A goat for our times: A review of Perumal Murugan's new book 'Poonachi'

The book is more than political criticism, Murugan explores eco-criticism and eco-feminism

Very early in the book, the nameless old couple who rear the protagonist, Poonachi, a black female goat, have to take her to get her ear pierced and tagged. In the land of Asuras, where they live: “The regime itself arranged for the ear-piercing of its citizens and their pet animals. When a new life was born… the authorities had to be informed.” Very economically, Murugan critiques intrusive processes used by governments, in complete disregard of citizens’ rights or privacy, to discipline and punish them. At present, in India, the Aadhaar system, which collects the iris scans and fingerprints of