Translating to “the hungry ghosts”, this is also the title of a gripping novel by Shyam Selvadurai. It is as though Shivah’s life is deprived of joy throughout the pages, paying homage to the title of the novel. Though this is the story of Shivah’s life, the plot stays firmly anchored in the rocky relationship between him and his grandmother. According to Buddhist myth, it is the duty of the living to free these ghosts from their fate. The Hungry Ghosts is a testament to the scars left over from a society that imposes restrictions on lifestyle and old wounds that do not heal.

Source: The Nation April 18, 2021 05:03 UTC