Aththai

Posted by Shri Posted on Jan 20 2011 37 comments

Aththai (Aunt/Buaa) is a 60 yr old orthodox Tamil-Brahmin woman. She never went to college, never got a job, never got married. She lives with her brother’s family, where not everybody is nice to her. If that isn’t hard enough, it took all these 60 years for her to realize she is NOT Straight. Can she come out?

Picture created with random shots from Old Tamil movies

Original in Tamil

Open publication - Free publishing - More india

Translation in English

Open publication - Free publishing - More india

[*Editor's Note : This piece of original writing is accompanied by its translation. We’d love to hear what you thought about it. If you think you can offer another translation, of some words, or even of the whole piece, mail us via Contact Form. We’re open to suggestions, corrections, additions, deletions - as long as they’re an improvement over what we have. Remember the context is all decisive, so while you may not agree with some, or may find yourself offended, it’s a piece that was written within the writer’s context - and we can’t tell authors what to write. What we can do, is read and critique.]

About the author

Shri

South Indian, Sambar lover,Subramanya Bharathi fan, Rebel, Bleeding heart liberal, Writer, Dreamer, Die-hard romantic and Queer. Twitter: @shrisadasivan

Elsewhere

Website

About the book author

Shridhar Sadasivan

Shridhar Sadasivan was born and raised in Tamil Nadu and now lives in the United States. He is a member of the Chennai based LGBT group MovenPick and a member of the executive team of Orinam.net, a bilingual LGBT resource website. Shridhar aims to break into the conservative Tamil media with his short stories and introduce LGBT characters to the readers. He hopes to create awareness on LGBT issues and struggles through his writings. For this story, the author would like to thank Queer Coolie from Gaysi for the inspiration and Niruj Mohan, the translator for his excellent translation.

About the translator

Niruj Mohan

He is currently gainfully unemployed in Bangalore and is part of CSMR, which organized Bengaluru Pride 2010.

37 thoughts on “Aththai”

Shiny on January 20, 2011 at 11:58 am said:

Thank you Shri for such a beautiful story. Brought tears to my eyes. Haunting!

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Shri on January 20, 2011 at 6:57 pm said:

*Hugs* Shiny!

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Rashmi on January 20, 2011 at 10:02 pm said:

This is really beautiful Shri. Thanks to Niruj, QC and you.

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- Shri on January 20, 2011 at 10:55 pm said:
  
  Thanks Rashmi
  
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MJ on January 20, 2011 at 10:39 pm said:

Brooding Roosters has been always been my favourite but this one is just world apart. Very sensitively written.

Thanks for sharing Shri. *hugs*

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- Shri on January 20, 2011 at 11:00 pm said:
  
  Thanks MJ. Without Writers’ Bloc this wouldn’t have reached non-tamilians like you. Thanks to Gaysi for this initiative.
  
  Aththai’s heartfelt thanks to Niruj for the wonderful translation capturing every essence of the story! Awesome, Awesome work.
  
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shri on January 20, 2011 at 11:16 pm said:

And yes, even the Tamil version is not published anywhere else.
A Tamil print magazine was interested in the story but said all Brahminical references have to be removed. Aththai can be either Brahmin or Lesbian but not both, they said! I refused and now Aththai is happy to make her Tamil debut also in Gaysi

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- Broom on January 21, 2011 at 12:21 am said:
  
  Incredible! Brahmins can’t be gay?
  Well, their loss is our gain. I’m so happy that we get to read these regional stories. Thanks to Ruswa for the idea of WB and for all those involved in the hard work of translating these stories and sharing them with us.
  
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  - shri on January 21, 2011 at 12:33 am said:
    
    They didn’t want to offend the community portraying a Gay – Brahmin character. As if being Gay is a bad thing! I could have made in caste neutral, but I just didn’t want to, the culture and the set up is integral part of the story.
    
    And this Story is dedicated to the lesbians from the lower class background who committed suicide. By portraying Aththai as a upper class/caste person I wanted to stress the point that caste doesn’t matter, we are all the same, our struggles are all the same.
Queer Coolie on January 21, 2011 at 6:11 am said:

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again here – OMG! This was beautiful, Shri !
From all the Tam-Brahm-Lesbians who are too illicit & offensive to be written about in print – Thanks so much for sharing
Niruj – Loved the translation ! Thank you!

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- Rashmi on January 23, 2011 at 9:43 am said:
  
  I second QC.
  
  And now, I am outing myself to (Gaysi) as a out-of-the-closet Queer TamBram. (QC, I don’t think there is a ‘h’ – just saying, though we could rewrite the rules ). I am writing this now though I did not bring it up in my earlier comment.
  
  When I read through, I could imagine what Shri wrote – chapter by chapter, scene by scene. Being brought up in a conservative TamBram family and finding the protagonist Queer put the smile on my face. Because a part of my upbringing sadly did result in me rejecting my Queerness and I struggled with it for almost 2 decades. But frankly, the caste is immaterial here because Shri talks about the person and her silent struggle.
  I am quite proud of my heritage in a lot of other spects but that does not stop me from limiting myself to stupid stereotypes of a community. I am out and Queer and I am a TamBram and if people cannot accept it then, they can always kiss my …you know!
  
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  - Shri on January 24, 2011 at 4:01 am said:
    
    @Rashmi : Exactly babe! They can kiss our A$$ Love ya! Hugs!
Rama on January 21, 2011 at 9:35 am said:

I am in tears and it won’t stop. Desi-Lesi Brokeback Mountain, this is! Beautiful!

Shri, Sorry lazy me, I didn’t read the previous ones you sent me, I am going to dig them all and read

Much love and hugs.

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- Shri on January 21, 2011 at 8:22 pm said:
  
  Thanks Babe!
  
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Anurag on January 22, 2011 at 4:12 am said:

I finally set aside time to devote all my attention to this – and it was amazing. It’s so sad to think how many of these stories of same-sex lovers separated due to arranged-marriages exist but are covered up.

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- Shri on January 22, 2011 at 4:27 am said:
  
  It is sad! Thanks for taking the time to read, Anurag
  
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Jeevan on January 22, 2011 at 3:20 pm said:

My sincere thanks to everyone.
Couldn’t stop crying… Beautiful!

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- Shri on January 24, 2011 at 3:52 am said:
  
  Thanks Jeevan
  
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Anita Balan on January 24, 2011 at 3:25 am said:

This is one the most heart-felt LGBT stories that I have read. Bonus points for basing it in Chennai… Beautiful. Brought tears to my eyes. What other stories has the author written….

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- Shri on January 24, 2011 at 3:52 am said:
  
  Thanks Anita for your kind words
  Here are some of my other stories. Your feedback is very much appreciated.
  
  Brooding roosters : http://gaysifamily.com/2010/08/23/brooding-roosters/
  Pain: http://gaysifamily.com/2010/08/30/pain/
  Kareena, Katrina, Priyanka and Lord Maha Vishnu : http://gaysifamily.com/2010/09/29/kareena-katrina-priyanka-and-lord-vishnu/
  Victim : http://gaysifamily.com/2010/11/01/victim/
  
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Anaam Naam on January 25, 2011 at 10:47 am said:

It was truly most touching story, made me nostalgic, made me think of my own ‘Athai’, she was also single . Love speak so many languages, it just takes your heart to understand it. kudos to you Shri for blending in ‘pride’ with story, great one yaar…..
,

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- Shri on January 25, 2011 at 4:31 pm said:
  
  Thanks Anaam
  
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BL on January 28, 2011 at 6:27 am said:

Thanks Sri for this beautiful story. Like everyone else it made me get emotional as well. It is sad that even today we hear stories of young gay couples committing suicide due to parental and societal pressure to get married. This seems particularly prevalent in village and regional areas where we havent made inroads. I hope with 377 being taken down things will change.

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- Shri on January 28, 2011 at 7:27 am said:
  
  I certainly hope so BL! 377 judgment kick started the queer rights movement all over India and things will definitely change for the better. Thanks for your kind words about the story. Hugs.
  
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Devi on February 25, 2011 at 8:24 pm said:

Thanks for the wonderful story. It brought tears . Keep up your good work and I thank you on behalf of the lgbt community for the support you are showing. It brings a smile on our face and joy in our heart..

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- Shri on February 26, 2011 at 9:27 am said:
  
  Thanks Devi. That is very kind of you to say. We are all in this together!
  No more Aththais!
  
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S on March 26, 2011 at 12:21 am said:

Shri,

Wonderfully written – brought tears to my eyes.

I am so glad that Aththai after so many years of struggling within herself could come to terms with her emotions. I am also glad that Raghavan did not judge her, and was there for her when she wanted to talk.

Some day, I hope same sex marriages will become a legal reality! And society accepts that same sex couples are as normal as it gets!

- S

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- Shri on March 26, 2011 at 2:57 am said:
  
  Thanks S. I certainly hope so!
  
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Tappy Tippy on March 28, 2011 at 2:47 am said:

Very beautifully written! Love the way you bring the Carnatic music in!

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- Shri on March 28, 2011 at 4:18 am said:
  
  Thanks TT
  
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kannan on July 17, 2011 at 10:30 pm said:

“Either brahmin or lesbian, not both!” That’s hilarious. You gotta include that line in your next story, Shri:)

This sort of stories help break some glass walls between people, I am sure. Certainly touching for the people already in the know. Perhaps you will use your skills to make your future short stories even more educational to those who are perplexed by same-sex relationships, and satisfy their understated wish to understand ‘how the heck that can be so’.

I would have liked to see at the of this story, “With her aunt’s hand in his, he gently started walking her into the parade.” or something to that effect.

Great work. Thank you.

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- Shri on July 29, 2011 at 8:30 pm said:
  
  Thanks for your feedback Kannan
  
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Democrat on July 29, 2011 at 2:18 am said:

Amazing story… It was like I was watching the scene at the beach… Kudos!
And tamil brahmins cant be gay?? Screw that magazine! lol!

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Democrat on July 29, 2011 at 2:19 am said:

And the screenshots above, the right one is ‘Ellam ibamayam’, is it not? A lovely song to go with a lovely story…

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- Shri on July 29, 2011 at 3:11 am said:
  
  Thanks Democrat for your kind words. Yes, you are right, the screenshot is from the movie “Manamagal”
  
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nikisarmah on December 8, 2011 at 12:19 pm said:

Brought tears to my eyes..

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Aparajith on November 15, 2012 at 11:27 am said:

Wonderful…. great writing

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