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    Man-Eater of Malgudi

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    Chhagan Arora
    (1) The story follows Nataraj, a printing press owner in Malgudi, and his friends whose peaceful lives are disturbed by the arrival of Vasu, an aggressive taxidermist. (2) Vasu threatens to kill Kumar, a temple elephant, causing fear and anger among Nataraj and the townspeople. However, the next day Vasu is found dead from a self-inflicted blow, having hit himself with his own powerful fist. (3) Though initially suspected of murder, Nataraj and his friends' names are cleared, and it is revealed that Vasu died by his own hand, representing the self-destructive nature of evil.

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    Man-Eater of Malgudi

    Uploaded by

    Chhagan Arora
    4K views3 pages
    (1) The story follows Nataraj, a printing press owner in Malgudi, and his friends whose peaceful lives are disturbed by the arrival of Vasu, an aggressive taxidermist. (2) Vasu threatens to kill Kumar, a temple elephant, causing fear and anger among Nataraj and the townspeople. However, the next day Vasu is found dead from a self-inflicted blow, having hit himself with his own powerful fist. (3) Though initially suspected of murder, Nataraj and his friends' names are cleared, and it is revealed that Vasu died by his own hand, representing the self-destructive nature of evil.

    Original Description:

    “Man-Eater of Malgudi” by R.k.Narayan

    Original Title

    “Man-Eater of Malgudi”

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    (1) The story follows Nataraj, a printing press owner in Malgudi, and his friends whose peaceful lives are disturbed by the arrival of Vasu, an aggressive taxidermist. (2) Vasu threatens to kill Kumar, a temple elephant, causing fear and anger among Nataraj and the townspeople. However, the next day Vasu is found dead from a self-inflicted blow, having hit himself with his own powerful fist. (3) Though initially suspected of murder, Nataraj and his friends' names are cleared, and it is revealed that Vasu died by his own hand, representing the self-destructive nature of evil.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Flag for inappropriate content
    4K views3 pages

    Man-Eater of Malgudi

    Uploaded by

    Chhagan Arora
    (1) The story follows Nataraj, a printing press owner in Malgudi, and his friends whose peaceful lives are disturbed by the arrival of Vasu, an aggressive taxidermist. (2) Vasu threatens to kill Kumar, a temple elephant, causing fear and anger among Nataraj and the townspeople. However, the next day Vasu is found dead from a self-inflicted blow, having hit himself with his own powerful fist. (3) Though initially suspected of murder, Nataraj and his friends' names are cleared, and it is revealed that Vasu died by his own hand, representing the self-destructive nature of evil.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
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    of 3

    Short Summary of “Man-

    Eater of Malgudi” by R. K.
    Narayan
    Nataraj - a printing press owner.

    Poet - friend of Nataraj

    Sen - A journalist, friend of Nataraj.

    Sastri - printing press employee and friend of Nataraj.

    Vasu - a taxidermist (taxidermy is the preserving of an animal's body via mounting


    (over an armature) or stuffing, for the purpose of display or study. Animals are often,
    but not always, portrayed in a lifelike state) the antagonist of the novel.

    Muthu - a tea shop owner.

    Kumar - an elephant which was brought from Mempi Hills by Nataraj, for medical
    treatment.

    Rangi - a temple dancer and a prostitute.

    Joshi - doctor who treats Kumar (the elephant).

    The Man-Eater of Malgudi (1961) is considered by competent critics to be Narayan’s


    finest work. It is an allegory showing that evil is self-destructive. In this novel,
    Narayan employs the Bhasmasura myth. The title of the novel is ironic for man-eater
    in the novel is no tiger, but a mighty man, Vasu, who not only kills a number of wild
    animals, but also kills himself with a single blow of his hammer-like fist.

    The story is narrated in the first person by its tragic-comic hero, Nataraj, a printer of
    Malgudi. In his printing work he is assisted by Mr. Sastri, who is a compositor, proof
    reader and a machineman, all rolled into one. Among his constant companions are a
    poet who is engaged in writing the life of God Krishna, and Mr. Sen, the journalist
    who always runs down Nehru.

    The smooth and congenial life of this small group is disturbed by the arrival H. Vasu,
    M.A. taxidermist who comes to stay with them as a tenant in a room in the upper
    story of the printing press. This tall man of about six feet, with bull neck, hammer
    fist and aggressive behaviour arouses fear in the hearts of Nataraj and his friends.
    Nataraj tolerates him in his room upstairs till he makes himself unbearable by
    robbing Mempi forest of its wild life and collecting dead animals in his room for
    stuffing them.

    When even Nataraj’s neighbours complain to him about the unsanitary conditions of
    the neighbourhood, he requests Vasu to find a new house for himself. The
    taxidermist treats this as an insult and sues him for harassing him and trying to evict
    him by unlawful means. The timely help from his clients, an old lawyer, his ability
    to prolong a case beyond the wildest dream of a petitioner, saves Nataraj from the
    clutches of the law. Soon after Vasu starts bringing Rangi, a notorious dancing
    woman and some other women like her, to his room, to the great nuisance of all
    concerned. But Vasu cares too hoots for their feelings.

    The crisis, however, comes to a head when the pitiless taxidermist threatens to kill
    Kumar, a temple elephant who is to be taken in a festival procession organized to
    celebrate the poet’s completion of his religious epic on God Krishna. Nataraj is very
    fond of the elephant, Kumar. He becomes naturally upset the moment he learns from
    Rangi that Vasu intends shooting it on the night of the proposed procession. Nataraj
    immediately posts the wicked intentions of Vasu to his friend, the poet, the lawyer,
    and other important people of the town. The matter is reported to the police
    authorities but they express their inability to take any action against him until the
    crime has been actually committed.

    The very thought of the temple-elephant, Kumar’s murder, drives Nataraj crazy.
    Even while compelled to stay in his house owing to the agitated condition of his
    mind, he constantly thinks of the danger awaiting Kumar. As the procession passes
    in front of the printing press, his heart begins to beat pit a pat with fear. He is afraid
    of hearing the fateful gun shots and cries of panic-stricken people. He is surprised
    when the procession passes away without any untoward incident.
    Freed from a nagging worry, Nataraj goes to his office in the morning. To his utter
    shock and dismay, he learns that Vasu, the taxidermist is dead. The police authorities
    of the town soon start investigations. Murder is suspected; Nataraj, his friends, and
    Rangi, the temple dancer, are interrogated by the police.

    From the medical report it is gathered that Vasu had died of a concussion received
    on his right forehead from a blunt instrument. When the police fail to find any clue
    of the culprit, the matter is dropped. Rangi later tells them that while striking a
    mosquito that settled on his forehead, Vasu slapped his temple and died
    instantaneously. He thus died of his own hammer-fist.

    The novel has a well-knit plot and a fine gallery of vivid, life-like characters. The
    character of Vasu, the central figure is a masterpiece. The narration is enlivened by
    Narayan’s comic vision which very often and mingles with pathos.

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