My review on famous novel "Swami and Friends" written by "R.K Narayan"

 

Swami and Friends- R.K Narayan

From many days I used to read Kannada books, now I started my new reading journey with the English novel written by my favourite English novelist R.K Narayan.

The famous novel "Swami and Friends" is written by R.K Narayan which is the story of tumultuous friendship of a young boy Swaminathan and his four friends and a new boy Rajam.

This novel relates to our childhood days,playing with friends,getting punished for doing mischievous things, studying for exams for few days, finishing exam before time and thinking of other friend's performance, waiting for results,enjoying vacation etc.

If I say about story,the story begins with introduction of young boys Swami,Mani,Somu,Shankar and Samuel(who is also called Pea) who are attending Albert Mission School,Malgudi.They four are close friends. One day in school, a new boy Rajam arrives, who is the son of Deputy Police Superintendent. Mani, who is believed to be strongest of all hates him. After an initial rivalry, Swami,Mani and Rajam become close friends.

The story goes on with days spent in school having fun,attending classes,getting punishment from teachers,writing exams and playing with his young little brother etc.

A protest, part of Gandhi's non-cooperative movement, erupts through the town. Swami, participating in the protests, breaks the window of the headmaster's room. Rajam's father leads a violent crackdown of the protest. The next day, a distressed Swami runs away from the school after the headmaster vows to punish participating students. He is subsequently expelled from Albert Mission and is compelled to enroll in the stricter and more rigorous Board High School.

Swami and Rajam started a cricket club, all friends used to gather for practice after school, where Swami used to come late due to late dismissal of classes from Board High School. With a match scheduled, Swami pleads with his new headmaster to allow him to leave class early; he refuses. An undeterred Swami is caught committing truancy after asking a doctor to write a note of absence and is beaten and expelled by the headmaster

Now expelled from two schools,Swami fears of his father's sever punishment and decides to run away from the town. His father attempts to find Swami. He is found by a man who contacts his parents.Swami's relief at returning home turns to dismay when his friends report that they have lost their cricket game, and Rajam declares the end of their friendship.

One day, Mani informs Swami that Rajam and his family are shifting from Malgudi to another city. Swami wakes up early so that he can talk with Rajam and bid farewell to him. He gifts Rajam a copy of Hans Christen Anderson's "Fairy Tales"  book. He tries to ask Rajam, whether ho would return again, but he couldn't here Rajam's reply as train speeds up as soon as locomotive chugs. Swami weeps and wonders whether Rajam would ever think of him again. And story ends here.

The character Swaminathan is heart touching for me as it relates my life. I totally enjoyed reading this novel and I was deeply involved in reading this book.

It's a good novel which can be read by anyone from a young boy to old senior citizen. If you didn't read this novel, you should read it when you get an opportunity

Thank you

🖊Shreekara B