The World Renowned Nose
The World Renowned Nose is a satirical short story by Vaikom Muhammad Basheer, a Malayalam writer from Kerala, India. The story was first published in 1954 in an anthology of the same name. It is a humorous and poignant tale of a simple man who becomes famous and infamous because of his extraordinarily long nose.
The World Renowned Nose Pdf 16
Summary
The story begins with a newspaper report that a long nose has become a bone of contention among the intellectuals of the world. The nose belongs to Kunjupathumma, a poor and illiterate man from Kerala, who was born with a normal nose but it started growing when he turned 24. His nose grew so long that it reached his knees and he had to tie it around his waist like a belt. Kunjupathumma was unaware of his uniqueness and lived a simple life, working as a labourer and marrying a woman named Pathumma.
One day, a journalist named Keshavan Nair came to interview Kunjupathumma and took his photograph. The next day, the photo was published in the newspaper with the headline "The World Renowned Nose". Kunjupathumma became an instant sensation and people from all over the world came to see him and his nose. Some admired him, some ridiculed him, some offered him money, some tried to exploit him. Kunjupathumma was confused and bewildered by all the attention and did not know how to deal with it.
Soon, the nose became a subject of debate and controversy among various scholars, scientists, philosophers, politicians, and religious leaders. Some claimed that the nose was a miracle of God, some said it was a sign of the end of the world, some argued that it was a genetic mutation, some suggested that it was a result of cosmic rays, some proposed that it was a symbol of peace and harmony, some asserted that it was a threat to national security. The nose also sparked conflicts and wars among different countries and factions who wanted to possess or destroy it.
Kunjupathumma was caught in the middle of all this chaos and suffered greatly. He was kidnapped, tortured, experimented on, imprisoned, and persecuted by various groups who wanted to use him for their own agendas. He lost his wife, his home, his freedom, and his dignity. He prayed to God to end his misery and take away his nose.
Vaikom Muhammad Basheer short stories pdf
The World Renowned Nose analysis
The World Renowned Nose summary
The World Renowned Nose satire
The World Renowned Nose characters
The World Renowned Nose themes
The World Renowned Nose symbolism
The World Renowned Nose humor
The World Renowned Nose pathos
The World Renowned Nose message
Malayalam literature and satire
Basheer's use of humor and pathos
Basheer's critique of psychology of masses
Basheer's critique of political parties
Basheer's critique of media
Basheer's critique of government
Basheer's critique of education system
Basheer's life and experiences
Basheer's influence and legacy
Basheer's style and language
Comparison of The World Renowned Nose with other stories by Basheer
Comparison of The World Renowned Nose with other satirical stories
Critical appreciation of The World Renowned Nose
Literary devices in The World Renowned Nose
Socio-cultural context of The World Renowned Nose
Historical background of The World Renowned Nose
Interpretation of The World Renowned Nose
Reader response to The World Renowned Nose
Adaptations of The World Renowned Nose
Reviews of The World Renowned Nose
One night, as he was lying in a dark cell, he heard a voice saying "Kunjupathumma, I am God. I have heard your prayers and I have come to help you. I will make your nose normal again." Kunjupathumma was overjoyed and thanked God profusely. The next morning, he woke up and found that his nose had shrunk to its original size. He was ecstatic and ran out of the cell, shouting "My nose is normal! My nose is normal!" He hoped that now he could live a peaceful life again.
However, his happiness was short-lived. As soon as he came out of the cell, he was surrounded by angry mobs who accused him of being a fraud and a liar. They said that he had deceived them with his fake nose and that he had insulted their beliefs and ideologies. They attacked him with stones, sticks, knives, and guns. Kunjupathumma fell down bleeding and dying. His last words were "Oh God, why did you do this to me?"
Analysis
The World Renowned Nose is a brilliant example of Basheer's satirical writing style. He uses humour and irony to expose the absurdity and hypocrisy of human society. He criticizes the blind faith and fanaticism of various religious groups who claim to know the truth about God and His will. He mocks the arrogance and ignorance of various intellectual groups who claim to know the truth about science and nature. He ridicules the greed and violence of various political groups who claim to know the truth about justice and power.
Basheer also shows sympathy and compassion for Kunjupathumma, who represents the innocent and oppressed masses who suffer at the hands of the powerful and corrupt elites. He portrays Kunjupathumma as a simple and honest man who does not care about fame or fortune but only wants to live a normal life with his wife. He contrasts Kunjupathumma's humility and sincerity with the vanity and deceit of the people who exploit him and his nose. He makes us feel the pain and tragedy of Kunjupathumma's fate, which is a result of the cruelty and injustice of the world.
The story also conveys a message of humanism and universalism. Basheer suggests that the nose is not a matter of religion, science, or politics, but a matter of humanity. He implies that the nose is a symbol of the diversity and uniqueness of human beings, who should be respected and accepted for who they are. He implies that the nose is also a symbol of the unity and commonality of human beings, who share the same hopes and fears, joys and sorrows, dreams and nightmares. He implies that the nose is ultimately a symbol of the mystery and wonder of life, which cannot be explained or controlled by any human authority or ideology.
References
: Vaikom Muhammad Basheers: The World-Renowned Nose An Analysis
: World Renowned nose New Oxford Modern English Literature Class 8 - English
: Vishwavikhyathamaya Mookku - Wikipedia
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