Aadu Jeevitham is a Malayalam bestseller written by Benyamin Daniel,in 2008 by Green Book Publications. Benyamin is an Indian novelist and short story writer. His other works are Al Arbian Novel Factory, Jasmin Days, Manja Veyil Maranangal, Mullapoo Niramulla Raavukal.. etc. Aadujeevitham was translated in to English by Joseph Koyyilapally named Goat Days published in the year 2012. The novel is based on real-life events and was a best seller in Kerala. It talks about the man named Najeeb Muhammed, a labor migrant from kerala. The insightful and vivid description of life of migrant workers in the remote Arabian desert is heart touching. It also gives the economic condition of which lead people such migrations or displacement. It won the Kerala sahithaya Academy Award for Benyamin in 2009.

The major themes of Goat Days are diaspora, immigration, slavery, confinement, violence, suppression and religion. Among all these themes alienation is the dominated one. of the cruel arbab makes him a suppressed creature in the foreign land.

The stroy is narrated in first person which make us feeling that Najeeb is sitting beside us and telling dreadful story. Najeeb leaves his pregnant wife alone and go to Arabia to fullfill his small dreams in life. Unfortunately he reaches Riyadh where he is assigned as keeper Goat rearing farm in a desert. He was forced to look after goats and his supervisor was very cruel and rude man. He was starved many times and didn't have enough cloth to wear. In fact he didn't even get consideration that goats get.  Najeeb used to live in the desert for almost three years without speaking to anyone. He was far away from human interaction in a country where he doest knows the language, places, people, and surroundings
The only companions Najeeb have was goats and camels. As time goes he starts to identify himself with the goats. So he has a life like goats. Without having the basic needs of an human being. There is no food and water for days and locked up in Goat shed. All this images gives the poor working condition of labors in Arabian desert. The novel helps to understand the problems faced by people who working in abroad. 

This book also gives the image of survival. Najeeb' s strong determination help him to get rid of the dreadful pathetic condition that came across him. He didn't accuse himself but believes in fate. And also didn't try to commit suicide. So Najeeb gives a positive energy to us. 

If you think how unfair your life is, then this is for you

I highly recommend everyone to read this novel, Aadujeevitham.