As these days my Thesis topic is on R.K Narayan i thought i shall introduce his Imaginary City
"MALGUDI"
Malgudi was a small town in South India, a few hours journey from Madras.
It was situated on the banks of the river Sarayu. Sarayu was the pride of
Malgudi. The people of Malgudi visited its banks on evenings for a quiet
walk and peace of mind. It was on its banks that Swami, Mani and Ratnam
spent most of their evenings. Raju, the guide ,took refuge on the banks
of the river on his return from prison. It was there that he met Velan, who
took him for a priest. It was on the dry banks of that very river that he died,
while fasting so that the rains would come. The banks of the river were also
the place for important gatherings and meetings for the village folks. When
Gandhiji, arrived in Malgudi, the meetings and speeches were held here.
The central street in Malgudi was Market street. It was the busy spot
with a number of shops and most importantly the Bombay Anand Bhavan.
Owned by a north Indian, it was the most famous shop in Malgudi for sweets
and savories. It was there that Srinivas met Sampath ,the printer and
thus found a way to start his weekly newspaper The Banner. There were
The Malgudi Experience
a number of printers in Malgudi. There was the Truth Printing Works of-
course, owned by Sampath and and there were others. Most of them were
involved in printing bills, almanacs and wedding cards. And there were
newspapers. The Banner was one such, which was started by Srinivas. Then
there were novelists, who sought these printers. Nagaraj , was one such
budding novelist, whose ambition to write a book on the great sage Narada
never saw the light of the day. But there was, Veena ,the wife of Swami,
who worked at Coomar's; an aspiring novelist, who became a famous novelist
with her cookbooks. There also existed cheap literature. Margayya, the
nancial expert, earned his wealth and breakthrough by publishing cheap
books on sex. On Grove street was situated Coomar's Boeing Saree Center.
Coomar had started oby selling sarees on his cycle. And now The Boeign
Center had become one of the established institutions of Malgudi ocked
by women and weavers alike. Bari's Stationery Mart was on Kalighat lane,
a prominent shop in Malguid for pen, paper and books. Kabir street, was
another famous street and a home for the elite of Malgudi. There was Lawley
extension, which was growing on the outskirts of Malgudi and housed the
rich and the inuential. The Ellaman street, the last street beyond which
was the Sarayu river, was where the oil mongers lived. Further down was
the Nallappa's Mango Grove and the cremation ground. Beyond the grove,
on the banks of the lower-course of Sarayu, was where the the city sweepers
and the untouchables lived. It was the worst area of the town, but had come
under prominence when the Mahatma decided to stay there, during his visit
to Malgudi.
From Swami to Mahatma Gandhi every one Visited Malgudi Hope we get there soon
"MALGUDI"
Malgudi was a small town in South India, a few hours journey from Madras.
It was situated on the banks of the river Sarayu. Sarayu was the pride of
Malgudi. The people of Malgudi visited its banks on evenings for a quiet
walk and peace of mind. It was on its banks that Swami, Mani and Ratnam
spent most of their evenings. Raju, the guide ,took refuge on the banks
of the river on his return from prison. It was there that he met Velan, who
took him for a priest. It was on the dry banks of that very river that he died,
while fasting so that the rains would come. The banks of the river were also
the place for important gatherings and meetings for the village folks. When
Gandhiji, arrived in Malgudi, the meetings and speeches were held here.
The central street in Malgudi was Market street. It was the busy spot
with a number of shops and most importantly the Bombay Anand Bhavan.
Owned by a north Indian, it was the most famous shop in Malgudi for sweets
and savories. It was there that Srinivas met Sampath ,the printer and
thus found a way to start his weekly newspaper The Banner. There were
The Malgudi Experience
a number of printers in Malgudi. There was the Truth Printing Works of-
course, owned by Sampath and and there were others. Most of them were
involved in printing bills, almanacs and wedding cards. And there were
newspapers. The Banner was one such, which was started by Srinivas. Then
there were novelists, who sought these printers. Nagaraj , was one such
budding novelist, whose ambition to write a book on the great sage Narada
never saw the light of the day. But there was, Veena ,the wife of Swami,
who worked at Coomar's; an aspiring novelist, who became a famous novelist
with her cookbooks. There also existed cheap literature. Margayya, the
nancial expert, earned his wealth and breakthrough by publishing cheap
books on sex. On Grove street was situated Coomar's Boeing Saree Center.
Coomar had started oby selling sarees on his cycle. And now The Boeign
Center had become one of the established institutions of Malgudi ocked
by women and weavers alike. Bari's Stationery Mart was on Kalighat lane,
a prominent shop in Malguid for pen, paper and books. Kabir street, was
another famous street and a home for the elite of Malgudi. There was Lawley
extension, which was growing on the outskirts of Malgudi and housed the
rich and the inuential. The Ellaman street, the last street beyond which
was the Sarayu river, was where the oil mongers lived. Further down was
the Nallappa's Mango Grove and the cremation ground. Beyond the grove,
on the banks of the lower-course of Sarayu, was where the the city sweepers
and the untouchables lived. It was the worst area of the town, but had come
under prominence when the Mahatma decided to stay there, during his visit
to Malgudi.
From Swami to Mahatma Gandhi every one Visited Malgudi Hope we get there soon
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