Oru Manushyan - Vaikom Muhammad Basheer Study Guide

Vaikom Muhammad Basheer and the Context of Oru Manushyan

Vaikom Muhammad Basheer is a distinguished figure in literature, recognized for his profound ability to provide a sympathetic portrayal of ordinary life. His literary contributions earned him the prestigious Central Sahitya Akademi Award. Additionally, he was honored with the Padmashri in $1982$ for his work, which often explores the intersection of human cruelty and compassion, as seen in the story "Oru Manushyan." The title "Oru Manushyan" translates to "A man" or "A human being," underscoring the universal themes found within the narrative.

The Narrator’s Isolation and Environment

The narrator finds himself in a predicament, which is defined as an unpleasant or dangerous situation. He is living in a big city located approximately $1500\text{ miles}$ away from his home. In this distant setting, the narrator faces significant challenges: he possesses no money and is unable to speak or understand the local language. The inhabitants of this city are characterized as cruel people who value money above all other human considerations. This lack of familiarity and the hostile nature of the environment create a sense of profound alienation for the narrator as he attempts to navigate his daily life.

Daily Life, Livelihood, and the Value of Literacy

The narrator’s living conditions are bleak; he resides in a small, dingy room situated on a dirty street. To sustain himself, he performs the task of teaching English to migrant laborers at night. A migrant is defined as a worker who moves from place to place for work. The primary focus of his teaching is showing these workers how to write addresses, a skill that is considered a "great education" in that specific urban context. This livelihood choice highlights the systemic poverty and the basic level of literacy required for these laborers to conduct their daily chores or minor work in the city.

The Incident at the Restaurant and the Loss of Life’s Savings

The plot reaches a turning point when the narrator visits a local restaurant and consumes a full meal consisting of chapatis and meat curry. The total cost of this meal is $11\text{ annas}$. Upon finishing, the narrator discovers a devastating loss: his wallet has been pickpocketed. The wallet, or purse, contained $14\text{ rupees}$, which represented the narrator's entire life's savings. This sudden befalling, or happening, of misfortune leaves him unable to pay for the meal he just consumed, setting the stage for a violent confrontation with the restaurant management.

Systematic Humiliation and the Threat of Physical Violence

When the narrator informs the restaurant owner of his inability to pay, the reaction is one of immediate cruelty. The owner refuses to accept the situation and demands payment, threatening to gouge out the narrator's eyes—a term meaning to cut or force something out roughly or brutally—if the debt is not settled. The owner forces the narrator through a process of public humiliation, ordering him to strip in front of others. The narrator is forced to remove his coat, followed by his shirt, and then both of his shoes. Finally, the owner demands that he remove his trousers with the intent to leave him stark naked (completely naked) before carrying out the threat of physical mutilation.

The Intervention of the Mysterious Stranger

Just as the narrator begins to undo the buttons of his trousers to comply with the owner's demands, a mysterious stranger intervenes to save the day (preventing failure or disaster). The voice of the stranger calls out, "Stop, I shall pay the money!" The stranger is described with specific physical details: a fair-complexioned man standing $6\text{-foot-tall}$. He wears a red turban and white trousers, and is noted for his handle-bar moustache and blue eyes. This individual steps forward and pays the $11\text{ annas}$ required to settle the narrator's debt, effectively halting the humiliation and the impending violence.

Recovery of Property and the True Identity of the Stranger

Following the intervention, the stranger leads the narrator to a deserted bridge. In a surprising turn of events, the stranger reaches into various pockets and produces approximately $5$ different wallets. He presents them to the narrator, who identifies his own wallet among the collection. The stranger returns the wallet with the $14\text{ rupees}$ still intact inside. When the narrator asks for the stranger’s name, the man replies, "I have no name." The narrator responds by suggesting that, given his actions, "'Mercy' must be your name." Before departing, the stranger instructs the narrator to go away without turning around and to deny having seen him if anyone asks. This confirms that the stranger was, in fact, the pickpocket who had originally stolen the narrator’s life savings, yet chose to return it and rescue him from the restaurant owner's cruelty through an act of unexpected mercy.

Glossary of Terms

• Oru Manushyan: A man; a human being.
• Predicament: An unpleasant or dangerous situation.
• To befall: To happen on; to come about.
• Dingy: Dirty-looking; dull.
• Migrant: A worker who moves from place to place for work.
• Chores: Minor work.
• Wallet: Purse.
• Gouge out: To cut or force something out roughly or brutally.
• Guffaw: A loud laugh.
• Stark naked: Completely naked.
• To save the day: To prevent failure or defeat.