5 Questions
What was the highest honor R.K. Narayan received?
Sahitya Akademi Fellowship
Where was R.K. Narayan born?
Madras (now Chennai, Tamil Nadu), British India
In which house of the Indian Parliament was R.K. Narayan nominated?
Rajya Sabha
How many sons did R.K. Narayan's father have?
Six
What occupation did R.K. Narayan's younger brother Ramachandran have?
Editor at Gemini Studios
Study Notes
R.K. Narayan: Life and Works
- R.K. Narayan (Rasipuram Krishnaswami Iyer Narayanaswami) was born on 10 October 1906 and died on 13 May 2001.
- He was an Indian writer and novelist known for his works set in the fictional South Indian town of Malgudi.
Contributions to Indian Literature
- Narayan was a leading author of early Indian literature in English, along with Mulk Raj Anand and Raja Rao.
- He was instrumental in popularizing Indian literature worldwide.
Mentorship and Influences
- Graham Greene was Narayan's mentor and friend, instrumental in getting publishers for Narayan's first four books.
Notable Works
- Swami and Friends: introduced the fictional town of Malgudi.
- The Bachelor of Arts
- The English Teacher: semi-autobiographical trilogy.
- The Financial Expert (1951): hailed as one of the most original works.
- The Guide: Sahitya Academy Award winner, adapted for film (winning a Filmfare Award for Best Film) and for Broadway.
Writing Style and Comparisons
- Narayan's writing highlights social context and everyday life of his characters.
- Compared to William Faulkner, who created a similar fictional town and explored ordinary life with humor and compassion.
- Short stories compared to those of Guy de Maupassant due to his ability to compress a narrative.
Test your knowledge about R. K. Narayan, a prominent Indian writer and novelist known for his stories set in the fictional town of Malgudi. Learn about his literary contributions and relationships with other influential authors.
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