Eunuchs

Ka. Naa. Subramanyam

In Delhi, whenever a child is born,
it is usual for about ten eunuchs
to visit the house,
and to sing and dance there
for money.
I like this North Indian custom-
a rather fine gesture,
it seems to me,
by those unable to sire children
to get excited hearing about
the birth of a child.
Ilango Adigal wrote about
North Indian eunuchs
and their false breasts,
but not about this custom of theirs.
I do regret the omission.
However, if the entire world
turns eunuch,
not a child will be born.
Where will eunuchs then,
I wonder, sing and dance
for money?
I have no answer.


Note: Ilango Adigal was a Jaina monk to whom the fifth-century Tamil epic, the Cilappatikaram (The Tale of an Anklet), is traditionally attributed.