Swami And Friends By R.K. Narayan Summary.

 

“SWAMI AND FRIENDS” BY R.K. NARAYAN

 

INTRODUCTION TO SWAMI AND FRIENDS:

Swami and Friends is a famous novel written in English and it is the first of a trilogy of the novels written by R.K. Narayan. This novel is written by R.K Narayana. Swami and Friends is the first novel written by R.K. Narayana. The novel is full of entertainment, thrill and exciting moment. In this novel R.K. Narayana has talked about prominently Swami and his four friends. He also talked about the hollowness of the education system.

 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR OF SWAMI AND FRIENDS:

Rasipuram Krishnaswami Iyer Narayanaswami was an Indian writer. He was born on 10 October,1906 in Madras. R.K. Narayan is a writer who contributed over many decades and who continued to write till his death. He was a leading author of early Indian literature in English along with Mulk Raj Anand and Raja Rao. He was raised by his grandmother and uncle in Madras. He attended the Christian Mission School. He graduated from Maharaja College Mysore in 1930. He got married in 1934, but his wife, Rajam died of typhoid in 1939. He had a daughter named Hema. Narayan created a fictional town, Malgudi where he set his novels. Some criticise him for the parochial, detached and closed world that he created in the face of the changing conditions in India. He was famous for his trilogy ‘Swami and Friends’, ‘The Bachelors of Arts’ and ‘The English Teacher’. These three novels are set in a fictional town Malgudi Days of South India. He was honoured with Sahitya Academy Award for his work ‘The Guide’. He died in Chennai on 13 May, 2001.      

 

SUMMARY OF SWAMI AND FRIENDS:

A young boy named Swami wakes up on Monday morning in the town of Malgidi in South India. He rushes through his homework at his desk and then goes to the Mission School. He gets bored throughout the classes. He happens to get bad grades in his mathematics homework and then had an argument with scripture teacher, Mr. Ebenezar, a Christian Fanatic. Swami is offended by his teacher’s dismissal of the value of Hinduism. The very next morning Swami arrives at school with a letter from his father to the headmaster, in which he complains about the school does not welcome non-Christian boys. Swami tells his four friends about the letter. These four friends were Somu, class monitor, Mani, powerful but lazy bully, Sankar, the most brilliant boy of the class and a small boy named Samuel, nicknamed “The Pea” who is not remarkable in any way expect that he makes Swami laugh more than anyone else. Later in the day, the headmaster scolds Ebenezar but also tells Swami not to report incidents to his father, saying that the boys should instead turn to the headmaster with any problems.

 

On the subsequent evening, Swami and Mani sit on the banks of the Sarayu river, discussing a classmate named Rajam, who Mani wishes to throw into the river. It becomes clear that Rajam is known in school as a kind of rival to Mani, due to his fearlessness, intelligence and wealth. Rajam’s father is Police Superintendent. When they returned to school, Swami begins acting as a go between for the two rivals. Eventually, they decide to meet for a fight on the banks of the river Sarayu to see who is more powerful. But when the time for fight comes, Rajam suggests to put all the differences aside and became friends. To this Mani happily agrees and Swami is also delighted at this turn of event and glad to be the friend of both powerful boys.

 

Swami entered home and he call granny to tell her about the event took place in school. He feels safe and secure in her company. Swami excitedly describes Rajam to granny and although she tries to tell him stories of his own grandfather’s similarity impressive achievement, Swami refuses to listen. On a Saturday shortly thereafter, Swami ignores his grandmother’s request to spend time with her and instead goes with Mani to Rajam house, where they are impressed by his luxurious home, numerous toys and delicious food. Back to school Swami runs to his three friends, Somu, Sankar and The Pea. However, they are unfriendly to him and makes a joke about a “tail”. After school, Swami ask Somu to tell him about their joke, which turned out to be “Rajam’s tail”. The rejection by his friends is the first shock of Swami’s life, and he reflects despondently on how quickly people change. As the days continued Swami’s friends continued to ignore him and school become a painful experience for him.

 

On the coming Saturday, Swami prepares for Rajam to visit his house. He asked his family and cook to prepare various preparations. The visit goes well. In the School Swami again faced by his old friends mocking him, he slaps both The Pea and Sankar. Swami goes outside joined by Somu and Mani. Swami explains Mani that the other three called him Rajam’s tail. Mani defends Rajam and fights with Somu until the other boys get the headmaster to break up the fight between them. Three weeks later Swami and Mani go to Rajam’s house as Rajam told them that he had a surprise for them. At Rajam’s house, when they opened their eyes, they discover Somu, Sankar and The Pea are also present. Rajam serves food and tell them the value of friendship offering them gift if they promise not to be enemies any more. To this everyone agreed and accepts his gift.

 

Swami’s mother has been in bed for two days and seems surprisingly changed to him, granny tells him that he is going to have a baby brother. But he is indifferent even when the baby is born, telling the Pea that the baby is “hardly anything”. The Pea assure him that the baby will grow up swiftly. In April, Swami and his classmate have only two weak for their exam. Everyone is unhappy under the stress of studying. Swami final exam is over and he worries about the fact that his paper finished faster than his friends and did not write enough for one question. The groups boys celebrated the last day of school and destroys paper and ink bottles until school administrator breaks up their celebration. Without school Swami realised that he is closer friend with Rajam and Mani then with three of them. Swami wishes to get circle to play with and he gives some money to the coachman but the coachman tricked him. They wanted to take revenge so Rajam made a plan in which Mani will kidnap the coachman’s son, but the plan gets crooked.

 

In due course when Swami joined a protest, his life changes forever. The protest was for India’s independence and was against the recant arrest of an Indian politicians in Malgudi. Swami was intoxicated with the nationalist emotions and he shatters the window of his headmaster’s office with stone. He was seen by a worker of the school doing this activity thus, the headmaster of the school expelled him from the school. This activity not only forced him to switch the school but also upset Rajam. A rift was created in their friendship. Despite they got reunited and formed a cricket team with the name M.C.C. under the leadership of Rajam. A match was scheduled between M.C.C and another local cricket team named Y.M.U. There was a new tension as Swami missed various practice session because of the homework and the new schedule of his new school. Swami absence annoyed Rajam. He warned Swami not to speak him again if he missed the match against Y.M.U. The principal of the new school was very strict. Swami tried to persuade him but it was of no use. Swami lost his calm. When the principal tried to punish him, he snatches cane and threw out of the window. Being terrified of the consequences Swami decided to run from there.

 

Swami could not become the part of the team on the day of the match. M.C.C. lost the match and it was the ending point of Swami and Rajam’s friendship. From Mani Swami came to know about that Rajam’s Father was transferred to a new city. He also came to know about that Rajam was also going to leave with his parents. On the following morning Swami along with Mani was going to tell him goodbye at the railway station. He also planned to give him a book of fairy-tale as a parting gift. Unfortunately, he could not him as the railway station was overly crowded. Mani gave Swami’s gift to Rajam. Rajam seems to say something but his words were lost under the noise of the train. As the train departs Mani attempts to console Swami. Mani tells Rajam has his address and will write him letter, but Swami is unsure if Mani is telling the truth.