High Technology Letters ISSN NO : 1006-6748
Exploration of Indianess and East-West Conflicts: A Critical Study of R.K. Narayan’s
Novel The Vendor of Sweets.
Dr. L. Sangeetha
Head, P.G Department of English
Thiruvalluvar University
Constituent College of Art and Science
Kallakurichi 606202, Tamilnadu,( India)
Abstract:
R.K. Narayan is one of the giant literary figure who plays a significant role to enrich literary
flavor of Indian English literature. Along with Mulk Raj Anand and Raja Rao he is labelled as a
strong pillar of early Indian literature. He is mainly known for his works that are sets in his own
imaginative town Malgudi, a fictional town in South India. Narayan’s writings acclaimed at
global level and received appreciation of many renowned English critics and writers such as
Graham Greene. Greene played a striking role to publish some of his notable works such Swami
and Friends, the Bachelor of Arts and the English teacher. Besides he has also provided preface
and introduction to Narayan’s novels which is a great achievement for the writer. As far as
Malgudi is concerned in Narayan novels setting, Swami and Friends was the first novel that
provide the picture of this town to the readers. Narayan’s contribution in Indian literature is
unforgettable and momentous. His numerous novels and short stories give us the scenario of
Indian life, cultural differences, pre independent pictures of the country and other remarkable
themes and subjects which makes his writings noticeable and substantial. This paper discusses
Volume 26, Issue 8, 2020 1178 http://www.gjstx-e.cn/ High Technology Letters ISSN NO : 1006-6748
Narayan’s novel Vendor of Sweets painstakingly and the themes such as east- west cultural issues
and exploration of Indianess in his writings.
Keywords: R.K. Narayan, Indian society, cultural exploration, east west conflicts, Indian
literature.
R. K. Narayan is one of the Indian writer who is known particularly for the art of
characterization and depicting the local culture, social, political and domestic issues of the
society. He is often compared with American novelist William Faulkner who is also known for
his fictional novel settings in Mississippi. In his novel Narayan mainly brings out the social
aspects of the society which is reflected by his everyday life of his persona. For subjects, themes
and narrative techniques of his short stories, he is compare with great short story writer Guy de
Maupassant. Narayan received many notable awards for his novels and short stories collections.
He is the first Indian English writer who is awarded notable Sahitya Academy Award for his
widely known novel The Guide in 1960. Besides an Indian movie was made on this novel which
remain highly popular in Indian cinema. Another literary achievements he received are A. C.
Benson Medal award, Sahtiya Academy fellowship, PadamBhushan and others. Jhumpha Lahiri,
Pulitzer winner, called his stories alike his novels and also acclaimed for creating fictional
Malgudi town which provide settings for mostly works, she says:
Setting aside his plentiful and remarkable novels, Narayan firmly occupies a seat
in the pantheon of 19th and 20th century Chekhov, O. Henry, Frank O’ Connor and
Flannery O’Connor. …Malgudi is on that wonderful map of places in the literary
universe, either real or imaginary, that not only provide a setting but possess a
soul. Faulkner’s Yoknapatawapha County, Garcia Marquez Macondo, and Joyce
Dublin are just three examples of the way certain writers cling stubbornly to
Volume 26, Issue 8, 2020 1179 http://www.gjstx-e.cn/ High Technology Letters ISSN NO : 1006-6748
single terrain, entering its residents within. …Malgudi is the setting not only for
the stories in this volume, but for practically everything else Narayan has written.
(Lahiri 1)
Narayan captures the daily routine life, common characters, recurrent domestic things which
somehow correlate his readers to the stories in the novels. Besides Narayan doesn’t shy away to
reveal the social absurdities, love triangle, greediness, women independence and exploitation as
well. His novels vividly present Indianess at every level. The depiction of the cultural ethos,
rituals, social dogmas, Gandhi, Gita, Upanishads, ghetto society, crowded markets vividly
reflects Indianness in his writings. Moreover his characters also imbibe everything that could be
observed in daily of Indian people. Malgudi town occupies all the things that it reflects Indian
society, town and village life. Narayan every works explore Indianess in its setting, characters,
their activities and life. Vendor of Sweets is one of his striking piece of fiction which explores
Indian views of life through the characters and settings of the novel. Here the writer brings out
the story of a conventional protagonist Jagan and his son Mali. Jagan is portrayed a sweet vendor
of the Malgudi Town and the follower Gandhian and Gita principals. Through his characters
Narayan describes Indian way of life. Narayan novels mainly noted for his remarkable
characters. In his persona he inculcate human nature and they reflects the vivid experience of
life, weakness and strength and thinks like ordinary real human beings and realistic perception of
life which is noteworthy and meticulous. In the context of his characters peculiarity one of the
critic asserts that:
Narayan’s characters are like caravans journeying along life’s varied experiences.
Diverse facets of human nature are presented at times the social order is
threatened. But the comic always presupposes some stable social values against
Volume 26, Issue 8, 2020 1180 http://www.gjstx-e.cn/ High Technology Letters ISSN NO : 1006-6748
which the instincts and aberrations of individuals are focused in their word
postures. In spite of their frailties there is an elemental simplicity about them.
These is sure a human feel in the virtues as well as the vices of the Malgudians.
(Biswal 32)
In this novel Narayan portrays numerous scenes and characters who reflects Indian views of life.
Jagan’s life projects his dual personality. Though he follows Gandhian principles and Gita
philosophy but in practical life he was very miser, greedy and self-centered man. His attire and
daily routine activities exhibits Indianness in his characters. His attire shows his inclination
towards indigenous tradition and Swadeshi style of living:
He wore a loose jibba over his dhoti, both made of materials spun with his own
hand; everyday he spun for an hour, and produced enough yam for his sartorial
requirements. He never possessed more than two sets of clothes at any one time
and he delivered all the excess yarn in neat bundles to the local handloom
committee in exchange for cash… (Narayan, 274)
Nevertheless Jagan follows strongly nature in his daily life such as the use of tree branch in place
of toothbrush which he divine gift or Sanjeewini and wear the slipper made of old dead cows
skin because for him it was against Gandhi principals of life and a sin to wear a young cow
killing for his comfort zone. Besides such daily life things, he was a traditional man in real sense,
who had followed the rituals and conventions as a part of life. Such things reflects Jagan
attachment with the cultural heritage. He always prays of deity and conducted every kind of
rituals which he believe as sacred, source of satisfaction and to keep divine power happy for his
better future life:
Volume 26, Issue 8, 2020 1181 http://www.gjstx-e.cn/ High Technology Letters ISSN NO : 1006-6748
Jagan sat under the framed picture of the Goddess Laxmi hanging on the wall, and
offered prayers first thing in the day by reverentially placing a string of Jasmine
on top of the frame; he also lit an incense stick and stuck it in a crevice in the
wall. The air was charged with the scent of Jasmine and incense and
imperceptibly blended with the fragrance of sweetmeats frying in ghee, in the
kitchen across the hall. (Narayan, 273)
Jagan commitment with his cultural values and other conventional approaches represent
exploration of locale and traditional Indian life. He doesn’t believe in modern way of life and the
things that deviate him from his cultural heritage. He also scold his wife for taking medicine pills
for headache. He regarded such pills poisonious which are harmful for a person health. He
dislikes toothbrush by saying that it bristles are made of the hair of pig’s tail and eulogize
Margossa tree leaves by telling his benefits such as it kills bacteria of the stomach and air passes
through this tree are anti-typhoid. On the other side his wife dislikes his health giving theories
and lives her life in her own way. So these are the examples that explicitly shows the Indianness
in Narayan’s novels. Another striking instance of Indian life is the description of the statue and
different people around it, such as young and the old, pensioners, idlers, tired workers and sickly
citizens.
Furthermore this novel also present east west conflicts through the characters of Jagan
and his son Mali. Jagan is a symbol of traditional Indian life while Mali describes as haughty and
stubborn boy who disagrees with his father’s old way of life. He didn’t like his father’s business
of sweets selling, his attire and daily routine activities. Mali considered all these things as a sign
of backward and an old fashioned man. He studies in a college and imbibe modern ideas and also
want to live like a European gentlemen which Jagan sees venomous for a good life. First instance
Volume 26, Issue 8, 2020 1182 http://www.gjstx-e.cn/ High Technology Letters ISSN NO : 1006-6748
of their conflict of ideology occur on the breakfast table when Mali announce to give up his
studies and to pursue another thing, he says; “The boy paused while swallowing his breakfast. I
can’t study any more. Tell me what has happened. 'Nothing', said the boy, 'I do not find it
interesting, that's all', and he went on munching his food with his eyes down,(Narayan).” Jagan
find this behavior strange and rude and feel angry but didn’t shows his temper before his son. His
unwillingness for study reminds Jagan his discontinuation of studies but that was happen for a
great cause of independence as Jagan believed. Later he came to know from the cousin (a
mediator between father and son) that he wanted to go America to become a writer. On hearing
this Jagan feel depressed for his son decision of living him at home. Earlier he feel annoyed and
fear of losing cultural ethos from his son life; Here he was trying to shape the boy into an
aristocrat with a bicycle, college life, striped shirts and everything, and he wanted to be a writer.
Strange, (Narayan, 289).” But later after watching his son resolute behavior he justify his own
principals to agree with his son choice; “There are bound to be changes of outlook from
generation to generation. Otherwise there will be no progress, he added in a sudden outburst of
theorizing, once again a vestige of his Satyagraha days, (297-298).” Mali’s attraction towards
west shows the difference between him and his father ideology. Later then we find the
communication gap between them in which Jagan always tried to speak but Mali didn’t. When
Cousin told Jagan about Mali’s final decision to go to America he felt sad and internally disliked
his son idea of joining west society; “The first shock of the impact blanked out Jagan’s mind for
a time, and he caught his breath as he had a momentary panic at the thought of his son removing
himself so far geographically, (302).” Cousin describes American culture in the context of
people open life, drinking and bathing without cloths but Jagan manipulated him and it shows his
only compromise with the things, he says; “It may not all be true', not wishing to think a country
Volume 26, Issue 8, 2020 1183 http://www.gjstx-e.cn/ High Technology Letters ISSN NO : 1006-6748
to which Mali was going was one to corrupt his body with wine, women and meat, and his soul
with other things, (303).” However shows his ignorant attitude towards his father old cultural
notions and again talks about modernity and advancement; “Oh, these are not the days of your
ancestors. Today we have to compete with advanced countries not only in economics and
industry, but also in culture, (Narayan).” Another shocking revelation for Jagan made by cousin
that Mali has chalked out all his arrangements without his father help. Furthermore Mali’s
luxurious life reveals through his letters to his father where he mock the Indian culture and talks
about his changing life, beef eating and modern cultural adaption, he writes; “I have taken to
eating beef; and I don’t think I’m any the worse for it. Steak is something quite tasty and juicy.
Now I want to suggest why not you people start eating beef? It’ll solve the problem of useless
cattle in our country and we won’t have to beg food from America. I sometimes feel ashamed
when India asks for American aid. Instead of that, why not slaughter useless cows which wander
in the streets and block the traffic, (Narayan).” Such things crushed and disillusioned Jagan
effectively. Marriage is regarded as an important ritual in Indian society. It is considered an
auspicious ceremony in Indian society. Narayan ironically presents the discord between east and
west generation through this social system of marriage in the novel. In traditional society
marriage is regarded as a sacred and conventional thing while the modern generation has their
own view point to lead a life full of joy such as live in relationship and they consider marriage as
a burden and backward part of society. When Mali returned from America with an American girl
and told his father that they are married. This unknowing relationship makes Jagan baffled and
his dream of doing his son marriage in a perfect Indian cultural manner vanished completely. He
begun to think about people’s reaction of the society when they would know this castles girl
(Half Korean and Half American); “He began to avoid people. He walked hurriedly to his shop
Volume 26, Issue 8, 2020 1184 http://www.gjstx-e.cn/ High Technology Letters ISSN NO : 1006-6748
with down cast eyes. Even his cousin found great stretches of silence when they met. Jagan had
grown unwilling to talk about his son. Everything about him had become an inconvenient
question, (312).” Another instance of western culture find in the dressing of Mali which quietly
annoyed Jagan. His cloths and ways of life makes him a person of different culture:
Mali never wore a dhoti at home, but a pair of dark trousers over a white shirt,
and always had his feet in slippers. He hardly ever left his room, or visited any
part of the house. He carried himself like a celebrity avoiding the attention of the
rabble. (314)
Besides there are another references which shows the complication between father and son. They
were different in their principles, conviction and temperaments. Jagan belong to a traditional
schools of thought and always he keeps ambition from his son like many fathers whereas Mali,
his son, reflects modern notions in his belief and lifestyle. Thus both were failed to comprehend
the feelings of each other. During serious temperament Jagan utter his feelings for Mali that;
“For twenty year he has grown up with me, under the same roof, but how little I have known
him. But the boy has been up to something. He will count for something sooner or later,
(Narayan).” In the novel we observe many times that initially Jagan’s reaction to his son
remained lenient and kind but Mali was not similar in this way. During the episode of writing
machine Mali reaction reflects his modern orientation and comments indirectly on his father
traditional ideologies, he says; “Father, you do not understand. I want to write something
different, (Narayan).” When Mali talks about his plan to start story writing machine he
demonstrates his benefits which somehow overshadow Indian culture and conventions.
According to him if such kind machine is used at large level it would help to wipe out cultural
backwardness of our country which only consist no modern literature only old stories like the
Volume 26, Issue 8, 2020 1185 http://www.gjstx-e.cn/ High Technology Letters ISSN NO : 1006-6748
Ramayana and the Mahabharata. Mali’s bombastic statements reflect his inclination towards
western culture; “Oh, these are not the days of your ancestors. Today we have to compete with
advanced countries not only in economics and Industry, but also in culture, (326).” When Jagan
didn’t make any nod on his son statements He started to blame old generation in an irritate
forms, Mali says; “I really do not know what you mean. You expect everything to be said ten
times; no wonder nothing gets done in this country, (Narayan).” Such lethal remarks against
country outrage Jagan sometimes and he respond boldly to defend the own country status; “Why
do you blame the country for everything? It has been good enough for four hundred millions.
…You were not born in those days, (Narayan).” But mostly Jagan, a Gandhian follower and a
believer of Gita doesn’t confront his son and just show passive resistance against his son
activities. He becomes desolate and only upholder of his culture in his own house:
He had lost the quiet joy of anticipation he used to experience whenever he turned
the Statue Comer. He felt nervous as he approached the ancient house. The
expectant stare of Grace when he opened the door and, the significant side-
glances of Mali got on his nerves. He was aware of a silent tension growing,
(332).”
Furthermore another jolt that totally shattered Jagan when he came t to know about Mali and
Grace illicit affair and residing in an immoral western practice of live in relationship without
doing marriage ceremony. Grace’s reveal that “we are not married, (Narayan 54).” After
knowing this he renounce the house and decides to leave all worldly things. For his son affair he
was scolded by his family members and neighbors as well that strongly dismay Jagan. He ask the
cousin; “I feel my home is tainted now. I find it difficult to go back there, (371).” Jagan’s
detachment towards his son can also be seen when Mali was arrested for carrying liquor in his
Volume 26, Issue 8, 2020 1186 http://www.gjstx-e.cn/ High Technology Letters ISSN NO : 1006-6748
car, he says; “A dose of prison life is not a bad thing, (Narayan, 408).” He has left all the things
in the guardianship of Cousin and joined retreat which also reflects his resistance towards
western culture. A prominent English critic pointing out Jagan decision; “Jagan’s renunciation of
the world. …is of a piece with the Indian tradition, (161).”
Works-cited
Biswal, K. Jayant. A Critical Study of the Novels of R. K. Narayan. Nirmal Publishers and
distributors, New Delhi. 1987.
Lahiri, Jhumpha. “Review: Narayan Das: Rereading the master.” Boston Review: A Political
and Literary Forum, July-August, 2006.
Narayan, R.K. The Vendor of Sweets.Indian Thought Publications, Mysore. 1967.
Narayan RK. The Vendor of Sweets. Indian Thought Publications, 2006.
Raizada, Harish. R.K. Narayan: A Critical Study of his works. University of Michigan: Young
Asian Publication, 1969.
Holmstrom, Lakshmi. The Novels of R.K. Narayan. Writers Workshop Publication, Calcutta.
1973.
Dewari, D.S. The Use of Myth in R.K. Narayan’s Novels. Prestige Books, New Delhi. 2001.
Amur, G.S. R.K. Narayan in his own culture: An Approach to The Vendor of Sweets.
Explorations in Modern Indo- English Fiction. Ed.R.K.Dhawan. Delhi: Bahri. 1982. Pp. 123-
30.
Volume 26, Issue 8, 2020 1187 http://www.gjstx-e.cn/ High Technology Letters ISSN NO : 1006-6748
Gupta, Santosh. “Jagan’s Experiments with Truth in The Vendor of Sweets.” Indian writing
in English, Ed. Bhatnagar, M.K. and Rajeshwar, M., New Delhi, Atlantic Publication, 2000. Pp.
48-56.
Volume 26, Issue 8, 2020 1188 http://www.gjstx-e.cn/