THE MAN-EATER OF MALGUDI BY R.K NARAYAN

THE MAN-EATER OF MALGUDI

BY R.K NARAYAN

• INTRODUCTION

• ABOUT AUTHER

• CRITICAL APPRECIATIOS

• ABOUT NOVEL(SHORT SUMMARY)

• BRIEF SUMMARY OF NOVEL

INTRODUCTION

The man eater of malgudi is a classic of indo anglian fiction and it has received international recognition. It has been translated into a number of indian and foreign languages.It is,therefore,in the fitness of things that this masterpiece of a great son of mother india is now being taught in most of the universities of the country.The term “indo-anglian” is used to denote original literary creation in english language by indians.The man eater of malgudi is the 9^th novel of R K NARAYAN. It was published in 1961 and, though C.D Narasimaiaha regards it as an anticlimax coming as it does after the guide, an undisputed masterpiece, it has been highly praised by a number of critics and has been regarded as one of his finest works . Its popularity was immediate and it has also been universal . On its publication , it was highly praised by the editors of TIMES LITERARY SUPPLEMENT.

ABOUT AUTHOR

(Birth & parentage):-

R.k. narayan is now regarded as one of the greatest of indians writing in english.He is the most artistic of the indian writers,his sole aim being to give aesthetic satisfaction,and not to use his art as a medium of propaganda or to serve some social some social purpose,as is the case with mulk raj anand.

The full form of ‘narayan’ is narayanaswami,through the novelist now never uses this full form.he calls himself simply ‘narain‘ and never ‘narainaswami’.Through family belonged originally to rasipuram,long before R.k narayan’s birth,it had shifted to madras.It was here that narayan was born in 1906.Soon after his birth,the father got a job as a school teacher in mysore and the family moved there.While other brothers and sisters went to mysore with their parents,R.k narayan himself was left behind with his grandmother.It was only later that he too shifted to mysore,which has been his home ever since.

The novelist was never a good student.He failed both in high school and intermediate examinations. He could get his degree only when he was twenty-four years old.These failures at school and college have made him shy reserved and diffident,an introvent and not an extrovert.It is said that once he even tried to commit suicide.Ever since he has been reserved and modest,rather too modest.

Critical appreciations

“Narayan has now written his most delightful story of the little world of malgudi, his imaginary town in South India. The good printer Natraj and his close friends, a poet and a journalist, find their congenial days disturbed when vasu, a power-hungry taxidermist, moves in with his stuffed hyenas and pythons , and brings his dancing women up the printer’s private stairs. When vasu, in search of larger game, threatens the life of a temple elephant that Natraj and befriended, complication ensue that are both laughable and tragic. A not unwelcome death occurs, murder is indicated, and the search for the guilty party who might have been Natraj himself or anyone of his friends, or even the temple dancer-lends suspense to this bizarre, yet moving tale.

“pungent as a madras curry, gay, witty , the rueful wry gaiety of Tamils and telgus, Narayan’s THE MAN EATER OF MALGUDI makes a most rich and satisfying mixture. Hilarity and high seriousness are rarely yoked together in partnership as effectively as they are in book. Narayan’s writing is limpid and beautifully unforced”. This praise has been echoed by successive critics of the novel.

Allegory and Irony

The man eater of malgudi is an allegory or fable showing that evil is self destructive. The title is ironic for the man eater in the novel is no tiger, but a mighty man, vasu, who not only kills a no of wild animals in Mempi forest but can also kill a man with a single blow of his hammer-fist.

An autobiographical novel

The story is narrated in the first person by its tragic comic hero Natraj, a painter of Malgudi. In his printing works, he is assisted by Sastri who is a compositor, a proof reader and a machine man all combined in one. Among his constant companions are a poet who is engaged in writing the life of god Krishna, and Sen, the journalist, who is always critising Nehru. The smooth and congenial life of this group is disturbed when, H. Vasu, M.A taxidermist, comes to stay with them in a room in the upper storey of the printing press. This tall man, of about six feet, with his bull neck, hammer fist and rough and aggressive behavior, arouses fear in hearts of Natraj and his Friends. Natraj tolerates him in his room upstairs till he makes himself unbearable by robbing Mempi forest of its wild life and collecting dead animals in his room for stuffing them.

Vasu, His Antics

When Natraj’s neighbour complain to him about the insanitary conditions, he requests Vasu to find a new house for himself. The taxidermist treats this as an insult and sues him for harasseing him and trying to evict him by unlawful means. The timely help from one of his clients, an old lawyer, his ability to prolong a case beyond the wildest dreams of a litigant, saves Natraj from the clutches of law. Soon after, vasu starts bringing rangi,a notorious dancing women and some other women like her, to his room to the great annoyance of all concerned. But Vasu does not care for their feelings.

The crisis

The crisis, however, comes to a head when the pitiless taxidermist threatens to kill Kumar, a temple elephant who is to be taken in festival procession organized to celebrate the poet’s completion of a portion of a portion of his religious epic. Natraj is very fond of animals. He naturally gets very much upset the moment he learns from rangi that Vasu intends to shoot it on the night of the proposed celebrations. Natraj immediately acquaints his friends –the poet, the lawyer, and other important people of the town-with the taxdermist’s wicked intentions. The matter is reported to the police authorities but they express their inability to take any action against him until the crime has been actually committed.

Natraj : His Spritual agony

The very thought of Kumar’s murder, however , drives Natraj crazy even while compelled to stay in his house owing to the agitated condition of his mind, he continues thinking of kumar. As the procession passes in front of his printing press his heart begins to beat with fear. He waits every moment to hear the noise of gun shot and the cries of panic stricken people. He is surprised when the procession passes away without any untoward incident.

Mystery of Vasu’s death

Relieved of great worry, Natraj goes to his office as usual in the morning. To his great shock and dismay, he learns that Vasu is dead. The police authorities of the town soon starts investigations and Natraj , his friends , and Rangi , the temple dancer , are interrogated by the police. From the medical report it is gathered that Vasu has died of a concussion received on his right temple from a blunt instrument. When the police fails to find any clue of the culprit, the matter is dropped. Rangi later tells them that while striking a mosquito settled on his forehead, Vasu slapped his temple and died instantaneously. He thus died of a blow from his own hammer-fist(RAIZADA).

A great work of art

The novel has a well-knit coherent plot and a fine gallery of vivid, life-like characters. The character of Vasu, the central figure, is a masterpiece. The narration is enlivened by Narayan’s comic vision which frequently fuss and mingles with pathos. In short, it is a great and complex work of art with a number of themes and ideas standing out of it.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE NOVEL

Natraj:His Press

The setting of this novel is provided by Malgudi, south India. Natraj ran a press which consisted of two rooms. The front room served as a parlour, where the friends of Natraj, when they were tired, came to rest and took any seat that happened to be vacant. His customers also sat there. The press was in the the back room and the staff, consisting only of one man, Sastri worked there. Between the press and the parlour there hung a blue curtain which served as a partition wall. No one ever peeped through the curtain and this secrecy was enforced as sacred tradition of the press. Next to his press, there was the star press. In this way the impression was created that it was the press of Natraj beind the curtain.

His family and ancestral house

Natraj’s house was behind the press. A road separated the press in Market Road and in his house in kabir street. He lived there with his wife and his son, Babu. His house was an ancestral house and the legal division of the ancestral property occurred during the lifetime of his father, when he himself was a youth. The house was his father’s share in the family property. After his father ‘s death, his mother went to live with Natraj’s elder brother in Madras. Thus Natraj, Babu , and his wife became the sole occupants of the house.

His friends

Natraj’s constant companions at the press were a poet and a journalist , Sen. Sastri was the man who helped Natraj in typing, printing, sewing, ruling and binding. They two were the sole workers of the press and besides the employer and employee relation between the two, there was friendly relationship also.

Arrival of Vasu

One day sastri had gone home earlier than usual, Natraj was working alone in the press. A new visitio came to the parlour. He violated the sacred tradition of the press by peeping through the curtain and then entering the press. Natraj brought him back to the parlour. The visitor was a taxidermist and named Vasu. He wanted five hundred sheets of letterheads and five hundred visiting cards to be printed for him. Natraj was curious to know more about him, so he told him of his past. He told him that thought he was an M.A he was once inspired by a PHAELWAN and after having vigorous excercises and eating enormous quantity of food, he achieved the desired strength. He could snap chains, twist iron bars and pulverize granite. But soon he left his guru, after quarelling with him, and hurting him because he had been false to him. Then he got interested in taxidermy and his new guru, Suleiman, taught him the art of taxidermy and made him a real skilled taxidermist.

Vasu:his aggressive Conduct

There was an antticabove Natraj’s press, which was full of discarded papers , stacks of old newspaper, manuscripts, etc. one day Natraj called a wastepaper buyer to clear the attic. Vasu came at that moment. When the attic was cleared, vasu saw that it could be a good residence for him. So he cleaned the attic. He scubbed the floor with water and washed the the walls with lime. Then he brought his few belongings and settled in it without caring for the objections of Natraj. Natraj was much surprised at his aggressive and bullying attitude, but consoled himself with the thought that all he would not settle there permanently and would certainly move away , as soon he got a sutiable house. But he was wrong in his view,for Vasu stayed in the attic permanently. He even used the front room of the press as an extension of the attic and made fun of the visitors and friends of Natraj in one way or other .though he disappeared for long periods, yet on return he always made fun of the people in the parlour. Natraj came to regard him as a middle-aged maneater who had shattered his peaceful life. There was no longer any peace for him either in press in the press or in the home , so disturbed he became.

The forest officer

One day Vasu brought a forest official to the press who wanted to get his book GOLDEN thoughts printed , but the deal never materialized after a week , Vasu received a brown envelope from the forest department, permitting him only to shoot duck and deer and forbidding him to shoot tigers and other larger animals. Vasu at once turned an enemy of the forester and decided to challenge his authority by shooting animals in the Mempi forest. He began shooting wild animals without any legal permission. This he did carefully, leaving no proof behind.

Visit to Mempi village

Sometimes later, vasu forced Natraj to go with him in jeep to Mempi village. He went withvasu much against his wishes, as he was very busy at the time. He was working at some invitation cards for the marriage of the adjournment lawyer’s daughter. He wanted to deliver these cards in time. But vasu aggressively took him to his jeep. At Mempi village vasu came to know of the pug-marks of a tiger in the nearby Mempi forest. He was so excited that left Natraj at a tea shop and went away with the man who had given him news. Natraj felt like a lost child as he did not have any money to go back by a bus. He asked the tea shop owner when the next bus Malgudi was due and gradually became quiet friendly with him. The owner of the tea stall also liked Natraj and offered him tea and when his bus came he introduced him to the conductor and requested him to take Natraj in his bus and collect the fare at his press. Natraj was highly obliged to Muthu and reached Malgudi safely but late in night. The invitation cards could not be printed that day.

The tiger Vasu killed

Next day Vasu came back and showed Natraj triumphantly the tiger which he had killed in Mempi forest.

The tiger was ten feet long and the head alone almost eighteen inches wide. He did this killing without any legal permission and was not at all ashamed of it; instead he felt proud that he had dodged the forest department and they would not be able to take any legal action against him. He took Natraj to his room and told him how the dead animals were processed and stuffed.

His Refusal to vacate the attic

Natraj , thus, came to know the source of the foul smell of which everyone complained. The room was filled with skins of smaller of animals. Natraj wanted to turn him out, but vasu did not care for him at all and was at ease. He continued bringing dead animals, stuffed carcasses, packed them and sent them off to different places through the railway. His business was flourishing and his activities became an incomprehensible problem for Natraj. He dared not directly speak to vasu, nd his friends and others thought that he had rented his attic to Vasu made fun of him for making such a request and told him of the expenses which he had incurred in order to make the attic habitable

Natraj in trouble

Vasu reacted indifferently to Natraj’s request but after five days natrsj received summons from the house rent controller to appear in his court at a fixed date and time. He received it mechanically and signed the delivery note, but on reading it , he was frightened. He did the summons and did not talk to anyone , but as the fixed time for appearing in the court came nearer,Natraj was was much depressed and agitated.suddenly remembered the adjournment lawyer and went to him. Though the lawyer had not paid the cost of the printing of invitation cards, he extracted a lot of money from natraj to help him by obtaining adjournment of the case and extension of time from the court.

Complaint to the municipality

The result was that vasu and natraj came to have great ill-will for each other.they no longer talked to each other,but Vasu went and came to the attic as usual. One day a sanitary inspector came to the press and produced a joint petition from his neighbours complaining to the municipal authorities of the foul smell and requesting them to prohibit the cleaning and stuffing of skins in that residential area. The inspector thought that the Natraj was the tanner and so he advised him to send a reply and ask for shifting his tanning business. Natraj was thrown in a state of sheer despair. He was helpless and can do nothing.

Vasu and the forester

After some time came the forester asking for Vasu. He questioned Natraj about Vasu’s movements but Natraj did not tell him anything, for he did not want to get involved in Vasu’s affair. The forester then went to Vasu’s room and accused him of killing the wild animals which were disappearing from the forest. Vasu insulted him and asked him to leave him at once and prove his charges in court. The forester could not resist vasu’s bullying and so went away.

Vasu takes to womanishing

One day while working in the press, Sastri heard the jingling of bangles and saw a woman come down the steps from the attic. He recognized the woman. She was the daughter of a temple dancer and now she herself was a dancer. Her name was Rangi and she was considered to be a woman of loose character. Natraj was shocked to see her there but on watching he observed that not only did Rangi come there but a number of other women also came down and went up the steps frequently. He came to the conclusion thst as the forester must have tightened his vigilance in Mempi forest, Vasu’s activities must have been neutralized there. So he was now indulging in womanising.

The visit of Muthu

One day Muthu, the tea stall owner of Mempi villiage, came to meet Natrajat his press. He wanted his temple elephant, Kumar, to be treated there as he was sick. According to him , there was a government hospital for aniamals in malgudi and he wanted the elephant to be treated by its doctor. Natraj was ready to help him as muthu had helped when he was in Mempi. He assured Muthu that he would do his best and let him know the results of his efforts. Muthu went away well satisfied.

The sick elephant kumar

Natraj got a clue to the hospital after great difficulty after great difficulty and cycled over to a place.There the doctor told him to bring the elephant to the hospital as the equipment for treating animals was in the hospital and it could not be moved out.Natraj knew that it was impossible to bring the sick elephants so far,yet he went to mempi village to talk to mudhu.Some of the listners at the temple agreed to send the elephant stand up,then made him the help of a mahaut to malgudi.

The temple celebrations:Preparations for it

The poet completed his epic upto the stage where krishna meets radha and so their marriage was to be celebrated.Natraj and shastri were happy at the poet’s success and they decided to celebrate it as an auspicious event.They made elaborate preperations for the celebration and worked hard for the purpose.They selected an auspicious day which coincided with the festival of spring at the temple.for the celebrations,money was needed and they published or appeals for donations.They planned an elaborate ritual,a procession and a feast for thousands of people.

Vasu:Collection of donations

Their appeals and notices brought vasu to the press.He took upon himself the responsibility of collecting money from the people,but he kept the accounts in the green folder and also keep the cash with him.Natraj,shastri and the poet had much to do so they allowed him to collect the donations.

Rangi:Vasu’s wicked plan

As the night passed,shastri and the poet took a nap while Natraj printed the forms alone.At this moment rangi came down the stairs from the attic,stood behind the grill,and told natraj of vasu’s plan to shoot the elephant from his window as the procession passed that way.He was of the view that an elephant is more useful when dead.Natraj was frightened by vasu’s plan because he thougt that his act of shooting would also be trampled and choked in the stampede which would follow.

Natraj talks to vasu

Next morning the sacred book was taken by shastri to the binder.It was to be bound in benaras silk and kept in the temple.There were thousands other things to be done but rangi’s warning made natraj decide to have a talk with vasu.After having hurriedly his bath and refreshment,natraj took some eatables and went to vasu’s room.he chatted with him.then he appeals to him not to harm the elephant.Vasu immediately realized that ragi must have talked with him.

Natraj delicious cry

Natraj reached reached the temple at around 4 o’clock.every one was present there including the mayor,who had to deliever the inaugural speech.The programme began on time and everyone took place as was decided.There was a lot of noise,and coupled with the music of the brassband the din was so loud that nothing could be heard.The fear of the elephant being shot by vasu still lurked in natraj’s mind.The sight of the idol,of the sound of music,the chinning of the cymbals.the scent of the jasmine and inscense and fatigue made natraj sleepy.The poet,sen,mayor everyone rushed to natraj.Natraj felt ashamed for drawing so much attention to himself.His wife and his son started crying.Natraj after 5 minutes,was his usual self again and he hoped that the celebration would go on as planned.

Vasu’s show of strength

At home,natraj was pampered like a child by his wife.In the evening,muthu,sen,poet,and the doctor came to inquire after his health.Natraj told them about his fear regarding vasu’s plan of shooting kumar.Everyone was agitated and they all went to tackle vasu ,leaving natraj at home.First sen went to d.s.p but d.s.p showed his inability to do anything without proof.Everyone is frightened and they left his place,warning him not to harm the sacred elephant.

Rangi’s visit

At home when natraj was having his dinner,rangi came to meet him,thus annoying his wife Rangi told natraj that vasu had summoned her and that he would cause great harnm to kumar,if she didn’t go to him.She told him that she was talking with her the favourite pulav of vasu.This she considered to be best bet to make him change his mind.

Vasu’s death and after

Next morning the postman broke the news of vasu’s death to nataraj.Natraj at once went up to the attic and found vasu in his chair as he had seen him the previous night.He did’nt leave behind any finger prints though he took away the green account folder a small bundle of one rupee currency notes and a stuffed tiger cub which vasu valued at two thousand rupees.he brought them unnoticed to his parlour.He locked everything in his desk.This his wife confined by telling him that everyone suspected him to be akiller because of the rent control case.

Vasu’s greatest act of destruction

Gradually everyone stop talking to natraj.Even his close friends tried to avoid him.Natraj was in such a state of grief and despair that he himself began to think that he was murderer.One day he stopped the poet and boughthim to his press,but the poet after talking in monosyllables for sometime,ran away.Natraj burst into tears.For him this was the greatest act of destruction that the man-eater had performed.He had destroy his name,his fame,his friendships and his world.

Sastri clers the mystry of vasu’s death

At particular time,sastri came back from his trip to attend a marriage.he told natraj the real cause of vasu’s death.The truth was revealed to him by rangi.she told him that on that night vasu settled in his chair to sleep and ordered rangi to fan him to sleep and ordered rangi to fan him to keep the mosquitoes away.Vasu dozed away and rangi also slept.The mosquitoes attacked vasu,and vasu in rage attacked vasu and vasu in a rage slapped his forehead with his open palm and this was his end like the end of bharamsura,a rakshasa.The blow of his own hammer-fist had killed him.

Restoration of normalcy

Natraj was overjoyed to hear this.He would no longer be the suspect.Soon the truth would be known to all.He began to work again in his press as usual with shastri,and was sure that his friends would once again come to him.the evil had been expelled and life would soon fall into its usual groove.