Beasts of Burden (H.B)

Book Details

• Author: Imayam

• Translated by: Lakshmi Holmstrom

• Publisher: Niyogi Books Pvt. Ltd. (Under the Imprint: Thornbird)

• Edition: First Edition

• Binding: Hardcover

• Number of Pages: 338

• Release Date: 05-06-2019

• ISBN: 9789386906625

• Languages: English

• Dimensions: 9.1 x 5.9 x 0.9 inches

About the Book

Koveru Kazhuthaigal (translated as The Mules of the Vannaan), written by Imayam and translated into English by Lakshmi Holmstrom, is a powerful narrative set in the early 1970s. This debut novel provides a poignant and intricate look at a rural village in Tamil Nadu, where tradition, ritual, and class struggles collide, leading to an inevitable transformation.

The novel is seen through the eyes of Arokkyam, a washerwoman (vannati) who serves a Dalit community of agricultural laborers. The title Koveru Kazhuthaigal, meaning "The Mules," metaphorically refers to the vannaan (washerman) and vannati (washerwoman) who traditionally carried their laundry on donkeys. In the context of the novel, these individuals are the true "mules" — burdened by both societal expectations and a rigid caste system.

Set during a time when traditional systems of payment in kind were giving way to cash wages, the book unfolds the struggles, desires, and dreams of the Dalit community and their dependency on the caste system for survival. Arokkyam and Savuri, the central characters, are Catholic, which provides an interesting contrast to the deeply entrenched Hindu caste system. Their deferment to the authority of the local priest and their participation in family and community events through the lens of their faith highlights the intersection of religion and social structure.

Imayam's narrative brings to life a vanishing way of life with extraordinary detail, blending the harshness of oppression with the resilience of the human spirit. It’s a tale of decline, change, and the battle between tradition and progress, told with pride and a sense of history that can no longer be ignored. The novel explores the deep and pervasive influence of caste and the burden it places on those who are economically dependent on it, making this work a compelling exploration of social structures, religion, and human endurance.