Professional Documents
Culture Documents
The Bachelor of Arts
The Bachelor of Arts
R K NARAYAN
CHAPTER -1 Chandran is a student of B.A. final year class at Albert college. He
is a very good orator . Natesan, the secretary of the college union, insists on
Chandran’s becoming the Mover of the resolution ,”Historians should be
slaughtered first”, in a college debate. Chandran is afraid of his professor of
History and so he refuses to accept this proposal. But on Natesan’s insistence,
Chandran agrees to initiate the debate. Professor Brown, the principal of the
college, presides over the college debate. Chandran is adjudged to be the best
speaker.
Chandran comes home late . Inspite of being afraid of his father for coming
home late, Chandran tells him that he was adjudged the best orator. He with
his companion Ramu goes to enjoy a cinema where he finds Principal Brown
with a girl in the first class and so he remarks , “The white people are born to
enjoy life “Both Chandran and Ramu return after watching the movie.
CHAPTER - 5 Chandran remains busy with his studies as well as with some
meetings of the Historical Association . He comes in contact with 22 year old
Veeraswami , a revolutionary, and with Mohan, a poet. Chandran is found to
be in an uncomfortable situation when Veeraswami reads an anti- British
paper at the meeting of the Historical Association and Principal Brown orders
that all the papers to be read in future should be got censored by him. Mohan
is a poet and recites his poems to Chandran. Who appreciates his poems very
much. In the month of March, the academic session comes to an end.
Chandran takes the examination and becomes a B.A .i.e, the bachelor of Arts.
PART –TWO
CHAPTER 8 Chandran takes Mohan’s help to know that Malathi is the name of
his sweet – heart. She is unmarried and is the daughter of Krishna Iyre, a head
clerk. Chandran’s mother doesnot like his proposal. She suggests that there
are other girls, richer and more beautiful. But he rejects the suggestion and
insists on this marriage .
Chandran continues to visit Mohan and discusses with him many things
including the proposal of his marriage with Malathi . His mother becomes a
serious hindrance in the way of his marriage with Malathi .She retorts, “I shall
drown myself in Sarayu before I allow any proposal to go from here.”
CHAPTER -10 Chandran’s father is informed that his son’s horoscope doesnot
match with Malathi’s. Chandran becomes very sad . On Chandran’s insistence
one more attempt is made to match the horoscopes but all in vain , and
Chandran ‘s dream of marriage with Malathi is shattered.
Chandran writes a letter to Malathi asking her if she can wait for two years for
her marriage with Chandran because after two years their horoscopes would
match . He sends this letter through Mohan who never delivers it to her
because he comes to know that Malathi has been engaged .When Chandran
comes to know that Malathi’s marriage is fixed , he is disheartened and he
leaves Malgudi and goes to Madras.
PART THREE
CHAPTER -13 Chandran finally returns home in a very weak condition. He looks
like a corpse. Seenu tells him that father and mother were very much worried
about him. Chandran comes to know that Ramu has been employed in Bombay
at Rs.75 a month . In the evening , he calls on Mohan. They go to the river
bank and return from there after eleven at night.
CHAPTER -14 Chandran now becomes calm. He spends two hours in his garden
in the morning and in the evening he calls on Mohan . He keeps himself busy
all the day and avoids the thought of Malathi . Chandran’s mind is now
preoccupied with the thoughts of an occupation . He has not yet given up the
plan of going to England . Mohan advises Chandran to get the chief agency of
his paper “ the Daily Messenger” .Chandran welcomes the idea and conveys his
desire to his father who approves of this idea after much thought and
consultation . Chandran goes to Madras where he is helped by his 40 year old
uncle in getting the agency .After several interviews and other formalities ,
Chandran succeeds in obtaining the agency of the paper.
CHAPTER -15 Chandran rents a room for Rs 7 when he returns to Malgudi. and
sets up in it the local office of the Daily Messenger . He throws himself in work
and succeeds in increasing the number of subscribers to this paper. Three
boys are employed by him to distribute the paper in the town . He gives wide
publicity to the paper by arranging a procession .Also he seeks Mohan’s co-
operation in the matter. Chandran visits Prof.Ragavachar who assures him
that the college union will continue to subscribe to his paper.
CHAPTER -16 Chandran’s father comes to his office one fine day. It was a great
surprise for him and with much hesitation he tells Chandran that his
horoscope matches with the horoscope of Susila, the daughter of Jayaram Iyer,
an advocate of Talapur. He tells Chandran that the girl is fifteen years old and
is very beautiful. But Chandran tells him that he will not marry.
In the evening Mohan comes to meet Chandran in his office .Both of them visits
a hotel and spend hours talking about each other’s miseries and problems
.Chandran tells Mohan about his father’s proposal of his marriage with Sushila
.Mohan advises him to marry, telling him the comforts and charms of marriage
. Finally Chandran decides to sit in the marriage and he assures Mohan that
he will marry if the girl is good looking.
CHAPTER –17 Chandran with his parents goes to Talapur to see the girl after
five days. At Talapur railway station they are received by Jayaram Iyer’s son
who is 18 years old . When they reach the house ,Chandran sees the mother of
the girl and consoles himself that the girl will be beautiful because her mother
is beautiful . After sometime the girl comes “With her eyes fixed on the ground
she stepped from an inner room , a few inches into the hall , trembling and
uncertain , ready to vanish in a moment . “”She is in blue Sari “ and Chandran
is fascinated by her beauty .She also steals a glance at Chandran ..Chandran
and his parents return home and he accepts the proposal . Chandran shows
his impatience to marry the girl as soon as it is possible.