R. K. Narayan's genius - A MUST READ. Review on Bachelor of Arts, The - R K Narayan

R.K.Narayan has found himself a stalker. That lucky, obsessive, crazy, stalking stalker is none other than your s truly. Lately, I have taken to prowling about the giant bookshelf in my house at night hoping to catch a glimpse of R. K. Narayan. I must say, I have been lucky. On Wednesday night, I discovered The sage of Narada. On Thursday, A Tiger For Malgudi revealed itself to me and last night, I devoured The Bachelor of Arts.

In my quest to explore R.K.Narayan’s works, I realized that some of his books are similar to one another and the main characters in each book share and possess some distinctive characteristic. Let me explain. Raju in The Guide, Raja in A Tiger For Malgudi, and Chandran in The Bachelor Of Arts all have the habit of musing philosophically in the same manner about this that and the other especially in the 2nd half of the book. The books also start with a certain jauntiness about them and possess witty humour in the beginning but towards the end, the humour gradually morphes into more serious, dampened, murmuring thoughtsabout friendship, love, life, self identity and what not. The humour that was so evident in the beginning begins to fade. It fades and fades until it almost diminishes nearing the end but at the very end of the book, the humour just jumps up again bursting with life, rather like a jack-in-the-box. They all enjoy the similar pattern that is unique to R. K. Narayan.

Now, The Bachelor Of Arts is all about this dude called Chandran, a college student. He is a remarkable orator and a typical student who sets timetables but doesn’t stick to them. The story goes on in the usual fashion, bringing to light all the mundane aspects of a student’s life like irksome exams, exasperating classes, eccentric professors, bothersome friends and so on. Our hero here meets his first crush (or love), Malathi at the beach and like a good boy, went straight home and told his parents. He didn’t get married to her though but I won’t tell you why. To find out, read the book. Yes he eventually gets his girl (a different one by the name of Susila) but along the way he became a sanyasi and a newspaper dealer.

A sanyasi and a newspaper dealer, I tell you. That’s fantastic.

What I find amazing is how we can relate to his character so easily. Like the timetable thing. Chandran made a strict study timetable for himself in preparation for the exams that went something like, 6 hours on normal days and 12 hours on holidays. Naturally, he neglected it. We all have done that before, haven’t we? Making a strict timetable then willfully forgetting all about it. I know I’ve done it. There is a piece of paper stuck on the wall next to my study table that says

“Sunday, 9am – 11 am : Biology.

1.0 pm-2.30pm:History”

and so on. Just so you know, I got up at 11.30 am today… Sigh… What to do…I’m suffering from a lack of motivation to study. Do you have that disease too?

Now let’s shut up about my wonderful life and get back to Chandran’s even more wonderful one.

The book is hilarious, no doubt about that. While I was reading it, my sister was asleep in the room. Needless to say, she nicely rebuked me the next morning for disturbing her beauty sleep with my laughter. What could I do? I tried to control myself but my stomach hurt too much from holding in giggles so I just had to go “hahaha” like a braying donkey while reading it. No, I usually don’t laugh like a braying donkey but something went wrong with my voice that night and I sounded like one. A donkey, I mean. Maybe my vocal chords go bonkers at 1 am (the time I was reading the book).

You see, what I love so much about The Bachelor Of Arts is the way it makes you want to keep reading and keep turning the page thinking “what next?” eagerly to travel the next turn in the twisted plot alongside Chandran. Its addictive. An air of suspense penetrates the whole book and it prevails even after you have turned the very last page. The story continues beyond the back cover of the book.

The ending is one of the most important parts in a book, next to the beginning. The ending is open, none of the “and they lived happily ever after” mumbo jumbo. I’m glad he didn’t end it that way coz life is never happily ever after, life is a continuous cycle of varying emotions. The ending nicely illustrates a lover’s worry and how a non-lover fails to understand the beatings of a lover’s heart. The ending is open, as I said before and it is up to you for the story to continue in the dark recesses of your mind with the reader as the puppeteer and the characters your puppets for you to find a conclusion for their never ending lives.

At the end of the book, I was still wondering about certain things. It was made very very clear in the beginning of Chandran’s prowess as an orator. I wonder what happened to that talent as for the rest of the book, he never seems to do any public speaking or anything of that sort. What happened to the orator in him? That was probably the only underdeveloped part in the book.

I completely, wholeheartedly recommend this book. It is short, simple, witty, intelligent, quirky and thought provoking.

Do your funny bone (may it be your back bone or your little finger bone) a favour and enjoy this book.

You will find a little bit of yourself in the characters and find a little bit of the characters in yourself. Another thing I love so much about R. K. Narayan’s writing.

Kick back, relax, be prepared for a painful stomach from laughing and enjoy!

1. a student who makes study timetables and doesn’t follow them

   
   




2. a sannyasi

   
   




3. a braying donkey

   
   




4. if your name is chandran or is similar to chandran

   
   




5. a MSian who liked/disliked my review, agrees/disagrees with my opinion

   
   




6. a kind soul who realizes how eagerly I am waiting for your comments no matter what they may be