The Angry Husband

Ramgopal became head of the family fairly late in life after his father’s demise at the ripe age of eighty five. Till then he lived a somewhat non- participating style within the joint family, concerned mainly with his own family of wife and two children. He accepted the headship with apparent humility but did not realise that it was not an easy task to satisfy a large family of uncles, siblings, cousins and their families.  Of course, he had ideas like enlarging and improving the sanitary and sewerage system of the old village house they lived in, asking the womenfolk to make family’s requirement of condiments such as pappad and pickles at home and promoting vegetarianism in the family. and so on. Though the elder members of the family were on his side, the youngsters thought that he was too dominant, adamant and imposing. He faced severe opposition particularly with regard to his campaign for vegetarianism. Gradually the grumblings became more and more vociferous and even the elders who supported him earlier became his critics. This further alienated him from his own family and he too began showing intolerance to their views and actions.

One of his cherished dreams was to become popular in the immediate neighbourhood as well as in the town. He nurtured the ambition of becoming an important leader and to this end started visiting friends and acquaintances.  In fact, he spent more evenings on such visits than at home. He liked the civility and geniality others extended to him as the head of a big and old family of the town.  He often mistook their hospitality as indicative of his personal charm.

Like any angry husband, he is happy outside his home