Life and things like it...
5 years ago
Friday, July 17, 2009
After 'virtually' globe trotting to various countries due to the orbis terrarum challenge, I realised that it has been a while since I read anything simple and Indian ...and what could be better than curling up with an R.K.Narayan book on a summery day ,sipping coffee andthoroughly enjpying the experience. "The English Teacher" by R.K.Narayan is a spiritual journey of a man in his quest to reconnect with his deceased wife. Though the subject may sound heavy and unfathomable , Narayan in his true style has made the book quite interesting. This story from its various incidends seems to be set in the pre independence era (or rather just before the Britishers left India).
The story is about the life of Krishna , a professor teaching English in Albert Mission School.He leads a regular mundane life which suddenly seems to spicen up with his daughter and wife moving in with him. His marital bliss doesnt last long as his wife passes away due to typhoid. The rest of the book is about how he deals with his wife's loss , raises his daughter and finds a way to communicate with his dead wife.
Krishna in trying to come to terms with his wife's death finds that life is just a big illusion. He starts reflecting on life in a new manner. He finds inner peace and contentment due a unique communication that he establishes with his deceased wife.
The book is full of vivid pictures of south Indian traditions and practices. It kind of makes people like me imagine how my fore fathers would have lived. It is so simple , crisp and very well written. This 140 page book is a nice read for anyone who is a great fan of R.k. Narayan and his Malgudi days :)
Krishna in trying to come to terms with his wife's death finds that life is just a big illusion. He starts reflecting on life in a new manner. He finds inner peace and contentment due a unique communication that he establishes with his deceased wife.
The book is full of vivid pictures of south Indian traditions and practices. It kind of makes people like me imagine how my fore fathers would have lived. It is so simple , crisp and very well written. This 140 page book is a nice read for anyone who is a great fan of R.k. Narayan and his Malgudi days :)
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I was longing to read this novel after observing your prompting review .But i couldn't find this book at any notable book stalls in Malaysia.Incidentally, I figured this book in a second hand book stall, hiding in a classical section.
It is always great pleasure to read R.K Narayan & R.K laxman, particularly when the reader is an expatriate, who is missing his home town. They have the natural ability to drench the reader with his old memories and sweet experiences of home town. One other reason is same as you mentioned in your review, to beat the obsession of reading foreign literature or to restore the reading habit.
This book is a final one of his sequel starting with " Swami & Friends".
I observed and learned lot of new vocabularies through his writing.
Discussions between protagonist Krishnan and his daughter Leela were real treat to read.It made me laugh loud unconsciously.
I would like to categorize this book in the lines of "Tuesdays with morrie" by Mitch albom, "Man who sold his ferrari" by Robin Sharma .
R.K narayan's legacy as an INDIAN classic writer would remain untouched through his nuance portrayal of deep-rooted Indian traditions in all his creations.No doubt, it will be an historical knowledge base for new generations and foreigners.
No wonder, I found this book in classics section!