Indianness in R. K. Narayan’ The Guide: An Overview of Indian Myths and Society as Represented by Narayan
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Abstract
R. K. Narayan as a member of a traditional Hindu family has infused in his novels the stories of Hindu myths in a social setting that is gradually changing because of the rapid growth of industry, deconstruction of culture, education and effulgence of bourgeoisie class. In The Guide traditional South Indian society explores how Hindu myths are intricately related in the lives of Raju, Rosie, Marco and Raju’s mother in Malgudi that undergoes a sea change with the advent of railways, essentially a feature of post-colonial India. In the complex web of intricate personal relationship Raju and Rosie simultaneously attain the state of salvation or moksha through the self-sacrifice and dance respectively. Rosie’s transformation into Nalini represents the metamorphoses of culture in a society torn aside by class, caste and economy. The conflict between Raju and his mother exhibits the difference of attitudes between two successive generations because of the inclusion of education in a conventional society. Through self-degradation Raju comes to realize the very essence of Atma and the significance of its association with Paramatma.
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