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Sandalwood Soap and Other Stories
Acclaimed writer Perumal Murugan returns to his old themes – caste and the world of rural and semi-rural Tamil Nadu – in his new collection of short stories, mingling absurdity and pathos like no one else.
The titular story is about a young boy whose job is to police the toilets in a mofussil bus stand and urge users to emerge sooner. ‘It is as if shit is stuck on my body’, he tells the story’s narrator, pleading to be taken away.
In ‘The Last Cloth’, a man who returns to his village after a city education is revolted seeing his mother walk about bare breasted. She however has never worn a blouse, not even in her prime, and is terrified at being asked to in her old age.
While ‘Neelaakka’ tells the story of a woman who is mocked for stains on her teeth.
These stories and many more are part of this unsettling, moving and grippingly told collection. Sandalwood Soap and Other Stories is another extraordinary book from one of our great writers working at the height of his powers.
The titular story is about a young boy whose job is to police the toilets in a mofussil bus stand and urge users to emerge sooner. ‘It is as if shit is stuck on my body’, he tells the story’s narrator, pleading to be taken away.
In ‘The Last Cloth’, a man who returns to his village after a city education is revolted seeing his mother walk about bare breasted. She however has never worn a blouse, not even in her prime, and is terrified at being asked to in her old age.
While ‘Neelaakka’ tells the story of a woman who is mocked for stains on her teeth.
These stories and many more are part of this unsettling, moving and grippingly told collection. Sandalwood Soap and Other Stories is another extraordinary book from one of our great writers working at the height of his powers.
- GenresIndia
202 pages, Hardcover
Published January 1, 2023
4 people are currently reading
74 people want to read
About the author
Perumal Murugan
97 books388 followersPrimary profile for this author.
Do NOT merge author profiles in different languages/spelling.
Per GR policy, books published in another language/script should have the name on that book as secondary author, with Perumal Murugan as primary author.
Perumal Murugan is a well-known contemporary Tamil writer and poet. He was written six novels, four collections of short stories and four anthologies of poetry. Three of his novels have been translated into English to wide acclaim: Seasons of the Palm, which was shortlisted for the prestigious Kiriyama Award in 2005, Current Show, and most recently, One Part Woman. He has received awards from the Tamil Nadu government as well as from Katha Books.
Do NOT merge author profiles in different languages/spelling.
Per GR policy, books published in another language/script should have the name on that book as secondary author, with Perumal Murugan as primary author.
Perumal Murugan is a well-known contemporary Tamil writer and poet. He was written six novels, four collections of short stories and four anthologies of poetry. Three of his novels have been translated into English to wide acclaim: Seasons of the Palm, which was shortlisted for the prestigious Kiriyama Award in 2005, Current Show, and most recently, One Part Woman. He has received awards from the Tamil Nadu government as well as from Katha Books.
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
October 14, 2023
There are worlds that you are guilty of not knowing, reads the Introduction of this anthology, and then there are the world of Perumal Murugan’a stories.
Perumal Murugan, longlisted for International Booker for ‘Pyre’ and a Sahitya Akadami Award winner is a prolific storyteller.
Kavitha, who has translated this anthology, Writes that translating Murugan is a very humbling exercise. His stories depict the vulnerabilities as well as resilience of both women and men.
In Sandalwood Soap and Other Stories (SSAOS), Perumal Murugan treats his readers with 15 shorts that revolve around objects and people, one pushing the other.
The very first story, ‘Loser’ is a macabre ode to toxic office politics as well as a sad realisation that the protagonist is slowly losing his mind. When Kumarasuran suddenly hears his cat talking to him in the languages of human, he starts to share his experiences with his pet and his steady hurtle towards losing his mind begins too. The end is an uncanny and heartbreaking twist that jolts you in your reading glasses.
The eponymous story, ‘Sandalwood Soap’ is a tale of a young boy who’s job is to knock on the toilet doors at a bus stand to signal the current occupier to hurry up so that the queue of the people waiting for their turn in the toilet doesn’t get too long.
‘The Last Cloth’ is a story where a son wants his aged mother, who has never worn a blouse, to wear one. This demand terrifies her.
The entire collection boasts of tales that sometimes shock and sometimes warm you up.
Perumal Murugan, longlisted for International Booker for ‘Pyre’ and a Sahitya Akadami Award winner is a prolific storyteller.
Kavitha, who has translated this anthology, Writes that translating Murugan is a very humbling exercise. His stories depict the vulnerabilities as well as resilience of both women and men.
In Sandalwood Soap and Other Stories (SSAOS), Perumal Murugan treats his readers with 15 shorts that revolve around objects and people, one pushing the other.
The very first story, ‘Loser’ is a macabre ode to toxic office politics as well as a sad realisation that the protagonist is slowly losing his mind. When Kumarasuran suddenly hears his cat talking to him in the languages of human, he starts to share his experiences with his pet and his steady hurtle towards losing his mind begins too. The end is an uncanny and heartbreaking twist that jolts you in your reading glasses.
The eponymous story, ‘Sandalwood Soap’ is a tale of a young boy who’s job is to knock on the toilet doors at a bus stand to signal the current occupier to hurry up so that the queue of the people waiting for their turn in the toilet doesn’t get too long.
‘The Last Cloth’ is a story where a son wants his aged mother, who has never worn a blouse, to wear one. This demand terrifies her.
The entire collection boasts of tales that sometimes shock and sometimes warm you up.
November 10, 2023
I'm a big fan of Perumal Murugan, but I've hadn't had the chance to read his short stories till now. Like his longer fiction they focus on simple rural and semi urban life in Tamil Nadu. The simplicity of his language is impressive as is the emotions brought out through it.
The tales are a little reminiscent of Manto, but not quite as indelicate or indecerous. What I enjoyed most of all is the volumes of poignancy they contain and the topics they touch on - loneliness, desperation, expectations, etc. They pick up social topics as drinking and generational divide as well.
My favourites short stories - Loser, Anointing, Meowdi, The Last Sacrifice, the eponymous Sandalwood Soap and the heart-wrenching The Last Cloth.
The tales are a little reminiscent of Manto, but not quite as indelicate or indecerous. What I enjoyed most of all is the volumes of poignancy they contain and the topics they touch on - loneliness, desperation, expectations, etc. They pick up social topics as drinking and generational divide as well.
My favourites short stories - Loser, Anointing, Meowdi, The Last Sacrifice, the eponymous Sandalwood Soap and the heart-wrenching The Last Cloth.
July 3, 2025
My first encounter with Perumal Murugan's work has made me fall in love with his work. His writing, though, seems straightforward; it is a maze of depth and complexity. As you delve into his stories and characters, you'll find yourself peeling back layer after layer of profound characterisation and storytelling. The unadorned prose, while seemingly simple, serves as a canvas for the reader to immerse themselves in the story, interpreting it in their own unique way.
Reading this anthology is like taking a bumpy bus ride down a dusty road out of the city, jostling up and down, side to side, leading into the unknown. Without the usual luxuries and the urban reliability of the phone network, our senses get sharper, and our experiences deeper.
It can be unsettling. Perumal Murugan is one of India's most well-known literary writers. He has penned twelve novels, six short story collections and five works of poetry in Tamil, many of which have been translated into English.
There lies India, beyond the news and Instagram; a complex cultural universe shaped by events, thoughts, and people that have been sidelined in our search for mainstream narratives. If you care to look beyond this, another India opens up, with the kaleidoscope of the past delicately disclosing aspects of religious cosmologies, bringing into light the plurality within Hinduism, and suggesting ways of reengaging with tradition. The characters in these short stories bask in the sheer ordinariness of life. He marries absurdity and poignancy as he returns to his old themes of caste and rural and semi-rural Tamil Nadu.
Salman Rushdie said, "If the story feels truthful about human beings, then it speaks to us."
In Perumal Murugan's world, no question or event is too absurd or simplistic, because it is true to its characters. This truthfulness to human nature is what makes his stories so compelling and relatable, drawing readers in and forging an emotional connection.
'Loser' is direct yet subtle in its fantasy quality. A cat that talks? Emerging from a banal yet stressful office environment comes a tale of hours at home with a cat. The story involves the boss and the cat. Is the cat real, or is it a person, or is it all imagination?
'The Last Sacrifice' holds the people on the fence of tradition and change, to cling to the last visages of doubt and development. Are the superstitions real?
'Thigh' has a circular impact wherein a love that's not reciprocated takes an ugly form of swelling that won't go.
'Grant us pardon, Saami' is a direct reference to caste thinking. Mob violence erupts from the old scars and thoughts that resurface.
'The Last Anointing', a naturally occurring, unadorned, uncarved block of stone, becomes the centre of a man's angst.
The meandering, earthy nature of the stories and the abrupt endings are an extension of the daily vagaries of their lives.
'Meowdi' presents the picture of a family whose interpersonal dynamics change on the arrival of a cat.
'The Game' bridges the gap between older and younger generations. It sheds light on the father-son relationship in a new twist.
'The Last Cloth' wraps up the last generation of traditional Tamil attire for women into a matter of shame. The solution, though, is sought with a strange result. Who can deal with the elderly's ways when the younger generation thinks they know better?
'Neelaka' focuses on beauty to aversion - a journey that grinds your mental imagery. Can beauty be tarnished by an obsession?
'The Obstinate' looms surprisingly between a reckless man who leads others to a grave danger.
'Dog' equates a lover's position with that of a dog due to the way he handles a particular incident.
'Sandalwood Soap' washes off the promise of a man to a boy from his village. This raises the question of who shapes the experiences the child undergoes.
'Hail Comrade, PM' resonates with the struggles of those who rebel and identify as communists. This story focuses on a singular incident.
'Magamuni' threads up warnings of danger with that of a challenge from a suspicious priest. It's a woman's word against the male priest.
Perumal Murugan's writing offers a deep immersion into the lives of people, without embellishment.
A must-read.
Reading this anthology is like taking a bumpy bus ride down a dusty road out of the city, jostling up and down, side to side, leading into the unknown. Without the usual luxuries and the urban reliability of the phone network, our senses get sharper, and our experiences deeper.
It can be unsettling. Perumal Murugan is one of India's most well-known literary writers. He has penned twelve novels, six short story collections and five works of poetry in Tamil, many of which have been translated into English.
There lies India, beyond the news and Instagram; a complex cultural universe shaped by events, thoughts, and people that have been sidelined in our search for mainstream narratives. If you care to look beyond this, another India opens up, with the kaleidoscope of the past delicately disclosing aspects of religious cosmologies, bringing into light the plurality within Hinduism, and suggesting ways of reengaging with tradition. The characters in these short stories bask in the sheer ordinariness of life. He marries absurdity and poignancy as he returns to his old themes of caste and rural and semi-rural Tamil Nadu.
Salman Rushdie said, "If the story feels truthful about human beings, then it speaks to us."
In Perumal Murugan's world, no question or event is too absurd or simplistic, because it is true to its characters. This truthfulness to human nature is what makes his stories so compelling and relatable, drawing readers in and forging an emotional connection.
'Loser' is direct yet subtle in its fantasy quality. A cat that talks? Emerging from a banal yet stressful office environment comes a tale of hours at home with a cat. The story involves the boss and the cat. Is the cat real, or is it a person, or is it all imagination?
'The Last Sacrifice' holds the people on the fence of tradition and change, to cling to the last visages of doubt and development. Are the superstitions real?
'Thigh' has a circular impact wherein a love that's not reciprocated takes an ugly form of swelling that won't go.
'Grant us pardon, Saami' is a direct reference to caste thinking. Mob violence erupts from the old scars and thoughts that resurface.
'The Last Anointing', a naturally occurring, unadorned, uncarved block of stone, becomes the centre of a man's angst.
The meandering, earthy nature of the stories and the abrupt endings are an extension of the daily vagaries of their lives.
'Meowdi' presents the picture of a family whose interpersonal dynamics change on the arrival of a cat.
'The Game' bridges the gap between older and younger generations. It sheds light on the father-son relationship in a new twist.
'The Last Cloth' wraps up the last generation of traditional Tamil attire for women into a matter of shame. The solution, though, is sought with a strange result. Who can deal with the elderly's ways when the younger generation thinks they know better?
'Neelaka' focuses on beauty to aversion - a journey that grinds your mental imagery. Can beauty be tarnished by an obsession?
'The Obstinate' looms surprisingly between a reckless man who leads others to a grave danger.
'Dog' equates a lover's position with that of a dog due to the way he handles a particular incident.
'Sandalwood Soap' washes off the promise of a man to a boy from his village. This raises the question of who shapes the experiences the child undergoes.
'Hail Comrade, PM' resonates with the struggles of those who rebel and identify as communists. This story focuses on a singular incident.
'Magamuni' threads up warnings of danger with that of a challenge from a suspicious priest. It's a woman's word against the male priest.
Perumal Murugan's writing offers a deep immersion into the lives of people, without embellishment.
A must-read.
December 3, 2023
'Loser' is direct yet subtle in its fantasy quality. A cat that talks? Emerging from a banal yet stressful office environment comes a tale of hours at home with a cat. The story somehow involves stories of the boss and the cat. Is the cat real, or it is a person or is it all imagination?
'The Last Sacrifice' holds the people on the fence of tradition and change; to cling to the last visages of doubt and development. Are the superstitions real?
'Thigh' has a circular impact wherein a love that's not reciprocated takes an ugly form of swelling that won't go.
'Grant us pardon, Saami' is a direct reference to caste thinking. Mob violence erupt from the old scars and thoughts that resurface.
'Anointing' builds up a tempo with the husband's thoughts with a festering end as the story progresses.
'Meowdi' presents the picture of a family whose interpersonal dynamics change on the arrival of a cat.
'The Game' connects an older generation with the young one. It throws light into the father-son relationship in a new twist.
'The Last Cloth' wraps up the last generation of traditional tamil attire of a woman into a matter of shame. The solution though is sought with strange result. Who can deal with an elderly's ways when the younger generation think they know better?
'Neelaka' focuses on beauty to aversion - a journey that grinds your mental imagery. Can beauty be tarnished by an obsession?
'The Obstinate' looms surprisingly between a reckless man who leads others to a grave danger.
'Dog' puts a lover's position to the level of dog due to the way he handles a particular incident.
'Sandalwood Soap' washes off the promise of a man to a boy from his village. This later on brings to the question as to who shapes the experiences the child undergoes.
'Hail Comrade, PM' fits the struggles of those who rebel and are communists. This story focuses on a singular incident.
'Magamuni' threads up warnings of danger with that of a challenge from a suspicious priest. It's a woman's word against the male priest.
A Must Read!!
'The Last Sacrifice' holds the people on the fence of tradition and change; to cling to the last visages of doubt and development. Are the superstitions real?
'Thigh' has a circular impact wherein a love that's not reciprocated takes an ugly form of swelling that won't go.
'Grant us pardon, Saami' is a direct reference to caste thinking. Mob violence erupt from the old scars and thoughts that resurface.
'Anointing' builds up a tempo with the husband's thoughts with a festering end as the story progresses.
'Meowdi' presents the picture of a family whose interpersonal dynamics change on the arrival of a cat.
'The Game' connects an older generation with the young one. It throws light into the father-son relationship in a new twist.
'The Last Cloth' wraps up the last generation of traditional tamil attire of a woman into a matter of shame. The solution though is sought with strange result. Who can deal with an elderly's ways when the younger generation think they know better?
'Neelaka' focuses on beauty to aversion - a journey that grinds your mental imagery. Can beauty be tarnished by an obsession?
'The Obstinate' looms surprisingly between a reckless man who leads others to a grave danger.
'Dog' puts a lover's position to the level of dog due to the way he handles a particular incident.
'Sandalwood Soap' washes off the promise of a man to a boy from his village. This later on brings to the question as to who shapes the experiences the child undergoes.
'Hail Comrade, PM' fits the struggles of those who rebel and are communists. This story focuses on a singular incident.
'Magamuni' threads up warnings of danger with that of a challenge from a suspicious priest. It's a woman's word against the male priest.
A Must Read!!
January 3, 2025
Sandalwood Soap and Other Stories is a collection of 15 evocative short stories by acclaimed author Perumal Murugan. The stories offer a vivid glimpse into the lives of ordinary people in rural Tamil Nadu. Translated from the original Tamil, this anthology bridges cultures, bringing Murugan's narratives' profound simplicity to a wider audience.
The stories delve into the emotional and social struggles of everyday life, addressing themes like casteism, patriarchy, and societal chaos without ever becoming didactic. Instead, Murugan’s storytelling invites reflection, blending raw realism with poignant empathy.
The titular story, Sandalwood Soap, is an unforgettable masterpiece that lingers in your thoughts long after you’ve turned the final page. Its haunting depth makes it my personal favourite. Other standouts include Grant Us Pardon, Swami, The Last Cloth, and Neelaakka. Each of these stories captivates with its unique flavour, offering a mesmerising combination of simplicity and thought-provoking complexity.
The only drawback, if any, is that the stories end too soon, leaving you wishing for more.
If you enjoy short stories that explore the essence of real life and real people in India, this book is a treasure trove worth revisiting again and again. The stories are not for readers seeking a quick, surface-level experience, as these tales grow on you with time, revealing layers of meaning with each read.
The stories delve into the emotional and social struggles of everyday life, addressing themes like casteism, patriarchy, and societal chaos without ever becoming didactic. Instead, Murugan’s storytelling invites reflection, blending raw realism with poignant empathy.
The titular story, Sandalwood Soap, is an unforgettable masterpiece that lingers in your thoughts long after you’ve turned the final page. Its haunting depth makes it my personal favourite. Other standouts include Grant Us Pardon, Swami, The Last Cloth, and Neelaakka. Each of these stories captivates with its unique flavour, offering a mesmerising combination of simplicity and thought-provoking complexity.
The only drawback, if any, is that the stories end too soon, leaving you wishing for more.
If you enjoy short stories that explore the essence of real life and real people in India, this book is a treasure trove worth revisiting again and again. The stories are not for readers seeking a quick, surface-level experience, as these tales grow on you with time, revealing layers of meaning with each read.
May 21, 2025
Book Review
Sandalwood soap and other stories by Perumal Murugan
A collection of 15 stories. Perumal Murugan is known for his portrayal of harsh realities in remote villages, Godforsaken places for which even access by road is very remote. It's gut wrenching to realise that such places exist even now and the people face several predicaments, which are a part of their daily existence and which are borne with smiles at times. The stories are short but their impact is extensive..the first story, Loser, brought a Murakami vibe..if you know Murakami you will identify what I mean. I have never faced so much of shit and excrement in any of the books I have read. It's a bit overwhelming but that's an important part for human functioning. Anyways, the story Sandalwood soap will forever haunt me, I will never be able to inhale the scent of sandalwood without remembering this story. For that matter every story is like a hard blow, the wound it caused is to impact for long. I really want to read a feel good book after this. Oh, that's how I look the other way, and keep myself safe and extricate myself from certain realities.
Perumal Murugan does it again..
Sandalwood soap and other stories by Perumal Murugan
A collection of 15 stories. Perumal Murugan is known for his portrayal of harsh realities in remote villages, Godforsaken places for which even access by road is very remote. It's gut wrenching to realise that such places exist even now and the people face several predicaments, which are a part of their daily existence and which are borne with smiles at times. The stories are short but their impact is extensive..the first story, Loser, brought a Murakami vibe..if you know Murakami you will identify what I mean. I have never faced so much of shit and excrement in any of the books I have read. It's a bit overwhelming but that's an important part for human functioning. Anyways, the story Sandalwood soap will forever haunt me, I will never be able to inhale the scent of sandalwood without remembering this story. For that matter every story is like a hard blow, the wound it caused is to impact for long. I really want to read a feel good book after this. Oh, that's how I look the other way, and keep myself safe and extricate myself from certain realities.
Perumal Murugan does it again..
February 5, 2025
Dr. Perumal Murugan's stories are portrayals of common people. People who live their lives in deprivation still thrive. Sandalwood soap and other stories is one among that genre of common people's stories.What could be the best way to pacific a young boy,working as janitor in a public toilet of a mofussil town, annoyed with the stench of human feces.Give him a sandalwood soap to bathe. Or say how to bond together a nuclear family who are living in their own spheres under the same roof during the COVID pandemic, just make a cat walk into their house. Dr. Murugan's stories are moving, poignant and simple. But these simple stories describe the complexities of life. For quite some time, I was looking for literature to get into the nuances of common people's lives of South India, and what would be better than Dr. Murugan to start with.
November 28, 2023
The writer assured in the beginning that sometimes work even gains something in translation. I'm not sure what that thing is, but it surely gained a reader.
Sandalwood Soap and other stories is a collection of raw rural tales from Tamil Nadu.
The very first story got me hooked *it had a cat*
As I dived further into the book, I found it unsettling. The stories were relatable and the open endings made me wonder about the what ifs. It was like looking at the world as it is, accepting it for what it is and in the process meeting oneself as we are!
I'm glad I finally read a book by Perumal Murugan. It's always a pleasure exploring Indian writer and the diversity they bring to Indian literature.
Also, he recently bagged the prestigious JCB Prize for literature for his work 'Fire Bird'
Sandalwood Soap and other stories is a collection of raw rural tales from Tamil Nadu.
The very first story got me hooked *it had a cat*
As I dived further into the book, I found it unsettling. The stories were relatable and the open endings made me wonder about the what ifs. It was like looking at the world as it is, accepting it for what it is and in the process meeting oneself as we are!
I'm glad I finally read a book by Perumal Murugan. It's always a pleasure exploring Indian writer and the diversity they bring to Indian literature.
Also, he recently bagged the prestigious JCB Prize for literature for his work 'Fire Bird'
December 4, 2023
‘Sandalwood Soap and Other Stories,’ penned by Perumal Murugan and translated by Kavitha Muralidharan, constitutes a skilful assembly of 15 short stories that enthral readers with their individual narratives. The compilation's brilliance lies in the diverse nature of each story, providing a distinct takeaway. Murugan's distinctive skill is evident as he romantically portrays and transforms everyday mundane routines into captivating tales that transcend their ordinary essence. With each story holding a special place in my heart, selecting favourites becomes an impossible task. In essence, this book is an enchanting read, highlighting Murugan's storytelling prowess and his knack for elevating the ordinary to the extraordinary.
July 4, 2024
The stories that struck a chord with me were
1. The Sandalwood Soap
2. The Last Cloth
3. Neelaakka
If I were to choose one, the most emotional was The Last Cloth.
As always, Mr. Murugan has done a fine job with the stories.
These 3 stories are going to remain with me for always. These 3 stars are for these 3 stories.
1. The Sandalwood Soap
2. The Last Cloth
3. Neelaakka
If I were to choose one, the most emotional was The Last Cloth.
As always, Mr. Murugan has done a fine job with the stories.
These 3 stories are going to remain with me for always. These 3 stars are for these 3 stories.
December 26, 2023
Perumal Murugan does it once again. He shines light on aspects of life we either take for granted or don't even notice. The book makes you a bit uncomfortable in parts, is a revelation in others, and is brilliantly written and translated. Some of the best short stories I have read in 2023.
October 18, 2023
This is a collection of 15 stories from various walks of rural areas. Most of the characters in the stories are women-centric. Well-written and translated book.
November 20, 2023
Did not really get all the story ends but the messages from them were quite intriguing.
April 18, 2025
Every word Murugan writes is a stroke of genius. Even his shortest short stories are packed with so much depth it makes you dizzy. What an incredible author!
November 1, 2023
My recent #metroread was the short story collection "Sandalwood Soap and other stories" by the famous Sahitya Akademi winner Perumal Murugan. You might know him for his International Booker longlisted book "Pyre". It is surprising that it took me this long to pick up something by him, but as all readers know, each book comes to us at the right time. This time around, I want to thank @juggernaut.in for facilitating this magic for me!
The stories in this collection are set in rural Tamil Nadu and focus on ordinary men, women and children. However, what is not ordinary is the way in which Murugan expresses the everyday pathos of human life with absudity, thus making a brilliant play with literature, and also evoking emotions in the readers' minds.
read the full review here: https://www.instagram.com/p/CzGWLw6r6...
The stories in this collection are set in rural Tamil Nadu and focus on ordinary men, women and children. However, what is not ordinary is the way in which Murugan expresses the everyday pathos of human life with absudity, thus making a brilliant play with literature, and also evoking emotions in the readers' minds.
read the full review here: https://www.instagram.com/p/CzGWLw6r6...
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews