R K Narayan (10 Oct 1906 – 13 May 2001)
Rasipuram Krishnaswami Narayanswami Lyer, often
known as R.K. Narayan, is regarded as one of the original fathers of Indian
English novels, alongside Raja Rao and Mulk Raj Anand.
His output consisted of historical or romantic
novels; the appearance of Mahatma Gandhi on the scene shifted the focus of
fiction to his works and thinking; however, it was between 1930 and 1970 that
writers such as Raja Rao, R.K. Narayan, Mulk Raj Anand, Kamala Markandeya,
Anita Desai, Bhabani Bhattacharya, Khushwant Singh, Nirad.C. Chaudhari, and
many others arrived and tried their hands at various themes, and evolution in
this field began.
Narayan was born on October 10th, 1906 in Chennai.
His family included his parents and five siblings in addition to himself.
Narayan spent his early years with his grandmother, and these experiences had a
lasting impact on him.
He was a keen observer of the world around him,
liked his pets, enjoyed playing, and hated school and academics. He masterfully
depicted his childhood experiences in his debut novel Swami and Friends,
which was released in 1935. Swami, the protagonist of the story, is a tiny kid,
and we view the world through his eyes; reading the novel seems like revisiting
our childhood years.
The early years of his work were difficult; no one
in India understood his literary excellence, and he made ends meet by producing
short pieces for magazines and newspapers. Graham Greene, a longtime friends of
Narayan, gave him his first break after showing him the manuscript of his
novel, "Purna." Thus started his career as an author.
His next novel was The Bachelor of Arts (1937),
which is semi-autobiographical in nature, and his third novel was The Dark
Room (1938). Narayan is known for his lightheartedness and comic writing,
but this novel was an exception because it depicted the plight of an Indian
woman who must accept her circumstances; it is depressing but very realistic.
Narayan was unusual in his thought, satirising old
age beliefs and problems in society in his novels and short tales; he detailed
their irrelevance and harm to existence. He had a love marriage in 1934 and
cherished his marital life till fate intervened and his wife Rajam died in
1939.
The English Teacher (1945)
is a very remarkable work, as he describes it: "The English Teacher is
autobiographical in nature, with very little of it being fiction.
In 1951, he published The Financial Expert,
which is widely regarded as his masterpiece and one of the most creative pieces
of fiction. The following novel, Waiting for the Mahatma, is partially based on
Mahatma Gandhi's imaginary visit to Malgudi and deals with the protagonist's
romantic sentiments for a woman while attending the Mahatma's speeches. The
Guide was written when he was on a Rockefeller Fellowship trip to the United
States in 1956.
Narayan's next novel, The Man-Eater of Malgudi,
was released in 1961. In 1964, Narayan released his first mythological book,
Gods, Demons, and Others, a collection of revised and translated short stories
from Hindu epics. His younger brother, R. K. Laxman, illustrated this book, as
he did many of his previous works.
Narayan's next published work was The Vendor of
Sweets, a book released in 1967. It was inspired in part by his trips to
America and includes of overemphasised characterizations of both Indian and
American tropes, highlighting the vast gaps in culture. In 1970, he published
his next book, a collection of short stories titled A Horse and Two Goats.
Vijay Anand directed the 1965 Hindi film Guide,
which was based on Narayan's novel The Guide.
In May 2001, Narayan was admitted to the hospital. He had planned to write his next novel, a narrative about a grandpa, just a few hours before being put on a ventilator. He requested N. Ram to purchase him a notepad because he was usually picky about what he used. However, Narayan did not improve and never began the work. He died a few days later, on May 13, 2001, in Chennai, at the age of 94.
Important Literary
Works :
Swami and
Friends (1935)
The Bachelor
of Arts (1937)
The Dark Room (1938)
The English
Teacher (1945)
Mr. Sampath (1948)
The Financial
Expert (1952)
Waiting for
the Mahatma (1955)
The Guide (1958)
The Man-Eater
of Malgudi (1961)
The Vendor of
Sweets (1967)
R. K. Narayan’s contribution to Indian Writing in English.
R. K. Narayan made a significant contribution to Indian Writing in English (IWE) by depicting Indian life, culture, and society in the fictitious town of Malgudi. His writings gave a nuanced and honest portrayal of everyday life in India, portraying the complexity of human relationships, the conflict between tradition and modernization, and ordinary people's hopes and hardships. Narayan's contribution to IWE may be understood in several ways:
Cultural Portrayal : Narayan's books and short stories painted a rich and vivid picture of Indian culture, customs, and societal dynamics. Through his writing, he gave readers a glimpse into the various dimensions of Indian life, enhancing the IWE environment with real practical stories.
Universal Themes: While based in Indian culture, Narayan's writings addressed universal themes like as love, friendship, family, and the desire of personal fulfilment. His ability to portray the essence of human experiences crossed cultural borders, striking an association with readers in India and throughout the world, adding to the global appeal of Indian writing in English.
Literary Style: Narayan's writing style, distinguished by its simplicity, wit, and profound observation of human nature, established a distinct tone for IWE. His ability to impart profound thoughts via simple and entertaining storytelling demonstrated Indian authors' capacity to express themselves effectively in English.
Ongoing Legacy: R. K. Narayan's literary works are still recognised for their timeless depictions of Indian life and culture. His writings have influenced future generations of authors and played a critical part in shaping the course of IWE, leaving a legacy that continues to resonate with readers and researchers all over the world.
R. K. Narayan's contribution to IWE was distinguished by his ability to realistically depict Indian life and culture, his study of global issues, and his long-lasting effect on India's literary landscape and beyond. His narrative abilities, as well as his depiction of ordinary Malgudi folks' lives, have cemented his place as one of the most prominent people in Indian English literature.
No comments:
Post a Comment