscent of what many Indian women go through. Was this intentional?
Murugan: By the end of the 20th century, the matrimonial scene in Tamil Nadu went through a shift. It is no longer difficult to find eligible grooms for brides. It is the grooms who have to go seeking eligible brides for themselves. This change is a direct result of the female infanticide practice that spanned several years. Since the 1980s and continuing to this day, the population reflects a ratio of 900 females for every 1,000 males. Because of this, the number of unmarried men is on a considerable rise. That situation is what this novel reflects. I have not deliberately manipulated anything.
The Chakkar: You gave up writing for a while. What was this period like for you as a writer?
Murugan: I did not write only for a short period of time. A different kind of light dawned within me during that time. What I can say is that I experienced the joy of not writing during that period.
The Chakkar: Considering the various issues raised against you and your work in the past, do you consider yourself to be ‘controversy’s favorite child’?
Murugan: A little bit. It has always been my nature to go against the grain. I have faced many challenges even in my relationships because of this. Yet, I am unable to change my nature. I do feel that, at this age, my patience has grown somewhat. I never intend to create controversies. My only intention is to communicate through my creations. I want my work to break social stereotypes.
“Freedom is something that is boundless. Freedom allows anything to be said, written and a nourishing social set-up where they can evolve through exchanges of ideas is what I desire.”
The Chakkar: Do you pre-decide the fate of your characters or do you let your pen guide it?
Murugan: I first create an image in my mind before I start to write. As I write, I begin to let the characters take over and lead me in their way. Sometimes, I chase after them and draw them back to where I want them. I can’t delineate clearly when either of these happens; it is all in the moment. I generally do not decide their fate. I delve deep and show what they have been destined to be. Like the reader, I too am interested to know why they have been cast the way they are.
The Chakkar: You have often turned down invitations to major literary events or other appearances. Do you consider yourself an introvert, or are you consciously trying to escape the public eye?
Murugan: It is my nature to be alone and away. Public spaces, crowds have always scared me. I feel a sense of panic as though I have entered a world I have no connection with. The teaching profession has helped reduce that panic a little. I have been taking part in many events these days. I declined a few due to fatigue from travelling.
The Chakkar: Tell us more about your collaboration with classical vocalist TM Krishna. [In 2021, Murugan and vocalist/activist TM Krishna collaborated to compose a Carnatic music song about Dr BR Ambedkar]
Murugan: I’m just a small instrument helping TM Krishna with his efforts to make Carnatic music relevant to the modern times, that’s all.
The Chakkar: There are a number of larger political concerns about independence and freedom in India today. What is your view as a writer on the idea of Independence?
Murugan: Freedom is something that is boundless. Freedom allows anything to be said, written and a nourishing social set-up where they can evolve through exchanges of ideas is what I desire. Using agitation of the masses as a cover, pointing to values as excuses and employing false pretexts about feelings being hurt to stifle a voice is not to my taste.
The Chakkar: What is the road ahead for you?
Murugan: I have just finished writing a novel. It will be published in Tamil at the end of the year. My mind is immersed currently in writing short stories. I am hopeful that by the end of this year, I would have written a significant number, enough to make a compilation.
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Medha Dutta Yadav is a Delhi-based journalist and literary critic. She writes on art and culture. You can find her on Twitter: @primidutt on Instagram: @primidutt.
