A world in itself!!. Review on Malgudi Days - R K Narayan

I have seen "Malgudi Days" on TV when I was a child.I can vividly remember how eagerly I used to wait for the next episode of this series.As a child I loved it a lot. And now as a grown up, I still enjoyed reading it today even as a Book.But then Books do not force the Director's understanding of the story on you . Rather books let you create the stories in your own distinct imaginative World.That's where this book excels time again.

Malgudi days is a collection of some 30 odd short stories.The author RK Narayan, a literary legend himself, was asked once, 'Where is Malgudi?' To which he had replied, 'It's imaginary and not to be found in map.It may be half truth to say that it represents a small town in South India but the characteristics of Malgudi seems to me Universal.'

*Plot:-

*All the stories in this book, almost has a central character who faces some kind of crisis and either resoves it or lives with it. The character in each story is very common.Its not about kings and fairies and demons. But they are representative of a real life character. Be it a school boy, a retired old man, a Gardener, a Maid, PostMan, Snake charmer, Cobbler, a gateman or even a dog. You can find all these characters anywhere around you. But it takes an author like RKN, to find a story from these characters that touches the heart of everyone around the world.This book is an essence of Human life and of India.

*My Take:-

I really loved these stories most, 'The Blind Dog'(story of roadside dog, who willingly becomes a slave to a blind beggar), 'Iswaran' (Story of a student who is determined on clearing his Intermediate despite many attempts and mocking), 'Naga'(Story of a child whose father is a Snake charmer), 'Attila'(a humourous story of  a house dog who runs away with a thief), 'Cat within' (story of an excorcist who is stumped by a cat one night) . Apart from these all the other stories are again very very simple, engaging and compelling.

No story is more than 8 pages on average and you can easily read one at a time and let it sink in slowly. In fact I read it during my idle states during work.

Sometimes I just sat after reading a story and could not help but marvel at the sheer simplicity and brilliance that the author has put the character and the world around him so easily.The story just takes you into its own world .

This book has been termed a 20th Century Classic of India.This book is built around a mythical city full of all colours of life.

Finally, I just would like to add that there are few authors that have the power to create their own imaginative world with such simple illustrations that easily capture the reader and transport him to their world.RK Narayan had that power.