Oru Manushyan Summary

Vaikom Muhammed Basheer was Indian writer who wrote in Malayalam language. He was a writer, humanist, freedom fighter, novelist and short story writer. His down-to-earth style of writing made him very popular. His stories have been translated into English and various other Indian languages.

Synopsis

The story ‘Oru Manushyan’ stresses on the need of human values to understand and help the fellow human beings when they are caught in strange situations. The author narrates a story about a big city with cruel people. He stayed in that city teaching English to migrant labourers. One day, he went out for his tea and a meal. He entered a restaurant and ate a full meal. When he checked his pocket for his wallet to pay, it was not there. It was picked. The owner did not believe his story. He asked the narrator to remove his clothes one by one. When the situation was getting worse, there appeared a tall, fair-complexioned man. He paid the bill for the narrator. He did not tell his name. He took out five wallets and one of them belonged to the narrator.

Theme

‘Oru Manushyan’ begins with a description of place and people through first person narration. The narrator stayed in a big city in the valley of a mountain, some thousand five hundred miles from home. The inhabitants there were very cruel. Murder, robbery, pick-pocketing were daily occurrences. By tradition the people were professional soldiers. Some of them went to distant places and lent out money on interest. Many others served as watchmen in the banks, mills and large commercial establishments in big cities. Money was highly valued by them and they would do anything for it.

The narrator stayed in that city teaching English to some migrant labourers. He taught them how to write address in English. His routine would begin at 4 p.m. as usual. Then he would finish his daily chores and step out for his tea and a meal. He would teach the migrant labourers from nine- thirty till eleven in the night.

One day the narrator got up at 4 p.m. as usual, finished his daily chores and walked out for his tea and a meal. He was in a suit. He had fourteen rupees in his wallet. He entered a crowded restaurant and ate a full meal consisting of chapatis and meat curry. He drank tea as well. The bill came to eleven annas. When he checked his pocket to pay, the wallet was not there. His pocket was picked. He tried to explain it to the owner of the restaurant. But, he did not believe in it. He threatened to gouge his eyes out. He then asked the narrator to take off his coat, shirts, shoes and then the trousers as well. It was really embarrassing. The narrator said he had nothing. Everyone started laughing. Then, he started unbuttoning. Exactly then, he heard a voice, ‘Stop’. I shall pay the money!’ There stood a fair-complexioned man, six foot tall, with a red turban and white trousers. He sported a handle-bar moustache and had blue eyes. He paid the amount. The narrator thanked him and asked him for his name. He replied that he had no name. Then at a deserted bridge the stranger took out five wallets from his various pockets. One of them belonged to the narrator. The money was intact.

Conclusion

The writer shows us how even a pick-pocket can transform into a humane individual under circumstances. The story lays stress on the true manifestation of human values. Kindness is a virtue that moves even a heart that seems stone-hard!

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