Write the Major Novels of R. K. Narayan.

Ans.

1. Swami and Friends

As the tile of the novel shows, it is the story of Swaminathan at the school in the company of his friends. It is a novel of the early period written in 1935 by R. K. Narayan, so it a remained for from perfection. It is an interesting story of a school lad. He lives in the company of Somu. the self-conceited monitor, the strong-bodied Mani, Samuel and Rajam who had an aspiration for leadership. There is a reference to a quarrel with a coach man who has cheated Swami of six annas. Both Swami and Mani plan to kid nap the coachman’s son but they are beaten by the people. The Headmaster of the school intervenes. Swami is turned out of the school when his friends start a non-violent movement in Malgudi. There is also a reference to a cricket match in which Swami is neglected and also punished for making a fault. He runs away from Malgudi but is brought back by the people to his parents. In the concluding part of the novel, both Swami and Mani go to the station to see off Rajam whose father is transferred outside.

2. The Bachelor of Arts

This novel was written in 1937 by R. K. Narayan. If “Swami and Friends” gives a picture of Swami’s school days, “The Bachelor of Arts” is an expression of Chandran’s life and feelings at the college level when he is only twenty-one years of age. After passing B. A. he falls in love with a young girl named Malathi. He cannot marry her because of his mother’s opposition. He feels frustrated and goes to the extent of renouncing, the world for turning into a ‘Sanyasi’. Soon he returns from his Sanyas, joins his domestic life and marrys a girl named Sushila, chosen by his parents. Then he joins as a newspaper correspondent and attains the post of the chief agent of “The Daily Messenger”. He begins to live a sexually-satisfied life with ad equate prosperity. Achieving such satisfaction he goes to support the institutions of marriage which carries no other sanctity. From the point of view of characterization “The Bachelor of Arts” is a distinguished novel written by R. K. Narayan.

3. The Dark Room

“The Dark Room” which was written in 1939 by R.K. Narayan is quite different from his earlier two novels because it deals with the discontented family life. Ramani who is the hero of the novel is working as the Branch Manager of an Insurance Company. He is living a contented. life with his wife, Savitri and three sons. The misfortune of the family stars when Ramani falls in love with a young lady, Shanta Bai who joins the Insurance Company as an organizer to promote business, Savitri’s life becomes un happy, she makes an attempt for her suicide but is saved by a blacksmith. She returns home, look after her children and the domestic life without finding any change in her husband’s ways of life when he is badly in love with Shanta Bai. The story ends in-a highly touching style. Different characters in the novel have been well described by R. K. Narayan. The novelist has made his expression in the novel in a very realistic style.

4. The English Teacher

“The English Teacher” which was written in 1945 deals with the college life of an English teacher named Krishnan. The story of the novel centers round the happy life between Krishnan and his wife, Sushila. Suddenly one day Sushila died of typhoid and the sad event brought a great change in Krishnan’s life. He concentrated himself on bringing up his daughter named Leela. In a mystic way, Krishnan weekly received messages from his dead wife through a medium who was actually a fine gentleman with an attitude of a philosopher. Krishnan got Leela admitted in an ideal school conducted by a devoted teacher whose personal life was unhappy. In the end, Krishnan resigned from the post of the English teacher and joined the ideal school to contact his dead wife who had turned into a spirit. The novel may be called ‘a love song in marriage’ in a my site style. The novel indicates the need of the freedom of mind and soul for Krishnan. There is not enough interest for the readers in the present novel.

5. Mr. Sampath

“Mr. Sampath” which was written in 1949 by R. K. Narayan tells the readers the plan and the optimistic views of a fine gentleman, named Mr. Sampath. He is the owner of The Truth Printing Works’ where the “Weekly’ of Mr. Srinivas is printed. He wishes to launch “Sunrise Pictures” for which he asks Mr. Srinivas to write the film story. He has borrowed money for the same. In the meantime he falls in love with Shanti who is the heroine of the film. She is also loved by Ravi, an artist of the film. In the course of a dance piece, Ravi rushes at Shanti, loses his head and chases other girls upstairs where he destroys some negatives of the shots taken by the film workers. as a result of his mad act the film company falls into financial crisis. Sampath takes Shanti to a Heurpi Hills resort and stays there for some days. From there they separate, Shanti goes to Madras and Mr. Sampat goes to Malgudi. To avoid his creditors he changes places, cheats some persons and obliges others in an intelligent way. The character of Mr. Sampath has been drawn finely and successfully by R. K. Narayan.

6. The Financial Expert

“The Financial Expert” which was published in 1952 is a highly interesting novel containing mild irony. It deals with the ups and downs in the life of Margayya who is popularly known as the master of financial matters. He started the first phase of his financial career by acting as a broker on behalf of his customers in transacting business for arranging loans to them from the Co-operative Land Mortgage Bank. For this, he sat under a banyan tree with his tin trunk containing necessary writing material. He filled their forms and suggested ways and means to get the needed loans. Soon the Secretary of the Bank compelled him to give up his financial activities with the bank.

His second phase started with his partnership with dr. Pal who was a journalist, correspondent and author. He began to earn money from a spicy book about bad life under the title, “Domestic Harmony”. Under the third phase, he started to work as a ‘financial adviser and money lender to the peas ants in the main market. At last he separated from Dr. Pal and resumed his work under the banyan tree with his old tin box. R.K. Narayan has sketched his character truly and successfully.

7. Waiting for the Mahatma

“Waiting for the mahatma” which was published in 1955 is a political novel by R. K. Narayan who describes Gandhiji’s Freedom Movement along with his assassination (murder) at the prayer-meeting in New Delhi. Sriram is the hero of the novel and his grand mother allows him to deposit his savings in the local bank. A girl named Bharati comes in his life and inspires him about Mahatma Gandhi. He is equally influenced by Jagdish, a terrorist. The incidents are much interwoven.

8. The Guide (1956)

Please consult the book, “The Guide” for detailed study.

9. The Man-eater of Malgudi

“The Mat-eater of Malgudi” which was published in 1962 is the story of a cruel man named vasu. Working as a taxidermist, he had become a heartless creature. He became very Powerful physically after he had received his training from a wrestler. He had got his training of taxidermy in Junagarh. His hobby was to kill animals, fill them with some stuff and sell them to the people. Natray and his other friends felt much disturbed when Vasu came in with his stuffed hyenas, pythons and with his dancing beloved. He wished to kill an elephant of the temple to satisfy his hunger to stuff a huge animal. Natraj felt much grieved at his wish because he had befriended the large animal (elephant of the temple).

It was Vasu’s hearty desire to live with the wild animals of the Memphis forest, so their (animals) attraction had drawn him to Malgudi. He was so much money-minded that he did not make even the rightful payment and ren to Natraj. Thus he made use of his power in a wrong way. He had no faith in normal marriage, so he used to bring different women to his house to satisfy his sexual urge. Certainly he was rough and brutish, so he was cruelly merci less with others. Contrary to him, Natraj was a gentleman with a good heart and noble feelings for all his friends.

“The Man-eater of Malgudi” may be regarded an interesting, successful and perfect novel. It is also significant from the point of view of successful characterization. R. K. Narayan has made a fine use of irony, realism and romanticism in the novel. Vasu as the hero of the novel is most important, powerful and dominating in the whole story.

10. The Vendor of Sweets

“The Vendor of Sweets” which was R. K. Narayan’s last novel was written in 1967. It deals with the life and affections of sixty-year old Jagan who was a rich widower. He was the prosperous vendor (moving-seller) of sweets, doing his business under the principles of Mahatma Gandhi.