Short Stories by R. K. Narayan

Short Stories by R. K. Narayan 

In this blog, we shall explore two short stories by R. K. Narayan - "The Astrologer's Day" and "Crime and Punishment". This blog is a thinking activity assigned by Megha ma'am. 

Rasipuram Krishnaswami Iyer Narayanswami or R. K. Narayan was one of the finest Indian Author. His works are typically set in the fictional town of Malgudi. Through his works he gives a portrait of human relationships and life of old India. His writing is graceful with humor and simplicity. Some of his most beloved books are - "Swami and Friends", "The English Teacher", "The Bachelor of Arts", "The Guide", "The Man-Eater of Malgudi", and many other works. 

(Brittanica)

Do you realise how few ever really understand how fortunate they are in their circumstances? - R. K. Narayan

The Astrologer's Day 

This story is about a man who pretends to be an astrologer. The story begins with description of the market where he sets up his booth and a description of what he looks like. We find out that he does not possess any psychic abilities and used his power of observations to fool his clients. One day he meets a man and sees in him potential customer. He convinces him to sit down and have his fortune told. The man is Guru Nayak who bets him that if he is incorrect in his answers, he’ll have to give him back his money with interest. 

Surprisingly, the astrologer reveals correctly that he was stabbed. He informs Guru Nayak that the man he’s looking for, who stabbed him is long dead and it is futile to search for him. Convinced, Guru Nayak pays his fees and left for his village. Later, we find out that The man who stabbed Guru Nayak was none other than the astrologer himself. In fear of revenge, he ran away from his hometown and settled here as astrologer. The story ends with this surprising revelation.

You can watch the short film here - 

1. How faithful is the movie to the original short story?

The short film is very well adapted. It is quite faithful to the original material and makes no drastic changes. It explores the themes of the short story in a proper manner. It fleshes out the characters that we read and delves into their psyche. It becomes an entertaining form to acquaint oneself with the story. 

2. After watching the movie, have your perception about the short story, characters or situations changed?

The short film shows the family of the astrologer And gives a glimpse of his home life. Although this does not drastically change our perception of the story, it does help us relate with the protagonist and be sympathetic towards him.

3. Do you feel ‘aesthetic delight’ while watching the movie? If yes, exactly when did it happen? If no, can you explain with reasons?

Yes, we feel aesthetic delight while watching this short film. When the astrologer feels relief after escaping Guru Nayak, we too feel happy for him. 

4. Does screening of movie help you in better understanding of the short story?

Yes, the screening of this short film helps in better understanding of the short story. The characters come alive in the video and it helps in imagining the story.

5. Was there any particular scene or moment in the story that you think was perfect?

The one scene from the short film that I really admire was how they revealed Guru Nayak's face through small matchstick's light and instant recognition felt by the Astrologer. This scene was very well shot and it generates curiosity within the viewers. We get an urge to know more about Astrologer's sudden refusal of the bet. He was ready to accept the challenge, excited even, but as soon as he saw the face of Guru Nayak, he seemed terrified. This scene becomes a turning point in the story.  

6. If you are director, what changes would you like to make in the remaking of the movie based on the short story “An Astrologer’s Day” by R.K.Narayan?

R. K. Narayan's short story "The Astrologer's Day", is a simple story that ends up surprising the readers. I would not like to make many changes in the film and make it lose it's essence. I would uphold the main vibe of the story with my remaking. I would make use of traditional music in the background to elevate the quality of the film. I would also add an epilogue, which provides a glimpse of Astrologer's life after this encounter.

Crime and Punishment 

‘Crime and Punishment’ is a short story by R. K. Narayan that follows a mischievous young boy and his teacher. The boy came from a wealthy family and he was an only child. This means that he was spoiled with affection and luxury. Moreover, his father had written a thesis on child psychology and his mother was also well educated. Hence, both of them gave a lecture to the teacher daily before he even begin his lessons. 

The story starts when this excessively pampered child makes a mistake in maths lesson and the teacher hit him in momentary anger and frustration. The teacher feels guilty at his action and the child tries to blackmail him and threatens that he’ll complain to his parents. This starts a series of mischiefs by the child. He refuses to finish his lessons and plays with his toys instead. He even makes his teacher play with the toy engine and requests him to fix it when it breaks. He makes the teacher tell him various stories. 

At last, he goes to his parents to complain about his teacher but they ask why he isn’t in the lessons instead. Now the teacher has upper hand and he can complain about the kid to his parents. However, the child’s sympathetic face melts his heart and he does not reveal any thing to the parents. The story ends on this happy note. 

The relation between teacher and student stands as a domain where supportive and effective conditions for study arise. Based on the feeling of mutual trust, respect, and free communication, this relation insists that students take an active and confident part in the learning process. For teachers who invest time in understanding the needs and interests of individual students, it is then possible to gear their guidance to the students accordingly, fostering greater academic and personal growth. Positive reinforcement, empathy, and encouragement from teachers make students develop self-esteem and resilience. This bond not only enriches the learning experience but also inspires students to reach their full potential, shaping their futures significantly.  Here we shall see a few examples of this from various books and movies. 

The relationship between Matilda and her teacher, Miss Honey, in “Matilda” by Roald Dahl is very changing and warm. Miss Honey understands the exceptional intelligence of Matilda and tries to surface it out, enticing her with the exact lacking at home. Their connection is solid, based on respect and affection; Miss Honey is a mentor and motherly figure. They find strength and comfort in each other, which forges the way towards a fresh start for both of them.

In ‘Harry Potter’ by J.K. Rowling, the relationships between Harry Potter himself and his teachers, Professor McGonagall and Professor Dumbledore, exemplify how deep an influence educators can have on their students. Professor McGonagall is strict and at the same time motherly. 

On the other hand, Dumbledore’s relationship with Harry is based on deep mutual respect and trust. He mentors and guides Harry by being very wise and supportive so that he can grow, not just as a wizard, but also as an individual. It is in these relationships that emphasise the immense role teachers can play in personal and academic development through the established trust, respect, and support of the teacher-student relationship.

The movie ‘Taare Zameen Par’ so beautifully portrays how the compassionate and understanding mentor, Ishaan’s Awasthi art teacher, Ram Shankar Nikumbh, transforms him. The little boy with dyslexia—a condition that makes it very hard for him to read and write—had found the world labelling him lazy and inattentive to studies, a label that he already possessed from his family and teachers. That all changes with the arrival of Nikumbh, who could see through Ishaan, finding manifold unique gifts and all his struggles. Instead of concentrating on his weaknesses, Nikumbh works with new teaching techniques to suit the needs of the child in order to make him find self-expression and grow as a confident person. It is for this reason that Ishaan begins to respect himself and feels at home because of the sensitive approach applied to him. In their relationship, the movie underscores the deep position of a teacher, recognising the potentials and talents of every child, thus showing that understanding and individual attention could mean all the difference in the life of a student.

As exemplified in the web series “Kota Factory,” the relationship between the protagonist Vaibhav and his mentor Jeetu Bhaiya shows how guidance and mentorship play an integral part in such highly competitive environments. Jeetu Bhaiya is a senior, very respectful guru. He realises the enormous pressure on students and supports them in the academic as well as emotional sections. This mentor-student relationship is an example of how one has to get a mentor who does more than just educate them. It shows how important such a connection can become in the life and success of a student.

A real life example of a dynamic teacher is Anne Sullivan who taught American author and disability rights advocate Helen Keller. Their relationship, inspired Sanjay Leela Bhansali to create a film exploring a similar story. This was the movie Black released in 2005. You can check out the movie review here - Black Movie Review. 

In conclusion, we find many examples in books, movies and real life aswell  of the immaculate impact teachers can have on students. 

Words - 1659

Images- 10

Videos - 1

References - 

Britannica, The Editors of Encyclopaedia. "R.K. Narayan". Encyclopedia Britannica, 21 Jun. 2024, https://www.britannica.com/biography/R-K-Narayan. Accessed 23 July 2024.