Checkout English Summary's free educational tools and dictionaries. Swami is severely punished and in anger, he runs away condemning the school authorities as foreigners. Mr. Nair lies to him that today it is Saturday. Soon Swami is brought back to home. He really suffers from delirium. Sankar: Swami's classmate in 1st Form A Section. In Swami and Friends by R.K. Narayan we have the theme of disobedience, conflict, control, authority, power, rebellion and independence. Swami And Friends Theme. R.K. Narayan’ s first novel Swami and Friends (1935), first of his early novels, is the story of a nine-year old school boy , Swam - inathan, who is full of innocence, wonder , and mischief. But Rajam is adamant and he leads Swami to the headmaster’s office. Swami makes a list of things that he needs for exams like nib, ink, paper board. Mani arrives and informs him that he has missed the cricket match. Dr. Kesavan agrees to convince his headmaster about this. As a result he often gets late for the bowling practice. He is later transferred to Board High School. He dwells in Malgudi, a small fictitious town in South India with his adoring mother, punctilious father and adulating grandmother and a new born minuscule sibling. Rajam doesn’t turn to look at Swami as he is on the side of his father (traitor). Mani is so scared of the exams that he tries some unfair ways to know about the questions in advance. “The government seems to tax everything in the world”, is the omniscient comment in the text. The baby boy is called as Subbu. Swami desires to show his attitude as a lawyer’s son. It is in scripture class Swami’s blood is heated up, as his teacher criticizes his faith in Hinduism. Narrated in the third person by an unnamed narrator the reader realises after reading the story that Narayan may be exploring the theme of disobedience. To their surprise, Somu, Sankar, and Samuel are already present there. Swami and Friends Swami and Friends by RK Narayan ‘Swami and Friends’ book is written by R.K. Narayan in 1935. Swami acts a mediator between the two. The novel, which is also Narayan's first, is set in pre-independence days in India, in a fictional town - Malgudi, which has almost become a real place in India today, due to the wide recognition and popularity of Narayan's many novels. Somu : Monitor of 1st Form A Section, lives in Kabeer Street. Article shared by. Swami’s father treats him strictly to study consistently. Explanation: It is about times when the British still uses to rule Sub-continent. Soon they became good friends at the banks of Sarayu. Swami is the ten-year-old protagonist of the novel. River SARAYU the pride of Malgudi is introduced. A few days later, Swami and Mani go to Rajam’s house. Swami and Friends is a story of a ten year old lad, Swaminathan or Swami, who plays the protagonist in the novel. Next day Swami gets an idea of producing a medical certificate. The protesters destroy the property at both the Mission School and nearby the Board School. But Swami, being upset with his new name considered them to be his enemies and thus could not enjoy. Here lies the intelligence of the writer. I have read this novel as a syllabus and here is my review or you may say my assignment work. Rajam promises Swami to make a visit to his house. Later he realizes his mistake of ignoring her and feels sorry to her. The Bachelor of Arts by RK Narayan | Summary & Analysis - The protagonist of the story is Chandran, a student of History. Vivekananda ji friends … Everything goes smoothly as he planned. He is a student at Albert Mission School, a school established by the British which gives importance to Christianity, English literature and education. Rajam is the son of a wealthy Police Superintendent. Mani: Swami's classmate at Albert Mission School, lives in Abu Lane, he is known as 'Mighty good-for-nothing'. After the final exam, all the students come out in excitement and celebrate in jubilation. Swami gets involved in some arguments with his class teacher, Mr. Ebenezar, a Christian ideologist. Swami, the main character of the book is full of adventure. As usual, his father scolds him for not getting up in time and his grandmother comes to defend him as mostly she does throughout the novel. Rajam visits Swami as he had forgiven him and inquires about his new school. The forest officer sends a letter to Rajam’s father. According to them, ‘how can everyone be a son of superintendent?’, as they felt inferior and were losing Swami’s attention. He gets a poor grade in Mathematics. His father scolds him and refuses to give him money, instead telling him to take things which are already available in his study desk. Swami's mother is expected to give birth to a baby. All his relatives come to meet him, but Swami’s heart longs for his friends. After the exams vacations began with the final ‘prayer’. (Tax were collected from Indians). These boys are Somu , the friendly class monitor; Mani , a powerful but lazy bully; Sankar , “the most brilliant boy of the class”; and a small boy named Samuel, nicknamed “ The Pea ,” who is not remarkable in any way except that he makes Swami laugh more than anyone else. Before we dive into the Swami and Friends Character Sketch, let’s first know about the Swami and Friends theme to understand the characters better. In school, Somu and others keep teasing him with the remarks of “Rajam’s Tail”. It annoys Rajam that he decides to talk to the headmaster of the Board School and to request him to allow Swami to escape the drill. On the other side, the cricket match is going on. Swami and Friends is the story of a 10-year-old boy, growing up during the colonial time, the pre-independence days .The novel is set in the British Colonial India, in a fictional town called ‘Malgudi’. Thus he could not go for practice on time. He continues to practice his cricketing skills with his friends. From the beginning of the story, we see the characters in Swami and Friends challenging the social norms and political boundaries established by the British rule. Soon the issue of ‘tax’ comes up. He is known as "The Pea" because of his height. Swami asks Mani about giving the gift to Rajam. The novel, the first book Narayan wrote, is set in … All the events take place in Malgudi, A fictional town. Swami inquires him about the day. Rajam invites his friends at his house and serves them with delicious food and toys. In the month of August, A protest is going for Indian independence. Through him, Graham Greene came into contact with Narayan's work, became especially interested in it and took it upon himself to place the book with a reputable English publisher (Hamish Hamilton). His father also loves him very much. The town is said to be a fictional one – Malgudi. But he didn’t participate in religious ceremonies (he was in the process of assimilating the western principles). But it is not clear neither to Swami nor to the readers. Being frightened, Swami runs away from the school. He gives some money to a coachman for a wheel to play. … The friends were introduced to a new guy named Rajam, who was the son of a new police officer in the area. Swami, entering the class, finds the word ‘tail’ written on the blackboard. Ten days now, there is no talk or meeting between the two. (British employed Indians to control Indians and these employed men were ready to do anything for the British to remain loyal to them in British India). Swami spends most of his time with his granny (which is absent in today’s kids) and shares his admiration for his new friend Rajam. By their reconciliation, Swami is the one who is the happiest of all. Still he has no courage to face Rajam. Traditional elements can be seen in “Swami and Friends” in R.K.Narayan, one of the most reputed Indian writer’s novel in English’s first published and most popular novel, which is set against the backdrop of Indian tradition and culture. Even Swami is persuaded to throw his cap into the fire as the protesters take it a foreign-made. The situation gets tense as it is close to mid night. W. T. Srinivasan: Swami's father, a lawyer, Swami's late grandfather (sub-magistrate), Rajam's Father - A Deputy Police Superintendent, Mr. Ebenezer - A teacher at Albert Mission School, A Christian Ideologist, Dr. Kesavan - a physician in the Board School, Mr. Nair - An officer at District Forest Office, This page was last edited on 21 November 2020, at 05:09. The MCC team is missing Swami's bowling as they are losing the match. In light of this, R. K. Narayan’s first book is fixed at the tallness of English pioneer rule. But to his bad luck, Dr. Kesavan doesn’t talk about this issue to the headmaster. Before he could utter a word the train leaves but he succeeds in giving the gift to Rajam. This grieves Swami because he did all this only for that match and for his friend and now he lost both. Friends Library is largest private circulating online internet books library with a collection of over 100000 titles. MCC (Malgudi Cricket Club) is made the name of their team. But he feels bad for not able to participate in the practice on time. During the examination, Swami writes short answers and completes his exam before his friends. Swami moves around searching for his way, soon he faints. Mr. Ebenezar criticizes the practices of Hindu religion, like Idol Worship. Swami learns from Mani that Rajam is leaving Malgudi as his father has been transferred. M. Rajam: Swami's classmate at Albert Mission School, lives in Lawley Extension. They start making a list of materials that their team requires. Most of the time, she is lying in the bed. Book: Swami and Friends Author: RK Narayan Swami and Friends is the story of the tumultuous friendship of Swaminathan, his four childhood friends, and a new boy named Rajam. The story revolves around a ten year old school boy named Swaminathan and his friends. Swami tells about this to his father. Post colonialism is evident with the first big character encounter in chapter 1 when Mr. Ebenear, the scripture teacher belittles the religion of Swami and many other native people and promotes Christianity. He fails in 1st Form and is "automatically excluded from the group". Swami finishes the final exam far too earlier than any other student. Characters like Swami’s headmaster fire-eyed Vedanayagam, his History teacher D.Pillai known for his kindness, and his Scripture master Mr.Ebenezar a fanatic are introduced. R.K. Narayan Swami & Friends.pdf - Google Drive ... Sign in The headmaster scolds Ebenezar and also asked Swami to report to him in the future but not to his father. Swami finds that the board school has drill practices in the evening which is compulsory for every student. Swami is a schoolboy living in 1930, in the fictional town of Malgudi in the South of India under British colonial rule. Story 1: Vivekananda and His Friends..!! He develops an interest in the new member of his family. Swami also tells his friends about the letter. Swami requests his father to allow him use his room to welcome Rajam. There was town in India named Malgudi, there lived Swaminathan and his four friends. He sets out to meet Rajam at the railway station with a book to gift him. Mani tells him that Rajam’s father is transferred and they are leaving the town the next morning. Swami being excited shares about the ‘funny-looking creature’ to his friends at school. Swami has a visit to a Tennis club where he finds the same boy, the son of the coachman working there. Rajam shows his attitude as the superintendent’s son. Swami talks about his Muslim classmate Akbar Ali who irritates Rajam because he is a Hindu. Swami’s mother Lakshmi is about to give birth and stays in her room and thus Swami loses her food and attention. Students are not allowed into schools for the sake of their leader. One night after practice he sits with his granny and discusses cricket. Malgudi Schooldays is a slightly abridged version of Swami and Friends, and includes two additional stories featuring Swami from Malgudi Days and Under the Banyan Tree.[1]. He offers each of them a gift if they promise to be friends. The protest continues. Swami and Friends is an Indian book written in English published in 1935. He says “Europe was like a camel’s head” (Europe- ‘five sense animal’ – might be author’s voice, in British India) commenting on the shape of the continent, and questing for the origin of maps. The second and third books in the trilogy are The Bachelor of Arts and The English Teacher. The MCC schedules a cricket match against another local team YMU (Young Men's Union). Swami and Friends is a lot like that. Swami makes fun with his friends after his father leaves for the court. "There are writers—Tolstoy and Henry James to name two—whom we hold in awe, writers—Turgenev and Chekhov—for whom we feel a personal affection, other writers whom we respect—Conrad for example—but who hold us at a long arm's length with their 'courtly foreign grace.' But no clue he gets about Swami’s whereabouts. After gathering Rajam delivers a lecture on friendship and also warns them of the punishment for the ones who have ‘enemies’ as mentioned in Vedas. In addition, he was a police superintendent’s son. When the headmaster comes to know about Swami missing the drill practices, he threatens to beat him. W.S. There, he thinks about his past life as a student. Swami is admitted to Board High School. In the autumn of 1930, on a sudden spurt of inspiration, writing of his first novel Swami and Friends started. We are soon introduced to his class mates and they are a reasonable lot. The first book of R.K. Narayan’s famous trilogy, ‘Swami and Friends’ happens to be Narayan’s first published book as well. But when the time for the fight comes, Rajam suggests that they should become friends and Mani agrees. At the word, ‘charge’ police attacks the protesters brutally who run away. The Story is about a boy named Swami and his friends, Rajam and Mani. The words are somewhat lost with the hooter of the train. He breaks some windowpanes and joins the protest. R.K.Narayan covered all the political issues with a safer theme of friendship. The station is crowded with men in uniform. He at once throws it in the fire for the sake of the country. Throughout the novel he is called as Swami. Mani assures Swami that Rajam has promised to write to him. A little later he distributes the gifts that he got for them. Swami and Mani acts as puppy and kitten while entering his room. MCC accepted a friendly match with Young Men Club. Swami and his friends feel offended. Swami wakes up a bit late on a Monday morning. Swami is upset because his friend is leaving him with anger. The final examination is about to come and everyone started focusing on his studies. There is a protest at the banks of Sarayu against the arrest of Gauri Sankar, a prominent political leader of Bombay. The story attains its catastrophe when Rajam moves out of the team without even uttering a word to Swami. They all enjoy delicious food. Coming to know this, Swami gets devastated. He has extra homework and drill classes after the school which was compulsory. Swami desires to do something for his country. [9], "R. K. Narayan (Indian author) - Encyclopædia Britannica", "Then there was Mani, the Mighty Good-For-Nothin...", "A quote from Swami and Friends, The Bachelor of Arts, The Dark Room, The English Teacher", "100 'most inspiring' novels revealed by BBC Arts", An Astrologer's Day and Other Short Stories, The Grandmother's Tale and Selected Stories, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Swami_and_Friends&oldid=989814101, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. R K Narayan's writing spans the greatest period of change in modern Indian history, from the days of the Raj - Swami and Friends (1935), The Bachelor of Arts (1937) and The English Teacher (1945) - to recent years of political unrest - The Painter of Signs (1976), A Tiger for Malgudi (1983), and Talkative Man (1987). The elements such as the portrayal of He spends time at Rajam’s home with Mani. Next day, he comes with a letter from his father to the headmaster complaining against that teacher for not giving respect to non-christian boys and their religion. [4], On November 5, 2019, the BBC News listed Swami and Friends on its list of the 100 most influential novels. 1. But Swami still doubts his words. The novel is full of humor and irony. [3] Graham Greene was responsible for the title Swami and Friends, changing it from Narayan's Swami, the Tate, suggesting that it would have the advantage of having some resemblance to Rudyard Kipling's Stalky & Co..[4], Greene arranged the details of the contract and remained closely involved until the novel was published. Christianity was imposed on the students by teaching it as a subject (religious imperialism). Swami tells his four closest friends about the letter. He is an unconstrained, indiscreet, wicked but then also an exceptionally honest child. 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