The Guide
 First US edition | |
| Author | R. K. Narayan |
|---|---|
| Language | English |
| Genre | Philosophical novel |
| Publisher |
|
Publication date | 1958 |
| Publication place | India |
| Media type | Print (hardcover&paperback) |
| Pages | 220 pp |
| ISBN | 0-670-35668-9(first American edition) |
| OCLC | 65644730 |
The Guideis a1958novel written inEnglishby theIndianauthorR. K. Narayan.Like most of his works, the events of this novel take place inMalgudi,a fictional town inSouth India.The novel describes the transformation of theprotagonist,Raju, from atour guideto a spiritual guide and then one of the greatestholy menof India.
This novel earned Narayan the first 1960Sahitya Akademi Awardfor English, by theSahitya Akademi,India's National Academy of Letters.[1]In 2022, it was included on the "Big Jubilee Read"list of 70 books byCommonwealthauthors selected to celebrate thePlatinum Jubilee of Elizabeth II.[2]
Plot summary[edit]
The protagonist, Raju, who is nicknamed "Railway Raju", is characterized as being acorruptand popular tour guide. In the story, he falls in love with a beautiful woman named Rosie, who is married to anarchaeologistnamed Marco, while thecoupleis visiting Malgudi as tourists. Marco disapproves of Rosie's passion for dancing but Raju encourages Rosie to pursue her dreams and become a dancer. With this interaction, they begin to spend time with each other and become very close.
Upon learning about their relationship, Marco leaves Rosie in Malgudi and returns toMadrasalone. Rosie seeks refuge at Raju's home, and they start living together. However, Raju's mother does not approve of their relationship and leaves them.
Raju becomes Rosie's stage manager, and with hismarketingtactics, Rosie gains recognition as a dancer. With his success, Raju becomes overly confident and begins to assert more control over Rosie's life for financial gain. He becomes involved in aforgerycase related to Rosie's signature. Raju is sentenced to two years in prison, despite Rosie's defence.
After completing his sentence, Raju passes through a village called Mangal, where he is mistaken for asadhu(a spiritual guide). To avoid returning to Malgudi in disgrace, he decides to stay in an abandoned temple near Mangal. There, he takes on the role of a sadhu, delivering sermons and solving the villagers' daily problems and disputes.
During afaminein the village, some of the villagers request help from Raju, believing that rain will come and end the famine if hefasts.Raju decides to confess his entire past to Velan, who had initially discovered him in the temple and had unwavering faith in him like the rest of the villagers. However, Velan remains unchanged by the confession, and Raju resolves to continue with the fast.
As news of Raju's fast spreads through the media, a large crowd gathers to witness the spectacle, much to Raju's annoyance. On the morning of the eleventh day of his fast, he goes to the riverside as part of his daily ritual. He senses rain falling in the distant hills and collapses into the water. Whether it actually rained or if Raju died remains unknown and open to the reader's interpretation.
Adaptations[edit]
The filmGuidewas released in 1965, based on the novel.[3]It was directed byVijay Anand.It starredDev Anandas Raju,Waheeda Rehmanas Rosie, andLeela Chitnisin the lead roles. The film's score was composed byS. D. Burman.The movie's ending differs from that of the novel, in which the fate of some characters remain unanswered.
A 120-minute U.S. version was written byPearl S. Buck,and directed and produced byTad Danielewski.The film was screened at the 2007Cannes Film Festival,42 years after its release.
The novel was also adapted into a play in 1968.[4]The play was profiled in theWilliam GoldmanbookThe Season: A Candid Look at Broadway.
References[edit]
- ^"Sahitya Akademi Awards listings".Sahitya Akademi,Official website.
- ^"The Big Jubilee Read: A literary celebration of Queen Elizabeth II's record-breaking reign".BBC.17 April 2022.Retrieved14 July2022.
- ^Raheja, Dinesh."Guide; a human odyssey".Rediff.Retrieved24 June2015.
- ^Playbill from 1968 productionaccessed 16 June 2013.
External links[edit]
- Guide (1965)atIMdb
- Read aStudy guideon the original novel
- An analysison the original novel
- Some thoughts about the novel atLet's talk about Bollywood