1/24/2017 R.K.

NarayanWikipedia

R.K.Narayan
FromWikipedia,thefreeencyclopedia

R.K.Narayan(10October190613May2001),fullname
RasipuramKrishnaswamiIyerNarayanaswami,wasan R.K.Narayan
Indianwriter,hewasknownforhisworkssetinthefictional
SouthIndiantownofMalgudi.Hewasaleadingauthorofearly
IndianliteratureinEnglish,alongwithMulkRajAnandand
RajaRao.

Narayan'smentorandfriend,GrahamGreenewasinstrumental
ingettingpublishersforNarayansfirstfourbooks,including
thesemiautobiographicaltrilogyofSwamiandFriends,The
BachelorofArtsandTheEnglishTeacher.Thefictionaltownof
Malgudi,wasfirstintroducedinSwamiandFriends.Narayans
TheFinancialExpert,washailedasoneofthemostoriginal
worksof1951,andSahityaAkademiAwardwinnerTheGuide,
wasadaptedforfilmandforBroadway.

Narayanhighlightsthesocialcontextandeverydaylifeofhis Born RasipuramKrishnaswamiIyer

characters,andhehasbeencomparedtoWilliamFaulkner,who Narayanaswami
alsocreatedasimilarfictionaltown,andlikewiseexploredwith 10October1906
humourandcompassiontheenergyofordinarylife.Narayan's Madras,BritishIndia
shortstorieshavebeencomparedwiththoseofGuyde Died 13May2001(aged94)
Maupassant,becauseofhisabilitytocompressanarrative. Chennai
However,hehasalsobeencriticisedforthesimplicityofhis Occupation Writer
prose.
Nationality Indian
Inacareerthatspannedoversixtyyears,Narayanreceived Genre Fiction,mythologyandnonfiction
manyawardsandhonours,includingtheACBensonMedal Notable PadmaVibhushan,SahityaAkademi
fromtheRoyalSocietyofLiterature,thePadmaBhushanand awards Award,BensonMedal
thePadmaVibhushan,India'sthirdandsecondhighestcivilian
Relatives R.K.Laxman(brother)
awards.[1]HewasalsonominatedtotheRajyaSabha,theupper
houseofIndia'sparliament.

Contents
1 Lifeandcareer
1.1 Earlydays
1.2 Turningpoint
1.3 Thebusyyears
1.4 Thelateryears
2 Literaryreview
2.1 Writingstyle
2.2 Malgudi
2.3 Criticalreception
3 Awardsandhonours
4 Legacy
5 Listofworks
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/R._K._Narayan 1/14
1/24/2017 R.K.NarayanWikipedia

5 Listofworks
5.1 Adaptations
6 Seealso
7 Notes
8 References
9 Furtherreading

Lifeandcareer
Earlydays

R.K.NarayanwasborninMadras(nowChennai),BritishIndia.[2]Hisfatherwasaschoolheadmaster,and
Narayandidsomeofhisstudiesathisfather'sschool.Ashisfather'sjobentailedfrequenttransfers,Narayanspent
partofhischildhoodunderthecareofhismaternalgrandmother,Parvati.[3]Duringthistimehisbestfriendsand
playmateswereapeacockandamischievousmonkey.[4][5][6]

HisgrandmothergavehimthenicknameofKunjappa,anamethatstucktohiminfamilycircles.[7]Shetaughthim
arithmetic,mythology,classicalIndianmusicandSanskrit.[8]AccordingtohisyoungestbrotherR.K.Laxman,the
familymostlyconversedinEnglish,andgrammaticalerrorsonthepartofNarayanandhissiblingswerefrowned
upon.[9]Whilelivingwithhisgrandmother,NarayanstudiedatasuccessionofschoolsinMadras,includingthe
LutheranMissionSchoolinPurasawalkam,[10]C.R.C.HighSchool,andtheChristianCollegeHighSchool.[11]
Narayanwasanavidreader,andhisearlyliterarydietincludedDickens,Wodehouse,ArthurConanDoyleand
ThomasHardy.[12]Whenhewastwelveyearsold,Narayanparticipatedinaproindependencemarch,forwhich
hewasreprimandedbyhisunclethefamilywasapoliticalandconsideredallgovernmentswicked.[13]

NarayanmovedtoMysoretolivewithhisfamilywhenhisfatherwastransferredtotheMaharajah'sCollegeHigh
School.Thewellstockedlibraryattheschool,aswellashisfather'sown,fedhisreadinghabit,andhestarted
writingaswell.Aftercompletinghighschool,Narayanfailedtheuniversityentranceexaminationandspentayear
athomereadingandwritinghesubsequentlypassedtheexaminationin1926andjoinedMaharajaCollegeof
Mysore.IttookNarayanfouryearstoobtainhisbachelor'sdegree,ayearlongerthanusual.Afterbeingpersuaded
byafriendthattakingamaster'sdegree(M.A.)wouldkillhisinterestinliterature,hebrieflyheldajobasaschool
teacherhowever,hequitinprotestwhentheheadmasteroftheschoolaskedhimtosubstituteforthephysical
trainingmaster.[10]TheexperiencemadeNarayanrealisethattheonlycareerforhimwasinwriting,andhe
decidedtostayathomeandwritenovels.[14][15]HisfirstpublishedworkwasabookreviewofDevelopmentof
MaritimeLawsof17thCenturyEngland.[16]Subsequently,hestartedwritingtheoccasionallocalintereststoryfor
Englishnewspapersandmagazines.Althoughthewritingdidnotpaymuch(hisincomeforthefirstyearwasnine
rupeesandtwelveannas),hehadaregularlifeandfewneeds,andhisfamilyandfriendsrespectedandsupported
hisunorthodoxchoiceofcareer.[17]In1930,Narayanwrotehisfirstnovel,SwamiandFriends,[16]aneffort
ridiculedbyhisuncle[18]andrejectedbyastringofpublishers.[9]Withthisbook,NarayancreatedMalgudi,atown
thatcreativelyreproducedthesocialsphereofthecountrywhileitignoredthelimitsimposedbycolonialrule,it
alsogrewwiththevarioussociopoliticalchangesofBritishandpostindependenceIndia.[19]

Turningpoint

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/R._K._Narayan 2/14
1/24/2017 R.K.NarayanWikipedia

Whilevacationingathissister'shouseinCoimbatore,in1933,NarayanmetandfellinlovewithRajam,a15year
oldgirlwholivednearby.Despitemanyastrologicalandfinancialobstacles,Narayanmanagedtogainpermission
fromthegirl'sfatherandmarriedher.[20]Followinghismarriage,NarayanbecameareporterforaMadrasbased
papercalledTheJustice,dedicatedtotherightsofnonBrahmins.ThepublisherswerethrilledtohaveaBrahmin
IyerinNarayanespousingtheircause.Thejobbroughthimincontactwithawidevarietyofpeopleandissues.[21]
Earlier,NarayanhadsentthemanuscriptofSwamiandFriendstoafriendatOxford,andaboutthistime,the
friendshowedthemanuscripttoGrahamGreene.Greenerecommendedthebooktohispublisher,anditwas
finallypublishedin1935.[4]GreenealsocounseledNarayanonshorteninghisnametobecomemorefamiliarto
theEnglishspeakingaudience.[22]Thebookwassemiautobiographicalandbuiltuponmanyincidentsfromhis
ownchildhood.[23]Reviewswerefavourablebutsaleswerefew.Narayan'snextnovelTheBachelorofArts(1937),
wasinspiredinpartbyhisexperiencesatcollege,[24]anddealtwiththethemeofarebelliousadolescent
transitioningtoaratherwelladjustedadult[25]itwaspublishedbyadifferentpublisher,againatthe
recommendationofGreene.Histhirdnovel,TheDarkRoom(1938)wasaboutdomesticdisharmony,[26]
showcasingthemanastheoppressorandthewomanasthevictimwithinamarriage,andwaspublishedbyyet
anotherpublisherthisbookalsoreceivedgoodreviews.In1937,Narayan'sfatherdied,andNarayanwasforcedto
acceptacommissionfromthegovernmentofMysoreashewasnotmakinganymoney.[27]

Inhisfirstthreebooks,Narayanhighlightstheproblemswithcertainsociallyacceptedpractices.Thefirstbook
hasNarayanfocusingontheplightofstudents,punishmentsofcaningintheclassroom,andtheassociatedshame.
TheconceptofhoroscopematchinginHindumarriagesandtheemotionaltollitleviesonthebrideandgroomis
coveredinthesecondbook.Inthethirdbook,Narayanaddressestheconceptofawifeputtingupwithher
husband'santicsandattitudes.[28]

Rajamdiedoftyphoidin1939.[29]HerdeathaffectedNarayandeeplyandheremaineddepressedforalongtime
hewasalsoconcernedfortheirdaughterHema,whowasonlythreeyearsold.Thebereavementbroughtabouta
significantchangeinhislifeandwastheinspirationbehindhisnextnovel,TheEnglishTeacher.[16]Thisbook,like
hisfirsttwobooks,isautobiographical,butmoreso,andcompletesanunintentionalthematictrilogyfollowing
SwamiandFriendsandTheBachelorofArts.[30][31]Insubsequentinterviews,NarayanacknowledgesthatThe
EnglishTeacherwasalmostentirelyanautobiography,albeitwithdifferentnamesforthecharactersandthe
changeofsettinginMalgudihealsoexplainsthattheemotionsdetailedinthebookreflectedhisownatthetime
ofRajam'sdeath.[32]

Bolsteredbysomeofhissuccesses,in1940Narayantriedhishandatajournal,IndianThought.[33]Withthehelp
ofhisuncle,acarsalesman,NarayanmanagedtogetmorethanathousandsubscribersinMadrascityalone.
However,theventuredidnotlastlongduetoNarayan'sinabilitytomanageit,anditceasedpublicationwithina
year.[34]Hisfirstcollectionofshortstories,MalgudiDays,waspublishedinNovember1942,followedbyThe
EnglishTeacherin1945.Inbetween,beingcutofffromEnglandduetothewar,Narayanstartedhisown
publishingcompany,namingit(again)IndianThoughtPublicationsthepublishingcompanywasasuccessandis
stillactive,nowmanagedbyhisgranddaughter.[14]Soon,withadevotedreadershipstretchingfromNewYorkto
Moscow,Narayan'sbooksstartedsellingwellandin1948hestartedbuildinghisownhouseontheoutskirtsof
Mysorethehousewascompletedin1953.[35]

Thebusyyears

AfterTheEnglishTeacher,Narayan'swritingstookamoreimaginativeandcreativeexternalstylecomparedtothe
semiautobiographicaltoneoftheearliernovels.Hisnexteffort,Mr.Sampath,wasthefirstbookexhibitingthis
modifiedapproach.However,itstilldrawsfromsomeofhisownexperiences,particularlytheaspectofstartinghis
ownjournalhealsomakesamarkedmovementawayfromhisearliernovelsbyintermixingbiographical
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/R._K._Narayan 3/14
1/24/2017 R.K.NarayanWikipedia

events.[36]Soonafter,hepublishedTheFinancialExpert,consideredtobehismasterpieceandhailedasoneofthe
mostoriginalworksoffictionin1951.[37][38]Theinspirationforthenovelwasatruestoryaboutafinancial
genius,Margayya,relatedtohimbyhisbrother.[39]Thenextnovel,WaitingfortheMahatma,looselybasedona
fictionalvisittoMalgudibyMahatmaGandhi,dealswiththeprotagonist'sromanticfeelingsforawoman,when
heattendsthediscoursesofthevisitingMahatma.Thewoman,namedBharti,isalooseparodyofBharati,the
personificationofIndiaandthefocusofGandhi'sdiscourses.Whilethenovelincludessignificantreferencestothe
Indianindependencemovement,thefocusisonthelifeoftheordinaryindividual,narratedwithNarayan'susual
doseofirony.[40]

In1953,hisworkswerepublishedintheUnitedStatesforthefirsttime,byMichigan
StateUniversityPress,wholater(in1958),relinquishedtherightstoVikingPress.[41]
WhileNarayan'swritingsoftenbringouttheanomaliesinsocialstructuresandviews,
hewashimselfatraditionalistinFebruary1956,Narayanarrangedhisdaughter's
weddingfollowingallorthodoxHindurituals.[42]Afterthewedding,Narayanbegan
travellingoccasionally,continuingtowriteatleast1500wordsadayevenwhileon
theroad.[35]TheGuidewaswrittenwhilehewasvisitingtheUnitedStatesin1956on
LyleBlairofMichigan
theRockefellerFellowship.WhileintheU.S.,Narayanmaintainedadailyjournalthat
StateUniversityPress
(Narayan'sU.S. wastolaterserveasthefoundationforhisbookMyDatelessDiary.[43]Aroundthis
publisher),Narayanand time,onavisittoEngland,NarayanmethisfriendandmentorGrahamGreeneforthe
AnthonyWestofThe firsttime.[29]OnhisreturntoIndia,TheGuidewaspublishedthebookisthemost
NewYorker representativeofNarayan'swritingskillsandelements,ambivalentinexpression,
coupledwithariddlelikeconclusion.[44]ThebookwonhimtheSahityaAkademi
Awardin1958.[45]

Occasionally,Narayanwasknowntogiveformtohisthoughtsbywayofessays,somepublishedinnewspapers
andjournals,othersnot.NextSunday(1960),wasacollectionofsuchconversationalessays,andhisfirstworkto
bepublishedasabook.[46]Soonafterthat,MyDatelessDiary,describingexperiencesfromhis1956visittothe
UnitedStates,waspublished.AlsoincludedinthiscollectionwasanessayaboutthewritingofTheGuide.[43][47]

Narayan'snextnovel,TheManEaterofMalgudi,waspublishedin1961.Thebookwasreviewedashavinga
narrativethatisaclassicalartformofcomedy,withdelicatecontrol.[41]Afterthelaunchofthisbook,therestless
Narayanonceagaintooktotravelling,andvisitedtheU.S.[14]andAustralia.HespentthreeweeksinAdelaide,
SydneyandMelbournegivinglecturesonIndianliterature.Thetripwasfundedbyafellowshipfromthe
AustralianWriters'Group.[48]BythistimeNarayanhadalsoachievedsignificantsuccess,bothliteraryand
financial.HehadalargehouseinMysore,andwroteinastudywithnofewerthaneightwindowshedroveanew
MercedesBenz,aluxuryinIndiaatthattime,tovisithisdaughterwhohadmovedtoCoimbatoreafterher
marriage.Withhissuccess,bothwithinIndiaandabroad,Narayanstartedwritingcolumnsformagazinesand
newspapersincludingTheHinduandTheAtlantic.[49]

In1964,Narayanpublishedhisfirstmythologicalwork,Gods,DemonsandOthers,acollectionofrewrittenand
translatedshortstoriesfromHinduepics.Likemanyofhisotherworks,thisbookwasillustratedbyhisyounger
brotherR.K.Laxman.Thestoriesincludedwereaselectivelist,chosenonthebasisofpowerfulprotagonists,so
thattheimpactwouldbelasting,irrespectiveofthereader'scontextualknowledge.[50]Onceagain,afterthebook
launch,Narayantooktotravellingabroad.Inanearlieressay,hehadwrittenabouttheAmericanswantingto
understandspiritualityfromhim,andduringthisvisit,SwedishAmericanactressGretaGarboaccostedhimonthe
topic,despitehisdenialofanyknowledge.[4]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/R._K._Narayan 4/14
1/24/2017 R.K.NarayanWikipedia

Narayan'snextpublishedworkwasthe1967novel,TheVendorofSweets.ItwasinspiredinpartbyhisAmerican
visitsandconsistsofextremecharacterizationsofboththeIndianandAmericanstereotypes,drawingonthemany
culturaldifferences.However,whileitdisplayshischaracteristiccomedyandnarrative,thebookwasreviewedas
lackingindepth.[51]Thisyear,NarayantravelledtoEngland,wherehereceivedthefirstofhishonorarydoctorates
fromtheUniversityofLeeds.[52]Thenextfewyearswereaquietperiodforhim.Hepublishedhisnextbook,a
collectionofshortstories,AHorseandTwoGoats,in1970.[53]Meanwhile,Narayanrememberedapromisemade
tohisdyingunclein1938,andstartedtranslatingtheKambaRamayanamtoEnglish.TheRamayanawas
publishedin1973,afterfiveyearsofwork.[54]AlmostimmediatelyafterpublishingTheRamayana,Narayan
startedworkingonacondensedtranslationoftheSanskritepic,theMahabharata.Whilehewasresearchingand
writingtheepic,healsopublishedanotherbook,ThePainterofSigns(1977).ThePainterofSignsisabitlonger
thananovellaandmakesamarkedchangefromNarayan'sotherworks,ashedealswithhithertounaddressed
subjectssuchassex,althoughthedevelopmentoftheprotagonist'scharacterisverysimilartohisearliercreations.
TheMahabharatawaspublishedin1978.[55]

Thelateryears

NarayanwascommissionedbythegovernmentofKarnatakatowriteabooktopromotetourisminthestate.The
workwaspublishedaspartofalargergovernmentpublicationinthelate1970s.[56]Hethoughtitdeservedbetter,
andrepublisheditasTheEmeraldRoute(IndianThoughtPublications,1980).[57]Thebookcontainshispersonal
perspectiveonthelocalhistoryandheritage,butbeingbereftofhischaractersandcreations,itmisseshis
enjoyablenarrative.[47]Thesameyear,hewaselectedasanhonorarymemberoftheAmericanAcademyofArts
andLettersandwontheACBensonMedalfromtheRoyalSocietyofLiterature.[58]Aroundthesametime,
Narayan'sworksweretranslatedtoChineseforthefirsttime.[59]

In1983,Narayanpublishedhisnextnovel,ATigerforMalgudi,aboutatigeranditsrelationshipwithhumans.[60]
Hisnextnovel,TalkativeMan,publishedin1986,wasthetaleofanaspiringjournalistfromMalgudi.[61]During
thistime,healsopublishedtwocollectionsofshortstories:MalgudiDays(1982),arevisededitionincludingthe
originalbookandsomeotherstories,andUndertheBanyanTreeandOtherStories,anewcollection.[62]In1987,
hecompletedAWriter'sNightmare,anothercollectionofessaysabouttopicsasdiverseasthecastesystem,Nobel
prizewinners,love,andmonkeys.Thecollectionincludedessayshehadwrittenfornewspapersandmagazines
since1958.[63][64]

LivingaloneinMysore,Narayandevelopedaninterestinagriculture.Heboughtanacreofagriculturallandand
triedhishandatfarming.[65]Hewasalsopronetowalkingtothemarketeveryafternoon,notsomuchforbuying
things,buttointeractwiththepeople.Inatypicalafternoonstroll,hewouldstopeveryfewstepstogreetand
conversewithshopkeepersandothers,mostlikelygatheringmaterialforhisnextbook.[66]

In1980,NarayanwasnominatedtotheRajyaSabha,theupperhouseoftheIndianParliament,forhis
contributionstoliterature.[67]Duringhisentiresixyearterm,hewasfocusedononeissuetheplightofschool
children,especiallytheheavyloadofschoolbooksandthenegativeeffectofthesystemonachild'screativity,
whichwassomethingthathefirsthighlightedinhisdebutnovel,SwamiandFriends.Hisinauguralspeechwas
focusedonthisparticularproblem,andresultedintheformationofacommitteechairedbyProf.YashPal,to
recommendchangestotheschooleducationalsystem.[68]

In1990,hepublishedhisnextnovel,TheWorldofNagaraj,alsosetinMalgudi.Narayan'sageshowsinthiswork
asheappearstoskipnarrativedetailsthathewouldhaveincludedifthiswerewrittenearlierinhiscareer.[69]Soon
afterhefinishedthenovel,NarayanfellillandmovedtoMadrastobeclosetohisdaughter'sfamily.[65]Afew

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/R._K._Narayan 5/14
1/24/2017 R.K.NarayanWikipedia

yearsafterhismove,in1994,hisdaughterdiedofcancerandhisgranddaughterBhuvaneswari(Minnie)started
takingcareofhiminadditiontomanagingIndianThoughtPublications.[4][14]Narayanthenpublishedhisfinal
book,Grandmother'sTale.Thebookisanautobiographicalnovella,abouthisgreatgrandmotherwhotravelledfar
andwidetofindherhusband,whoranawayshortlyaftertheirmarriage.Thestorywasnarratedtohimbyhis
grandmother,whenhewasachild.[70]

Duringhisfinalyears,Narayan,everfondofconversation,wouldspendalmosteveryeveningwithN.Ram,the
publisherofTheHindu,drinkingcoffeeandtalkingaboutvarioustopicsuntilwellpastmidnight.[71]Despitehis
fondnessofmeetingandtalkingtopeople,hestoppedgivinginterviews.Theapathytowardsinterviewswasthe
resultofaninterviewwithTime,afterwhichNarayanhadtospendafewdaysinthehospital,ashewasdragged
aroundthecitytotakephotographsthatwereneverusedinthearticle.[33]

InMay2001,Narayanwashospitalised.Afewhoursbeforehewastobeputonaventilator,hewasplanningon
writinghisnextnovel,astoryaboutagrandfather.Ashewasalwaysveryselectiveabouthischoiceofnotebooks,
heaskedN.Ramtogethimone.However,Narayandidnotgetbetterandneverstartedthenovel.Hediedon13
May2001,inChennaiattheageof94.[11][72]

Literaryreview
Writingstyle

Narayan'swritingtechniquewasunpretentiouswithanaturalelementofhumouraboutit.[73]Itfocusedon
ordinarypeople,remindingthereaderofnextdoorneighbours,cousinsandthelike,therebyprovidingagreater
abilitytorelatetothetopic.[74]Unlikehisnationalcontemporaries,hewasabletowriteabouttheintricaciesof
Indiansocietywithouthavingtomodifyhischaracteristicsimplicitytoconformtotrendsandfashionsinfiction
writing.[75]HealsoemployedtheuseofnuanceddialogicprosewithgentleTamilovertonesbasedonthenatureof
hischaracters.[76]CriticshaveconsideredNarayantobetheIndianChekhov,duetothesimilaritiesintheir
writings,thesimplicityandthegentlebeautyandhumourintragicsituations.[77]GreeneconsideredNarayantobe
moresimilartoChekhovthananyIndianwriter.[2]AnthonyWestofTheNewYorkerconsideredNarayan'swritings
tobeoftherealismvarietyofNikolaiGogol.[78]

AccordingtoPulitzerPrizewinnerJhumpaLahiri,Narayan'sshortstorieshavethesamecaptivatingfeelingashis
novels,withmostofthemlessthantenpageslong,andtakingaboutasmanyminutestoread.Sheaddsthat
betweenthetitlesentenceandtheend,Narayanprovidesthereadersomethingnovelistsstruggletoachievein
hundredsmorepages:acompleteinsighttothelivesofhischaracters.ThesecharacteristicsandabilitiesledLahiri
toclassifyhimasbelongingtothepantheonofshortstorygeniusesthatincludeO.Henry,FrankO'Connorand
FlanneryO'Connor.LahirialsocompareshimtoGuydeMaupassantfortheirabilitytocompressthenarrative
withoutlosingthestory,andthecommonthemesofmiddleclasslifewrittenwithanunyieldingandunpitying
vision.[12]

CriticshavenotedthatNarayan'swritingstendtobemoredescriptiveandlessanalyticaltheobjectivestyle,
rootedinadetachedspirit,providingforamoreauthenticandrealisticnarration.[79]Hisattitude,coupledwithhis
perceptionoflife,providedauniqueabilitytofusecharactersandactions,[80]andanabilitytouseordinaryevents
tocreateaconnectioninthemindofthereader.[81]Asignificantcontributortohiswritingstylewashiscreationof
Malgudi,astereotypicalsmalltown,wherethestandardnormsofsuperstitionandtraditionapply.[82]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/R._K._Narayan 6/14
1/24/2017 R.K.NarayanWikipedia

Narayan'swritingstylewasoftencomparedtothatofWilliamFaulknersinceboththeirworksbroughtoutthe
humourandenergyofordinarylifewhiledisplayingcompassionatehumanism.[83]Thesimilaritiesalsoextended
totheirjuxtaposingofthedemandsofsocietyagainsttheconfusionsofindividuality.[84]Althoughtheirapproach
tosubjectswassimilar,theirmethodsweredifferentFaulknerwasrhetoricalandillustratedhispointswith
immenseprosewhileNarayanwasverysimpleandrealistic,capturingtheelementsallthesame.[85]

Malgudi

Malgudiisafictional,semiurbantowninsouthernIndia,conjuredbyNarayan.[86]Hecreatedthetownin
September1930,onVijayadashami,anauspiciousdaytostartneweffortsandthuschosenforhimbyhis
grandmother.[87]AshementionedinalaterinterviewtohisbiographersSusanandN.Ram,inhismind,hefirst
sawarailwaystation,andslowlythenameMalgudicametohim.[88]Thetownwascreatedwithanimpeccable
historicalrecord,datingtotheRamayanadayswhenitwasnotedthatLordRamapassedthroughitwasalsosaid
thattheBuddhavisitedthetownduringhistravels.[89]WhileNarayanneverprovidedstrictphysicalconstraintsfor
thetown,heallowedittoformshapewitheventsinthevariousstories,becomingareferencepointforthe
future.[90]DrJamesM.Fennelly,ascholarofNarayan'sworks,createdamapofMalgudibasedonthefictional
descriptorsofthetownfromthemanybooksandstories.[12]

MalgudievolvedwiththechangingpoliticallandscapeofIndia.Inthe1980s,whenthenationalisticfervorinIndia
dictatedthechangingofBritishnamesoftownsandlocalitiesandremovalofBritishlandmarks,Malgudi'smayor
andcitycouncilremovedthelongstandingstatueofFrederickLawley,oneofMalgudi'searlyresidents.However,
whentheHistoricalSocietiesshowedproofthatLawleywasstronginhissupportoftheIndianindependence
movement,thecouncilwasforcedtoundoalltheirearlieractions.[91]AgoodcomparisontoMalgudi,aplacethat
Greenecharacterisedas"morefamiliarthanBatterseaorEustonRoad",isFaulkner'sYoknapatawphaCounty.[83]
Also,likeFaulkner's,whenonelooksatNarayan'sworks,thetowngetsabetterdefinitionthroughthemany
differentnovelsandstories.[92]

Criticalreception

NarayanfirstbrokethroughwiththehelpofGrahamGreenewho,uponreadingSwaminathanandTate,tookit
uponhimselftoworkasNarayan'sagentforthebook.Hewasalsoinstrumentalinchangingthetitletothemore
appropriateSwamiandFriends,andinfindingpublishersforNarayan'snextfewbooks.WhileNarayan'searly
workswerenotcommercialsuccesses,otherauthorsofthetimebegantonoticehim.SomersetMaugham,onatrip
toMysorein1938,hadaskedtomeetNarayan,butnotenoughpeoplehadheardofhimtoactuallyeffectthe
meeting.MaughamsubsequentlyreadNarayan'sTheDarkRoom,andwrotetohimexpressinghis
admiration.[93][94]AnothercontemporarywriterwhotookalikingtoNarayan'searlyworkswasE.M.Forster,[95]
anauthorwhosharedhisdryandhumorousnarrative,somuchsothatNarayanwaslabeledthe"SouthIndianE.
M.Forster"bycritics.[96]Despitehispopularitywiththereadingpublicandfellowwriters,Narayan'sworkhasnot
receivedthesameamountofcriticalexplorationaccordedtootherwritersofhisstature.[97]

Narayan'ssuccessintheUnitedStatescamealittlelater,whenMichiganStateUniversityPressstartedpublishing
hisbooks.HisfirstvisittothecountrywasonafellowshipfromtheRockefellerFoundation,andhelecturedat
variousuniversitiesincludingMichiganStateUniversityandtheUniversityofCalifornia,Berkeley.Aroundthis
time,JohnUpdikenoticedhisworkandcomparedNarayantoCharlesDickens.InareviewofNarayan'sworks
publishedinTheNewYorker,Updikecalledhimawriterofavanishingbreedthewriterasacitizenonewho
identifiescompletelywithhissubjectsandwithabeliefinthesignificanceofhumanity.[98]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/R._K._Narayan 7/14
1/24/2017 R.K.NarayanWikipedia

Havingpublishedmanynovels,essaysandshortstories,NarayaniscreditedwithbringingIndianwritingtothe
restoftheworld.WhilehehasbeenregardedasoneofIndia'sgreatestwritersofthetwentiethcentury,criticshave
alsodescribedhiswritingswithadjectivessuchascharming,harmlessandbenign.[99]Narayanhasalsocomein
forcriticismfromlaterwriters,particularlyofIndianorigin,whohaveclassedhiswritingsashavingapedestrian
stylewithashallowvocabularyandanarrowvision.[14]AccordingtoShashiTharoor,Narayan'ssubjectsare
similartothoseofJaneAustenastheybothdealwithaverysmallsectionofsociety.However,headdsthatwhile
Austen'sprosewasabletotakethosesubjectsbeyondordinariness,Narayan'swasnot.[100]Asimilaropinionis
heldbyShashiDeshpandewhocharacterizesNarayan'swritingsaspedestrianandnaivebecauseofthesimplicity
ofhislanguageanddiction,combinedwiththelackofanycomplexityintheemotionsandbehavioursofhis
characters.[101]

AgeneralperceptiononNarayanwasthathedidnotinvolvehimselforhiswritingswiththepoliticsorproblems
ofIndia,asmentionedbyV.S.Naipaulinoneofhiscolumns.However,accordingtoWyattMasonofTheNew
Yorker,althoughNarayan'swritingsseemsimpleanddisplayalackofinterestinpolitics,hedelivershisnarrative
withanartfulanddeceptivetechniquewhendealingwithsuchsubjectsanddoesnotentirelyavoidthem,rather
lettingthewordsplayinthereader'smind.[99]SrinivasaIyengar,formervicechancellorofAndhraUniversity,
saysthatNarayanwroteaboutpoliticaltopicsonlyinthecontextofhissubjects,quiteunlikehiscompatriotMulk
RajAnandwhodealtwiththepoliticalstructuresandproblemsofthetime.[102]PaulBrians,inhisbookModern
SouthAsianLiteratureinEnglish,saysthatthefactthatNarayancompletelyignoredBritishruleandfocusedon
theprivatelivesofhischaractersisapoliticalstatementonitsown,declaringhisindependencefromtheinfluence
ofcolonialism.[97]

Inthewest,Narayan'ssimplicityofwritingwaswellreceived.Oneofhisbiographers,WilliamWalsh,wroteofhis
narrativeasacomedicartwithaninclusivevisioninformedbythetransienceandillusionofhumanaction.
MultipleBookernomineeAnitaDesaiclasseshiswritingsas"compassionaterealism"wherethecardinalsinsare
unkindnessandimmodesty.[103]AccordingtoWyattMason,inNarayan'sworks,theindividualisnotaprivate
entity,butratherapubliconeandthisconceptisaninnovationthatcanbecalledhisown.Inadditiontohisearly
worksbeingamongthemostimportantEnglishlanguagefictionfromIndia,withthisinnovation,heprovidedhis
westernreadersthefirstworksinEnglishtobeinfusedwithaneasternandHinduexistentialperspective.Mason
alsoholdstheviewthatEdmundWilson'sassessmentofWaltWhitman,"Hedoesnotwriteeditorialsoneventsbut
describeshisactualfeelings",appliesequallytoNarayan.[99]

Awardsandhonours
Narayanwonnumerousawardsduringthecourseofhisliterarycareer.[104]Hisfirstmajorawardwasin1958,the
SahityaAkademiAwardforTheGuide.[105]Whenthebookwasmadeintoafilm,hereceivedtheFilmfareAward
forthebeststory.In1964,hereceivedthePadmaBhushanduringtheRepublicDayhonours.[106]In1980,hewas
awardedtheACBensonMedalbythe(British)RoyalSocietyofLiterature,ofwhichhewasanhonorary
member.[107]In1982hewaselectedanhonorarymemberoftheAmericanAcademyofArtsandLetters.[75]He
wasnominatedfortheNobelPrizeinLiteraturemultipletimes,butneverwonthehonour.[108]

RecognitionalsocameintheformofhonorarydoctoratesbytheUniversityofLeeds(1967),[109]theUniversityof
Mysore(1976)[110]andDelhiUniversity(1973).[111]Towardstheendofhiscareer,Narayanwasnominatedtothe
upperhouseoftheIndianParliamentforasixyeartermstartingin1989,forhiscontributionstoIndian
literature.[67]Ayearbeforehisdeath,in2001,hewasawardedIndia'ssecondhighestcivilianhonour,thePadma
Vibhushan.[112]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/R._K._Narayan 8/14
1/24/2017 R.K.NarayanWikipedia

Legacy
Narayan'sgreatestachievementwasmakingIndiaaccessibletotheoutside
worldthroughhisliterature.Heisregardedasoneofthethreeleading
EnglishlanguageIndianfictionwriters,alongwithRajaRaoandMulkRaj
Anand.HegavehisreaderssomethingtolookforwardtowithMalgudiand
itsresidents[101][113]andisconsideredtobeoneofthebestnovelistsIndia
haseverproduced.HebroughtsmalltownIndiatohisaudienceina
mannerthatwasbothbelievableandexperiential.Malgudiwasnotjusta
fictionaltowninIndia,butoneteemingwithcharacters,eachwiththeir
ownidiosyncrasiesandattitudes,makingthesituationasfamiliartothe
readerasifitweretheirownbackyard.[83][114]In2014,Google
commemoratedNarayan's108thbirthdaybyfeaturingadoodleshowing
himbehindacopyofMalgudiDays.[115]

"WhomnextshallImeetinMalgudi?Thatisthethoughtthat
comestomewhenIcloseanovelofMrNarayan's.Idonot
waitforanothernovel.Iwaittogooutofmydoorintothose R.K.NarayanMuseum,Mysore
lovedandshabbystreetsandseewithexcitementanda
certaintyofpleasureastrangerapproaching,pastthebank,the
cinema,thehaircuttingsaloon,astrangerwhowillgreetmeI
knowwithsomeunexpectedandrevealingphrasethatwill
openadoorontoyetanotherhumanexistence."

GrahamGreene[116]

Inmid2016,Narayan'sformerhomeinMysorewasconvertedtoamuseuminhishonor.Theoriginalstructure
wasbuiltin1952.Thehouseandsurroundinglandwasacquiredbyrealestatecontractorstorazedownandbuild
anapartmentcomplexinitssteadbutcitizensgroupsandtheMysoreCityCorporationsteppedintorepurchasethe
buildingandlandandthenrestoreit,subsequentlyconvertingittoamuseum.[117][118]

Listofworks
Novels

SwamiandFriends(1935, WaitingfortheMahatma(1955, ATigerforMalgudi(1983,

HamishHamilton)
TheBachelorofArts(1937,
ThomasNelson)
TheDarkRoom(1938,Eyre)
TheEnglishTeacher(1945,Eyre)
Mr.Sampath(1948,Eyre)
TheFinancialExpert(1952,
Methuen)
WaitingfortheMahatma(1955,
Nonfiction
Methuen)
TheGuide(1958,Methuen)
TheManEaterofMalgudi(1961,
Viking)
TheVendorofSweets(1967,The
BodleyHead)
ThePainterofSigns(1977,
Heinemann)
ATigerforMalgudi(1983,
Heinemann)
TalkativeMan(1986,Heinemann)
TheWorldofNagaraj(1990,
Heinemann)
Grandmother'sTale(1992,Indian
ThoughtPublications)

NextSunday(1960,Indian MyDatelessDiary(1960,Indian ReluctantGuru(1974,Orient

ThoughtPublications) ThoughtPublications) Paperbacks)
MyDays(1974,Viking)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/R._K._Narayan 9/14
1/24/2017 R.K.NarayanWikipedia

TheEmeraldRoute(1980,Indian AStoryTeller'sWorld(1989, Mysore(1944,secondedition,

ThoughtPublications) PenguinBooks) IndianThoughtPublications)
AWriter'sNightmare(1988, TheWriterlyLife(2002,Penguin
PenguinBooks) BooksIndia)

Mythology

Gods,DemonsandOthers(1964, TheRamayana(1973,Chatto& TheMahabharata(1978,

Viking) Windus) Heinemann)

Shortstorycollections

MalgudiDays(1942,Indian LawleyRoadandOtherStories UndertheBanyanTreeandOther

ThoughtPublications) (1956,IndianThought Stories(1985)
AnAstrologer'sDayandOther Publications) TheGrandmother'sTaleand
Stories(1947,IndianThought AHorseandTwoGoats(1970) SelectedStories(1994,Viking)
Publications)

Adaptations

Narayan'sbookTheGuidewasadaptedtofilmasGuide,aHindimoviedirectedbyVijayAnand.AnEnglish
languageversionwasalsoreleased.Narayanwasnothappywiththewaythefilmwasmadeanditsdeviationfrom
thebookhewroteacolumninLifemagazine,"TheMisguidedGuide,"criticisingthefilm.[10]Thebookwasalso
adaptedtoaBroadwayplaybyHarveyBreitandPatriciaRinehart,andwasstagedatHudsonTheatrein1968with
ZiaMohyeddinplayingtheleadroleandamusicscorebyRaviShankar.[119]

HisnovelMr.SampathwasmadeintoaTamilfilm,MissMalini,starringPushpavalliandKothamangalamSubbu.
AHindiversionwithPadminiandMotilalwasalsoproducedbyGeminiStudios.[120]Anothernovel,The
FinancialExpert,wasmadeintotheKannadamovieBankerMargayya.[121]SwamiandFriends,TheVendorof
SweetsandsomeofNarayan'sshortstorieswereadaptedbyactordirectorShankarNagintothetelevisionseries
MalgudiDays.Narayanwashappywiththeadaptationsandcomplimentedtheproducersforstickingtothe
storylineinthebooks.[122]

Seealso
TheMartyr'sCorner

Notes
1."PadmaAwards"(PDF).MinistryofHomeAffairs,GovernmentofIndia.2015.RetrievedJuly21,2015.
2.Crossette,Barbara(14May2001)."R.K.Narayan,India'sProlificStoryteller,Diesat94".TheNewYorkTimes.
Retrieved9July2009.
3.Sen,Sunrita(25May2001)."GentlechronicleroftheessenceofsmalltownIndia".IndiaAbroad.Retrieved12July
2009.
4."RKNarayan".London:TheDailyTelegraph.14May2001.Retrieved25July2009.
5.Broyard,Anatole(12June1974)."AMonkeyandaPeacockBooksofTheTimes".TheNewYorkTimes.Retrieved
20October2009.
6."Rememberingawriterparexcellence".TheHindu.8July2005.Retrieved20October2009.
7.Rao2004,p.13.
8.AlexanderMcCallSmith(18March2006)."Thegodofsmallthings".TheGuardian.London.Retrieved10July2009.
9.Robinson,Andrew(2May1997)."ThepeoplingofMalgudi".TimesHigherEducation.Retrieved10July2009.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/R._K._Narayan 10/14
1/24/2017 R.K.NarayanWikipedia

10.Guy,Randor(26July2001)."Afloodoffondmemories".TheHindu.Retrieved12July2009.
11."Priyadarshan'stributetoRKNarayan".Televisionpoint.com.3March2006.Retrieved12July2009.
12.JhumpaLahiri(JulyAugust2006)."NarayanDays:Rereadingthemaster".BostonReview.ISSN07342306.Retrieved
22August2009.
13.V.S.Naipaul(28May2001)."TheMasterofSmallThings".Time.Retrieved22July2009.
14."Reluctantcentenarian".TheHindu.8October2006.Retrieved23August2009.
15.Walsh1982,pp.1316.
16.Datta,Nandan(26March2007)."TheLifeofR.K.Narayan".CaliforniaLiteraryReview.
17.Walsh1982,p.18.
18.Mehrotra,ArvindKrishna(15January2003)."AhistoryofIndianliteratureinEnglish".ColumbiaUniversityPress:
196.ISBN023112810X.
19.George,R.M.(July2003)."OfFictionalCitiesand"Diasporic"Aesthetics".Antipode.BlackwellPublishing.35(3):
559579.doi:10.1111/14678330.00339.ISSN00664812.
20.Narasimhan,C.V.(26May2001)."RememberingR.K.Narayan".Frontline.Chennai:TheHinduGroup.18(11).
ISSN09701710.
21.Walsh1982,p.20.
22."R.K.Narayan.(Obituary)".TheEconomist.26May2001.Retrieved10July2009.
23.O'Neil,PatrickM.(January2004)."GreatWorldWriters".MarshallCavendish:1051.ISBN0761474692.
24.Wattas,Rajnish(8October2006)."InmemoryoftheMalgudiMan".TheTribune.Retrieved27July2009.
25.AfzalKhan,Fawzia(November1993)."CulturalimperialismandtheIndoEnglishnovel".PennsylvaniaStateUniversity
Press:29.ISBN0271009128.
26.Prasad2003,p.49.
27.Walsh1982,pp.1823.
28.Prasad2003,pp.50,85.
29.McGirk,Tim(17July1993)."Books:AmanreaderinMalgudi".TheIndependent.London.Retrieved12July2009.
30.Ramtake1998,p.20.
31.Sebastian,Pradeep(14March2003)."Flirtingwithadolescence".TheHindu.Archivedfromtheoriginalon25February
2008.Retrieved2August2009.
32.Walsh1982,p.55.
33.O'Yeah,Zac(3December2006)."MeetingMr.Narayan".TheHinduLiteraryReview.Retrieved26August2009.
34.Narayan,R.K.(1992)."Grandmother'sTale".IndianThoughtPublications:7.ISBN8185986150.
35.Walsh1982,p.24.
36.Walsh1982,p.62.
37.Ramtake1998,p.39.
38.Sundaram,P.S.(1973)."Indianwritersseries".6.ArnoldHeinemannIndia:74.
39.Pousse1995,p.76.
40.Ramtake1998,pp.4748.
41.Barr,Donald(12February1961)."AManCalledVasuTHEMANEATEROFMALGUDI".TheNewYorkTimes.
Retrieved26August2009.
42.Ramtake1998,p.128.
43.Iyengar,K.R.Srinivasa(1973)."IndianwritinginEnglish".AsiaPub.House:359.ISBN9780210339640.
44.Mathur,OmPrakash(1June1993)."7".ThemodernIndianEnglishfiction(1ed.).AbhinavPublications.p.91.
ISBN9788170173038.
45."IndiannovelistR.K.Narayandies".AssociatedPress.13May2001.Retrieved26August2009.
46.Ramtake1998,p.xiii.
47.Rao2004,p.48.
48.SalesPontes,AHilda(1983)."R.K.Narayan".AtlanticHighlands.ISBN9780391029620.OCLC10625411.
49.Rao2004,pp.2223.
50."It'sAllintheTellingGods,DemonsandOthers".TheNewYorkTimes.8November1964.Retrieved2September
2009.
51.Narayan,ROBINWHITER.K.(14May1967)."Jagan'sSurrender".TheNewYorkTimes.Retrieved2September2009.
52.Badal,R.K.(1976)."R.K.Narayan:astudy".PrakashBookDepot:3.OCLC4858177.
53.Walsh1982,pp.9799,172.
54.Sundaram1988,p.126.
55.Walsh1982,pp.43,153154.
56.Sundaram1988,p.132.
57.Kain1993,p.193.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/R._K._Narayan 11/14
1/24/2017 R.K.NarayanWikipedia

58."StorytellerNarayanGone,ButMalgudiLivesOn".InterPress.24May2001.Retrieved8September2009.
59."R.K.Narayanresonatesacrosscultures".TheHindu.13October2006.Retrieved8September2009.
60.Daoust,Phil(9October2006)."Pickoftheday".TheGuardian.London.Retrieved8September2009.
61."Moreworldsinwords".TheSeattleTimes.11January2009.Retrieved8September2009.
62.Rao2004,pp.50,120.
63.Gabree,John(23July1989)."PAPERBACKSArtistsoftheEssay".Newsday.Retrieved28August2009.
64.Thieme,John(2007)."R.K.Narayan".ManchesterUniversityPress:215.ISBN9780719059278.OCLC153556493.
65.Rao2004,p.24.
66.KhushwantSingh(28May2001)."BlueHawaiiYoghurt".Outlook.Retrieved8September2009.
67."StorytellerNarayanGone,ButMalgudiLivesOn".InterPressService.24May2001.Retrieved26August2009.
68."LeaveThoseKidsAlone:Committeerecommendsschoolcurriculumreform".TheTimesofIndia.24May2005.
Retrieved8September2009.
69.Seibold,Douglas(15June1990)."ADitheringHeroSlowsaNovel".ChicagoTribune.Retrieved8September2009.
70.Miller,Karl(11July1993)."BOOKREVIEW:TheGrandmother'sTale'RKNarayan:Heinemann,9.99pounds".The
Independent.London.Retrieved30August2009.
71."MemoriesofMalgudiMan".TheHindu.1June2008.Retrieved8September2009.
72.N.Ram(15May2001)."I'mgivingyoualotoftrouble".Rediff.com.Retrieved8September2009.
73."RememberingthemanwhobroughtMalgudialive".TheIndianExpress.10October2006.Retrieved24August2009.
74.Piciucco,PierPaolo(2002)."AcompaniontoIndianfictioninEnglish".Atlantic:2.ISBN8126903104.
75.Sur,Indraneel(17May2001)."R.K.NarayanFocusedOnEverydayPeopleAnAppreciation".TheHartfordCourant.
Retrieved23August2009.
76."R.K.Narayan'sCentenaryConference(ConcludingPart)".TheDailyStar.11October2006.Retrieved23August2009.
77.Dayal,B.(1985)."R.K.Narayan:Asubtlehumourist".AcriticalstudyofthethemesandtechniquesoftheIndoAnglian
shortstorywriters.
78.Morse,SamuelF(30March1958)."LegendGrows".TheHartfordCourant.Retrieved20October2009.
79.Bhatnagar,M.(1January2005)."NewInsightsintotheNovelsofR.K.Narayan".#AtlanticPublishing:205206.
ISBN8126901780.
80.Kain1993,p.79.
81.Badal,R.K.(1976)."R.K.Narayan:astudy".PrakashBookDepot.
82."Malgudi,hamletofmillennium".TheTribune.26December1999.Retrieved24August2009.
83."R.K.Narayan,19062001".TheHindu.Retrieved22July2009.
84.Oliver,Myrna(14May2001)."R.K.NarayanWryNovelistBroughtIndiatotheWorld".LosAngelesTimes.Retrieved
26August2009.
85.Jones,Malcolm(15Feb1987)."R.K.Narayan'sworkiscraftedwithdeceptivesimplicity".St.PetersburgTimes.
Retrieved26August2009.
86.Khatri2008,p.10.
87.Parija,Kapileshwar(2001)."ShortstoriesofR.K.Narayan:themesandconventions".RenaissancePublications:60.
ISBN8186790314.
88.Prasad2003,p.40.
89.Khatri2008,p.168.
90.Walsh1982,p.30.
91.Freeman,Judith(11December1994)."MayYouAlwaysWearRed'InsightsintothenuancesofIndianculture".Los
AngelesTimes.Retrieved14October2009.
92.Sanga,JainaC.(2003)."SouthAsiannovelistsinEnglish:anAtoZguide".Greenwood:194195.ISBN9780313
318856.
93.RichardGreene,ed.(2008).GrahamGreene:ALifeinLetters.W.W.Norton&Company.pp.68,xxiv.ISBN9780
393066425.OCLC227016286.Retrieved9September2009.
94.Varma,RamMohan(1993)."MajorthemesinthenovelsofR.K.Narayan".JainsonsPublications:26.ISBN97881
85287119.OCLC29429291.
95.MaryLagoLindaK.HughesElizabethMacLeodWalls,eds.(2008).TheBBCtalksofE.M.Forster,19291961:a
selectededition.UniversityofMissouriPress.p.185.ISBN9780826218001.OCLC183147364.
96.Sampson,GeorgeReginaldCharlesChurchill(1961)."TheconciseCambridgehistoryofEnglishliterature".
Cambridge:TheUniversityPress:743.ISBN9780521073851.OCLC67559.Citeusesdeprecatedparameter
|coauthors=(help)
97.Brians,Paul(2003)."ModernSouthAsianliteratureinEnglish".GreenwoodPress:5960.ISBN9780313320118.
OCLC231983154.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/R._K._Narayan 12/14
1/24/2017 R.K.NarayanWikipedia

98.Gupta,RajKumar(1986)."Thegreatencounter:astudyofIndoAmericanliteratureandculturalrelations".Abhinav
Publications.ISBN9788170172116.OCLC15549035.
99.Mason,Wyatt(18December2006)."TheMasterofMalgudi".TheNewYorker.Retrieved2September2009.
100.Tharoor,Sashi(8July2001)."Comediesofsuffering".TheHindu.Retrieved9July2009.
101." 'PavedTheWays' ".Outlook.15May2001.Retrieved5September2009.
102.Iyengar,K.R.SrinivasaPremaNandakumar(1983)."IndianWritinginEnglish"(3ed.).SterlingPublishers:331.
OCLC9458232.Citeusesdeprecatedparameter|coauthors=(help)
103.Sanga,JainaC.(2003)."SouthAsiannovelistsinEnglish:anAtoZguide".Westport,Conn.:GreenwoodPress:198.
ISBN9780313318856.OCLC49679850.
104.Seibold,Douglas(15June1990)."Aditheringheroslowsanovel".ChicagoTribune.Retrieved26August2009.
105."RKNarayandead:SunsetsoverMalgudi".MiDDAY.14May2001.Retrieved26August2009.
106."LiteraryiconsboostliteracyRohintonMistryreadsfromtheworksofR.K.Narayan".TorontoStar.16November
2006.Retrieved26August2009.
107."R.K.Narayanbiography".PenguinBooks.Retrieved26August2009.
108."TheGrandOldManofMalgudi".TheTribune.7October2000.Retrieved26August2009.
109.Blamires,Harry(1December1983)."AGuidetotwentiethcenturyliteratureinEnglish".Routledge:196.ISBN9780
416364507.
110."GovernorhaspowerstomodifySyndicate'slist:ViceChancellor".TheHindu.21December2006.Retrieved26August
2009.
111.Sundaram1988,p.6.
112."PadmaVibhushanforRKNarayan,Jasraj".TheIndianExpress.26January2000.Retrieved26August2009.
113."RajaRao(19082006)".Outlook.11July2006.Retrieved8September2009.
114.Robinson,Andrew(14May2001)."Obituary:R.K.Narayan".TheIndependent.Retrieved12July2009.
115.Flood,Alison(10October2014)."RKNarayancelebratedinaGoogledoodlebutonlyinIndia".TheGuardian.
Retrieved16December2014.
116.RangelRibeiro,Victor(May15,2001)."TransparentlyMagical".Outlook.Retrieved5September2009.
117.Ghoshal,Somak(9August2016)."AtTheNewR.K.NarayanMuseumInMysore,RememberingMyEarlyImpatience
WithHisBooks".TheHuffingtonPost.Retrieved29December2016.
118.Rao,Mahesh(7August2016)."AguidetotheR.K.Narayanmuseum".TheHindu.Retrieved29December2016.
119.Barnes,Clive(7March1968)."Theater:ReluctantGuruMohyeddinExcelsin'TheGuide'atHudson".TheNewYork
Times.Retrieved31August2009.
120."DancewasPadmini'spassion,notfilms".Rediff.com.25September2006.Archivedfromtheoriginalon27March
2012.Retrieved31August2009.
121."Indianandforeignreview".21.MinistryofInformationandBroadcasting,Govt.ofIndia.1983:28.ISSN00194379.
OCLC1752828.
122." 'YouactedexactlyasIimaginedSwamitobe' ".Rediff.com.16May2001.Retrieved31August2009.

References
Kain,Geoffrey(1993).R.K.Narayan:contemporarycriticalperspectives.MichiganStateUniversityPress.ISBN978
0870133305.OCLC28547534.
Khatri,ChotteLal(2008).RKNarayan:ReflectionsandReevaluation.Sarup&Son.ISBN9788176257138.
OCLC123958718.
Pousse,Michael(1995).R.K.Narayan:APainterofModernIndia,Vol.4.Lang,PeterPublishing.ISBN97808204
27683.OCLC31606376.
Prasad,AmarNath(2003).CriticalresponsetoR.K.Narayan.Sarup&Sons.ISBN8176253707.OCLC55606024.
Ramtake,S.S.(1998).R.K.Narayanandhissocialperspective.AtlanticPublishers.ISBN9788171567485.
OCLC52117736.
Rao,Ranga(2004).R.K.Narayan.SahityaAkademi.ISBN9788126019717.OCLC172901011.
Sundaram,P.S.(1988).R.K.NarayanasaNovelist.B.R.Pub.Corp.ISBN9788170185314.OCLC20596609.
Walsh,William(1982).R.K.Narayan:acriticalappreciation.UniversityofChicagoPress.ISBN9780226872131.
OCLC8473827.
Putatunda,Sarbani(2012).R.KNarayan:CriticalEssays.NewDelhi:PrenticeHallofIndia.ISBN9788120345362.

Furtherreading
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/R._K._Narayan 13/14
1/24/2017 R.K.NarayanWikipedia

Ram,SusanandN.(1996).R.K.Narayan.AllenLane.ISBN9780670875252.OCLC36283859.

Retrievedfrom"https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=R._K._Narayan&oldid=761306505"

Categories: R.K.Narayan 1906births 2001deaths NominatedmembersoftheRajyaSabha

EnglishlanguagewritersfromIndia WritersfromChennai WritersfromMysore
RecipientsofthePadmaBhushaninliterature&education
RecipientsofthePadmaVibhushaninliterature&education
RecipientsoftheSahityaAkademiAwardinEnglish Tamilwriters Maharaja'sCollege,Mysorealumni
Indianmaleshortstorywriters Indianmalenovelists 20thcenturyIndianshortstorywriters
20thcenturyIndiannovelists

Thispagewaslastmodifiedon22January2017,at06:06.
TextisavailableundertheCreativeCommonsAttributionShareAlikeLicenseadditionaltermsmayapply.
Byusingthissite,youagreetotheTermsofUseandPrivacyPolicy.Wikipediaisaregisteredtrademark
oftheWikimediaFoundation,Inc.,anonprofitorganization.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/R._K._Narayan 14/14