Tortuous Triad of Religion, Caste and Money:A Rereading of Pudhumaipithan’s Select Short Stories

Pudhumaipithan, born in the early half of the 1900s, is well known for his satirical short stories that poke fun at contemporary Tamil society. Pudhumaipithan is a revolutionary writer for his satires of the fundamental facets of society, including religion, beliefs, economics, existing institutions, education, and interpersonal relationships. Pudhumaipithan has spoken out against the socially repressive elements by merely identifying the issues facing the community, whereas no firm solution has been presented in his texts. In an effort to portray the lives of those who live below and slightly above the poverty line, he has attempted to undermine accepted moral principles and ethics. The caste system that is resisting doesn’t have to be explosive; it can be gradual, as evidenced by the subtle shifts in societal attitudes and behaviours that Pudhumaipithan illustrates in his narratives. This study attempts to trace the intimidating interplay of religion, caste and money in combination, as presented in the selected short stories of Pudhumaipithan.