Discuss the role of the uduku in the story ‘RATNAMUNI’ by K. S. Maniam

            The importance of the uduku in the story ‘RATNAMUNI’ is shown at the beginning when the author tells that Muniandy travels to Malaya, brings nothing but only a beggar’s bundle that carries uduku. It proves that the uduku is a very important belonging to Muniandy for he believes that he can survive with only the uduku in his possession. Muniandy says to the man in uniform that the Indian God, Lord Siva only danced to the music and made the world when he belittles him. It is believed that music brings an important value in their lives as the world is created from it. Muniandy also plays the uduku to pass his free time on the boat all night. Furthermore, the author is also trying to imply that the uduku is a reminder to Muniandy that he comes from the Big Land, as his identity in a stranger’s country, a keepsake to honor the Indian tradition in an unknown land.

            Muniandy is a medium. The uduku acts as a connector to the spiritual world. It allows Muniandy to go into trance and connects with the spirit of the uduku when he drummed it. To go into trance, Muniandy will first have to perform a spiritual act like covering his ears and scenting the drum with incense smoke. As a form of respect to the spirit in the special drum, Muniandy then uses the uduku and the spirit’s guidance to help the people to chase away evil spirits from their home. The uduku player soon becomes famous around the town for casting away evils. People start coming to seek for numbers and help to heal diseases from the uduku. The uduku brings out the greediness in certain people to win a fortune by misusing the purpose of the drum. The uduku’s ability to sense evil is proven when the spirit tells Muniandy about the whereabouts of a tar doll with needles is hidden. The dhobi with shoulder pain later was cured when he removed the cursed doll from his home. Muniandy is able to heal the dhobi twice with the healing power of the uduku.

            The uduku is also able to tell the truth and reveal the secrets in the houses they live. The power of the drum shows that Kali (Muniandy’s neighbor) has been raped and the daughter does not belong to Chevudon. The uduku’s tongue also reveals that Govindan’s son had been a thief and steals from people. The revelation of the secrets had made Muniandy earns people’s trust. The uduku is so powerful that men can die slowly from learning what she knows. The knowledge of the drum contains the dark secrets of people around. Muniandy claims that the uduku can take away the soul and break families into pieces. It proves that the spiritual drum is a dangerous thing to be involved with. After his wife’s death, the power of the uduku became so strong that Muniandy himself is unable to withstand it because his spirit is weak and wounded from the impact of Malini’s sudden death. He had to put away the uduku in dhobi’s house.

The uduku also plays as a sort of income for Muniandy. He was paid to perform spiritual and healing acts for other people. Muniandy clearly earns a lot as a medium because he lives in comfort after he married Malini by buying her a new cupboard and clothes, as well as rattan chairs, glass tables, tea sets and a bed of rubber. Besides that, they give out food as a form of charity. He says, ‘we take care of people we can’. He is also able to buy Ratnam a Ja-pan motorcycle. He saves the money to give to his son to achieve his dream, which is to fit in the modern society. His salary as a cart pusher cannot make him a lot of money as well as his previous job as a boat-rower. The uduku helps Muniandy financially by giving him an extra income.

The role of the uduku is proven vital as the story unravels. We learned that Malini’s soul is trapped in the uduku after her suicide when Muniandy confesses to ayah that ‘he must dispossess his heart to rid the uduku’s dispossession by his wife’s spirit’. The climax of the story revolves around the truth behind Malini’s death which was revealed by the uduku’s spirit herself. When Muniandy enters into trance, Malini showed him the true cause for her dying. She took her own life because of the shame she felt, raped by Muthiah and gave birth to his son, Ratnam.  Besides that, the dhobi also claimed that he heard Muniandy’s dead wife’s voice was in the room. The uduku became a host for Malini’s vengeful spirit, waiting for the time to confess to her husband, for Muniandy to gather his strength to touch the uduku again for the right cause. Finally, Muniandy kills Muthiah in revenge for his wife’s death and humiliation. After he was killed, Muniandy tried playing the uduku again. The uduku is very light in his hands, in other words, her spirit has left the drum. No sound comes from the uduku anymore. In the end, the revelation of the cause of Malini’s death leads to Muthiah being killed and Muniandy surrenders himself to the authority.