Critical analysis of swami and friends.

Critical analysis of swami and friends.

1. St.Xavier’sCollege,Mahuadanr
Sr.ChandrodayaJ(AssistantProfessor)
CriticalanalysisofthenovelSwamiandFriends
R.KNarayan’sfirstnovelSwamiandFriendsalsoprovidesthesettingforhislater
novelsandshortstoriesMalgudi.MalgudiisthetypicalIndianmiddleandlowermiddleclass
townwhichprovidestheknowledgeoflifebloodofSouthIndia,itsuniqueculture,itssimple
peopleandalsoitsparadoxes.
AtfirstglanceSwamiandFriendsisnothingmorethanasimplecharmingstoryofa10
yearoldboywholivesinaworldofbossyadults.Betheyparentsorteachersatschoolandhis
friendsandenemiesatschool.HislifeisfairlyComplexandhehastoughjobtodo;pleasing
bothhisdemandingpeersandalsothebossyworldofadultsaroundhim.Hemanageshistough
balancingactforawhilebutthentwoincidentschangehislifeforever.Finallyhegetsoutof
thetroublebutthecostisheavy;helosesthefriendshipofRajamthesonofpolice
superintendentdevastated(distressed)athisdepartureattheend.
SwamiisaParadoxthroughoutthenarration.R.K.Narayandoesawonderfuljobin
bringingouthisemotionalpsychewhileSwamisincerelyandinnocentlybelievesinthe
sanctityofhisfriendshipwithRajam.Rajamremainsaloof(unfriendly)andimpersonal.
Swami’srelationshipwithhispeergroupisverycomplex.Thenovelisfullofirony(sarcasm)
anddelicatewitandalsodisturbing.Friendshipatthisageisnothingmorethanpeerpressure
andthisisafactthatSwamicannotfathom.Hetriestoimpresshisfriendsandpeers.Heacts
impulsivelyandlosescontrolofhimselfonmorethanoneoccasion.Hegetslittleemotional
supportathomeorfromhispeers.Schoolisaplacewherelifeistough.Constantpressurefrom
alldirectionsfinallybendsSwami
NarayanalsogreatlylaughsattheworldinwhichSwamilives.Theparadoxesofthe
pre-independenceIndiathealoofandthepassionatenatureofthepeopletheconfusionthat
encompassesthemindofthechildinsuchavolatile(unstable)environment.Allthesethings
arebroughtoutsuccessfully.Narayantakesadigattheeducationalsystemtooasenvisioned
bytheBritishMasters.Theuseofthecaneandthedegradingandhumiliatingnatureofthe
‘stand-up’onthedeskpunishment,theheavyworkloadareallshownupbyNarayanforwhat

2. St.Xavier’sCollege,Mahuadanr
Sr.ChandrodayaJ(AssistantProfessor)
theyare.TherealironyofthisisseenwhenSwamirunsawayfromtheboardHighSchooland
feelsnostalgicabouthisoldschool:TheAlbertMission.
ThecentralthemeofthenovelisgrowingupofyoungSwami.Heisspontaneous,
impulsive,mysteriousandyetaveryinnocentchild.Hischaracterisachildinthefullestsense
oftheworld.ThroughSwami'seyesthereadergetsintothepre-independencedaysinSouthIndia.
Thelifeportrayedinthenovelisaccurateinitsdescriptionofthecolonialdays-theuprisings,
therebellions,thecontemptandthereverencethenativeshadfortheirsubjugator,together
withvariedelementsthathavebecomeone,suchascricketandeducationinthefinalanalysis
SwamiandFriendsismorethanthestoryofachild.ItisthestoryofagenerationofIndians
whoarebornandbroughtupintheshadowoftheBritishColonialruleandwhoinheritsthe
conclusionsofthecultureandsocialconflict.ThisisbestscenewhenSwamiisseen
alternativelyadmiringandenvyingRajam,therichboywhowalkstoschooldressedlikea
European.SwamiiscaughtbetweentwoworldsasrepresentedbyManiandRajam.Rajam,
whostandsforallthatisposhandurbane,smoothandunemotional,welleducatedyethardand
ruthless.TheotherendisManiwhoisrough,untamed,native,emotionalandyetloyal.
Themasterlyironyisseenbecausethesetwocharactersnotonlymeetbut(inSwamis
eyes)theyalsoapparentlygetalongwell.TotheendSwamicannotunderstandthedifference
andhencethepathosinthefinalscene.
Theculturalaspectisveryvisiblethroughoutthenovel.Swami’sfearfulrespecttowards
hisfather,hisclosenesstohisgrandmother,turbulentrelationshipatschoolandhistotal
emotionalisolationinspiteofphysicalproximitytosomanypeoplearesotypicalofIndian
lifewherevisibledemonstrationofloveandcareareseenasasignofweaknessandathingof
shame.ThroughoutthenovelSwamigrovelsindarknessaroundhimandyetdoesnotsee
himselfasbeinginthedark.Thatisthefinalironingandtheonethatcutshimdeepest.
SwamiandFriendsishighlyreadablenovelthatcanbereadonalllevels.Thebookcan
alsobereadwithoutallthismentalbaggageofthepsychologicalaspectsofthebookthatis
whatkeepsSwamiandfriendsevergreenandfresheventotdayandforages.