"Only the story matters; that's all."
In the realm of talented Indian authors, RK Narayan stands as an enduring beacon of captivating literature.
Born Rasipuram Krishnaswami Iyer Narayanaswami on October 10, 1906, Narayan was one of the most influential writers of his time.
In a career that spanned over six decades, he carved a niche for himself in his field, setting many of his stories in the fictional urban town of Malgudi.
Intertwining themes of socialism and romance, Narayan continues to enchant readers with the magic of his woven words.
Paying tribute to him, DESIblitz invites you on an intoxicating odyssey.
Join us as we explore the life and history of RK Narayan.
Early Life
RK Narayan was born in Madras, British India which is now Chennai, Tamil Nadu.
He was the second son among eight children. His siblings also shared his creative spark.
Narayan’s brother Ramachandran was an editor at SS Vasan’s Gemini Studios while his youngest brother Laxman became a cartoonist.
He was nicknamed Kunjappa by his grandmother, who taught Narayan arithmetic, classical music, and Sanskrit.
Narayan’s interest in literature began at an early age, as he started to devour material by Charles Dickens, Arthur Conan Doyle, and Thomas Hardy.
When Narayan’s father, a headmaster, was transferred to another school, the family moved to Mysore.
After struggling for four years, Narayan managed to achieve a Bachelor’s degree.
He briefly worked as a teacher but he soon realised that his true calling was writing.
Forays into Writing
In an interview, Narayan explains what he feels are the tools a writer needs to succeed.
He states: “There must be pleasure in mere observation of people and things.
“I don’t mean deliberate observation, not taking notes. It is an instinct, not a conscious process. That’s important.
“And, if you have the language, you can write about it.”
This philosophy was to be evident in Narayan’s writing.
In 1935, RK Narayan published his first novel, Swami and Friends.
This semi-autobiographical book was inspired by Narayan’s childhood and it was set in Malgudi.
Narayan created the fictional urban area in 1930, and it would become the precinct of many of his books.
The 1930s also saw the release of The Bachelor of Arts (1937), inspired by Narayan’s college days, as well as The Dark Room (1938).
The Dark Room symbolised Narayan’s fearlessness in tackling taboo subjects. This novel portrays domestic abuse.
In the book, a male character was the perpetrator while the female character was the victim.
These novels received positive reviews. Narayan’s infectious writing style and his excellent command of English set him apart from his contemporaries.
However, this was just the beginning.
An Imaginative Shift
In 1933, Narayan fell in love with a girl named Rajam. They married despite opposition from their families.
However, Rajam tragically died of typhoid in 1939, leaving behind Narayan and their three-year-old daughter.
Rajam’s death became the inspiration behind The English Teacher (1945).
Just before its publication, Narayan published his first collection of short stories, Malgudi Days (1942).
In 1942, Narayan also expanded his horizons and founded the publication, Indian Thought Publications.
With aid from the company, Narayan’s work began to transcend borders, including New York and Moscow.
Following The English Teacher, RK Narayan adopted a more imaginative approach to his novels, as opposed to the autobiographical themes of his previous work.
In 1952, Narayan released The Financial Expert. It tells the story of Margayya, an ambitious man of finance who offers advice to the people in his town.
Using greed as the primary theme of the book, Narayan curates a gripping and relatable story.
He also humanises Margayya, showing his humanity as a juxtaposition to his greed.
In a Medium book review of The Financial Expert, Ambuj Sinha writes:
“Narayan weaves magic by navigating the narrative through Margayya’s inner monologues and thought processes.
“The effortlessness with which Narayan paints this picture is extremely refreshing.
“The book has an air of simplicity about it while being extremely profound at the same time.”
The Guide
In 1958, Narayan published one of his most famous novels, The Guide.
This enigmatic tale narrates the saga of Raju – a tourist guide who unintentionally becomes a holy man in the eyes of drought-stricken villagers.
Raju ends up holding a fast to beget rain for the village.
His story is also adorned with the layer of his romance with Rosie/Miss Nalini.
She is an unhappily married woman whom Raju encourages to pursue her dreams of dancing.
The Guide was a monstrous success and it even inspired the legendary Bollywood actor Dev Anand to adapt it for the big screen.
Dev Sahab collaborated with the Nobel Laureate Pearl Buck and the American director Tad Danielewski.
They made an English film adaptation of The Guide which starred Dev Sahab as Raju and Waheeda Rehman as Rosie.
Dev Sahab also produced and starred in a Hindi version that was renamed Guide (1965).
Guide is one of the most popular and loved films of Dev Anand and it won several awards.
It is frequently featured on lists of Bollywood classics and is also renowned for SD Burman’s genius soundtrack.
This cinematic marvel would not have existed without the talent of RK Narayan.
Later Years
Narayan continued his success in the 1960s and 1970s with successful novels including The Vendor of Sweets (1967) and a short story collection, A Horse and Two Goats (1970).
As a promise to his late uncle, Narayan translated the epics Ramayan and Mahabharat into English.
Ramayan was published in 1973 with Mahabharat following in 1978.
In the 1980s, Narayan saw the release of A Tiger for Malgudi (1983), which was written from the perspective of a tiger about its relationship with humans.
Talkative Man followed in 1986 which was about an aspiring journalist in Malgudi.
It should be observed that Malgudi also saw changes in its world according to the real-life evolvement of the Indian landscape.
For example, British names of Indian towns were changed in Malgudi and British landmarks were removed.
An illness compelled Narayan to move from Mysore to Chennai. Mysore had given birth to Narayan’s love for agriculture.
He loved to walk to the market only to interact with people, displaying his social desire and also gathering research for his books.
In 1994, Narayan lost his daughter to cancer. In May 2001, Narayan’s illness put him on a ventilator and he passed away on May 13, 2001, at the age of 94.
A Legend Lives On
During his literary career, Narayan was the recipient of several awards and honours.
For The Guide, he received the Sahitya Akademi Award.
In 1963, he was bestowed with the Padma Bhushan honour, followed by the Padma Vibhushan, India’s second-highest civilian award in 2000.
Along with Raja Rao and Mulk Raj Anand, Narayan is counted as one of the three leading Indian writers in the English language.
In 2016, Narayan’s home in Mysore became a museum dedicated to his legacy.
On November 8, 2019, Swami and Friends was included in the BBC’s ‘100 Novels That Shaped Our World‘.
Speaking of his goal, Narayan admits: “I’d be quite happy if no more is claimed from me than being just a storyteller.
“Only the story matters; that’s all.”
RK Narayan’s legacy is one of everlasting stories, compelling characters, and charming language.
His unique ability to meld humour, romance, and social issues makes him a writer of rare and intriguing calibre.
His novels are still universally loved over 20 years after his death.
If you are an avid reader, RK Narayan should be at the top of your list!
His work will inspire and enthral generations to come.
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