The Status Of Childless Women In Socio-Cultural Society: A Study Of Perumal Murugan’s One-Part Woman

Abstract

The present research article highlights how Perumal Murugan’s novel One Part Woman delineates the customs and practices of Kongu region people, especially Gounder communities, and how women become victims of the patriarchal society. The background of this novel is knitted with the issue of the childlessness of a young couple, Kali and Ponna, who wait for almost twelve years for a child. To get this kind of identity, Ponna is advised by her mother and mother-in-law, who are uneducated and superstitious, to have sex with another man in the name of god on the occasion of the chariot festival celebrated in honour of Lord Siva, who is seen in the form of half- female and half male - Ardhanarishwara. It is practiced from the 18th day of the chariot festival and is regarded as so dear to Lord Shiva, and so pious for people to fulfill their unfulfilled desires and wishes, and that day all the existing social customs are relaxed in all aspects. Hence, anybody can sleep with anybody, because every macho man is a god on that day. Hence, women, who suffer from childlessness and want to have a child of their own, can mate with any man unknown to her, because such a man is devotionally viewed and believed to be a god on that particular day. Thus, it was the belief of people who lived in that particular region about a hundred years ago. The novel ends with Ponna’s visit to the chariot festival. Kali’s love, concern, and affection for his wife is unfathomable. Because of the societal issues, he decides not to see her in his life again, and she too prepares herself to indulge in an action, which is not dear to the heart of her loving husband. Not just for him, but for anybody such suggestion will be very painful; the idea of sharing one’s wife with someone else for whatever reason is unimaginable, and is tantamount to death.