Classic short stories from Karnataka: A baby stirs feelings of humanity in a tribe of cannibals

Long, long ago there was a group of people who were not aware that they were human. They lived like animals in jungles, in caves, in hills and on mountains. They may be there even now. They were known as the Halakki tribe. They cooed and twittered to one another, like birds, and wandered about eating whatever they could find. They were meat-eaters, cannibals. They would lie in wait and pounce on anyone who came their way and kill them to eat them raw. They did not even know the difference between humans and animals. There was no room for any awareness of pain or loss. They would also venture towards the edge of the forests sometimes. But they did not stay longer than a day or two anywhere.

Subba was their leader. Everyone had to listen to him. Once, they were near a small village. Each man walked down a different pathway shouting, “Halak … Halak”. One of the paths led right to the edge of a village. The man walked about and found himself amid a row of huts. In one of them, he saw a young girl with a baby at her breast. The baby was sleeping. Soon,...

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