devouring the books he found at home
and, later, when the family moved
to Mysore, accessing the extensive library
in the Maharajah’s College High School
where he studied. Soon, he began to
write – initially short journalistic pieces,
mostly for English papers and magazines.
Interestingly, after he finished at school,
Narayan did not succeed in making it
through the university entrance examination
and decided to stay at home for a year
to read and write. His family supported
his decision, and it was during this time
that Narayan began the process of turning
into the writer he eventually became.
Later, after once again attempting
the university examination, and clearing
it this time round, he joined university,
although he took four years to complete
his courses, rather than the usual three.
Over a period of time, his conviction
that writing was the career he wanted to
pursue became stronger and, with his family’s
support, he began to move in that direction.
In the first year of his writing, he earned
a sum of nine rupees and 12 annas!
His first book, Swami and Friends
(later to become a classic) was rejected
by many publishers – an experience that is
not uncommon for new writers. This book,
and two subsequent ones, are said to be
quite autobiographical, but Swami’s singular
contribution to the world of literature was
the creation of Malgudi, which was to form
the core of so many of his other works.
It was Swami and Friends also that was
to introduce Narayan to Graham Greene,
the master storyteller. The story goes that
a friend of Narayan’s sent the manuscript
of Swami and Friends to Graham Greene,
and Greene was so impressed with the book
that he suggested it to his own publisher
and the book was then published in 1935.
Greene continued to help Narayan with
his books, finding him publishers in
England who took them up and, in this way,
encouraged him to write. It was also Greene
who is believed to have suggested that
Narayan shorten his name to become
more accessible to English readers,
particularly those in England.
In 1933, Narayan went to Coimbatore
to visit his sister and for a short vacation.
There, he met a young woman called
Rajam, and fell in love with her. Rajam
was only 15, but Narayan managed to
secure her father’s permission and married
her. The marriage was short-lived, though;
a mere six years later, in 1939, Rajam died
of typhoid, leaving Narayan devastated and
deeply depressed. His books written at
the time – in particular The English Teacher
but also The Bachelor of Arts – are quite
autobiographical and reflect what he was
going through as a result of his wife’s death.
Even as he wrote novels, Narayan’s
journalistic career continued alongside.
Shortly after he married Rajam, he took
up a job as a reporter for a Madras-based
paper called The Justice, which brought
him in contact with a wide range of people.
Later, he also worked for the Government
of Mysore and also tried to set up a journal,
which he gave up very soon as it became
clear that it was not going to work.
Literary success did not come easily.
While Narayan’s books were appreciated,
they did not make waves and he did not
make much money. Malgudi Days, his first
collection of short stories, was published
in 1942. Over time, with Greene’s help in
getting publishers abroad, Narayan began
to become known internationally and
to gradually acquire an international
readership. The war impacted his life asit did that of many writers and, during that
time, he lost the connection with England.
At home, he started his own publishing
company, Indian Thought Publications,
which became well known. Once money
began to come in, Narayan was able
to build himself a house in Mysore.Away from the autobiographical
The same year that he built the house,
1953, his books were published in the
United States. He now also began to travel
to promote his books, to write journalistic
pieces and it was during one of his trips
to the United States that he began to write
a book, Guide, that was to become a sort
of classic and was later made into a film
starring Dev Anand and Waheeda Rehman.
The story of love between a guide and
a lonely and unhappily married woman
tourist touched the hearts of thousands
of people and the book acquired, as
books often do, a new life through the film.
It was at this point in his life that
Narayan began to move away from the
autobiographical and wrote some books that
focused on human relationships, in particular,
on domestic discord within marriage, but
his canvas also grew wider, with politics
and political figures entering his work.
Waiting for the Mahatma, for example,“His first book,
Swami and Friends(later to become a
classic) was rejected bymany publishers –
an experience that is
not uncommon for
new writers”
February 2017 87