Summary of Bachelor of Arts by R K Narayan?
A book which effectively deals with realistic issues and perfect
embodiment of simplicity and values is found in Bachelor of Arts.
R.K Narayan has this uncanny knack of portraying Indian values in
the most authentic way. He handles it in a way that no author can
do the same justice to the Indian conditions. Many foreign authors
have tried and faltered to come to terms with the living conditions
here. But, R.K. Narayan has repeatedly come up with books that
essays deeply into the emotions of the common man, picking out
little things from daily lives that makes a big difference to the
reader when reading the book. Be it the masterpiece Swami and
friends, where any reader can be attributed to have lead a life
similar to that of Swami, The Financial Expert which brilliantly
deals about the relationship between father and son or The English
Teacher, which explores the intricate association between a husband
and wife, and the subsequent agony of the husband after his wife’s
departed soul, R.K. Narayan comes up with touching themes that
leaves the reader in deep introspection. Bachelor of Arts is a
walkthrough of a generation revolving around the main protagonist
of the story, Chandran. Chandran is so ominously present in us that
it doesn’t become difficult to get into his groove. There are times
when the reader has to stir himself up with the feeling Oh!! Is
this happening to me?!! A story starting from college days of a
B.A, History graduate, progressing into that difficult phase where
every student faces a huge roadblock in his life - whether to
continue studies or not or rather What do I do next?, and then,
falling unsuccessfully in love with the girl next door only to
think that solitude is the best company before realising that
family means a lot more than that of a girl’s love, and chalking
out a career after the worn-out days of love is the walkthrough of
this brilliant piece of literature by the greatest Indian writer of
all times. Chandran’s college days are a gentle reminder of our
days. Planning out a study schedule for the exams brings memories
where we have planned more than we studied. The household of
Chandran brimming with life, with his mother, father and brother is
like any typical Indian family. The college activities of Chandran
are superbly written. The debates of whether historians have to be
slaughtered or not, is brilliantly depicted. His friendship with
Ramu and their mutual admiration for each other is well handled.
R.K. Narayan has also beautifully brought out the fact how college
friends do not end up as friends for life. When Ramu loses all
touch from him after a few years, R.K. Narayan through Chandran
says People pretended that they are friends, but the fact is they
are brought together by forces of circumstances. How true!!! His
life changes when he sees a girl, Malathi in the town. He
constantly ponders about her at home. His parents become distressed
seeing his situation at home. They, to fulfill their son’s wish try
their best to strike the alliance, but due to the conventional
concepts of horoscope matching, ill luck has its claim on the
alliance. Chandran is shattered with the developments, and all the
more, when he sees his hearthrob getting married. He feels that
running away from home is the best thing for him to do. He does run
away to Madras, where he carefully eludes staying at his cousin’s
house, and slips away to obscurity. There, he comes to face with
circumstances that makes him realise how foolish it was of him to
slip away from loved ones at home. He comes back to Malgudi to a
relieved reception from his parents. He realises that he has to
take up some responsibilities and chalks out a career, until he
really falls in love with a girl and gets married. This forms the
gist of Bachelor of Arts. The reader is constantly in a trance
while reading this book not because he is elevated to fictitious
situations, but because he is take to stunning reality that places
him so close to this cherubic Chandan. I have read this book more
than a couple of times and everytime it is a new message that gets
embedded in my mind. A masterly book by a masterly writer