RK Narayan's Journey In The Guide By R. K Narayan

INTRODUCTION: R.K Narayan is known for his novels about people living in villages. It is the naive, simple, innocent superstitious people of these villages, who become the characters of his novels. He gives us the story of these ordinary beings, who see their way through Hindu Mythology and superstitions, in the matters related to the moral problems and other complications of their social lives. In the novel, The Guide, Rajo’s journey from a railway guide, to a swami elucidate him a man on whom things are necessitated, rather done of his own will in the first place. Throughout the novel, Rajo’s actions are an outcome of the external agencies, that drift him passively to a certain situation or position. Rajo plays the role of a tourist

Narrating his story to Velan, he says; “ I came to be called Railway Raju. Perfect strangers, having heard of the name, began to ask for me when the train arrived at the Malgudi railway station. It is written on the brow of some that they shall not be left alone. I am one such, I think. Although I never looked for acquaintance, they somehow came looking for me…..they asked, “how far is …..?” or which way does one go to reach…? Or are there many historical spots here…?I never said , “I don’t know.” Not in my nature, I suppose .If I had the inclination to say “I don’t know what you are talking about,” my life would have taken a different turn…..It was not because I wanted to utter a falsehood, but only because I wanted to be pleasant”….(Chapter V).As a tourist guide, Rajo’s intentions are purely to entertain tourists and not to disappoint them. Shortly he finds himself escorting them to the best known places of Malgudi, and providing them with the geographical and historical details about the place. He is almost pushed to the role of a railway guide. According to William Walsh the critic, “Much the most vivid part of Rajo’s life was lived in public places:first the streets, the shop, the railway station and later concert halls,