Study material for Degree III students of English Hons

Bachelor of Arts by R K Narayan

Summary and Analysis

The Bachelor of Arts is a masterpiece of R K Narayan. Through the vehicle of this present novel
he has put the autobiographical elements and delineates his personal happening by the
character of Chandran. It seems that Narayan’s heroes are unheroic because they do not face
the adverse circumstances but they escape from the adverse circumstances. We find the
elements of autobiography, humour, myths and regional elements.

The Bachelor of Arts (1937) depicts an idealistic college student who attacks the bourgeois
order but eventually reconciles himself to an obedient, lawful existence.

William Walsh particularly praises the second novel, The Bachelor of Arts for revealing the
writer’s ability to bring together the comic and the serious ‘in an intricate, inseparable
alliance’. The present novel revolves around the character of Chandran. He is so prominent
and dominant character that the title of the novel is named after him.

The Bachelor of Arts is stretched upto four parts and divided into eighteen chapters.
Chandran, the final year student of B.A. History in Albert Mission College, Malgudi and the
hero of the novel is the son of H.C. Venkatachala Iyer, a retired District Judge, who lives in his
palatial house in Lawley Extension. His mother, very pious and efficient in managing the
household is very much attached to her husband, Chandran and his younger brother Seenu
who is studying in Albert Mission School but she sticks on to her orthodox customs and
conventions and is very keen on maintaining their status. Chandran’s father is very favourably
disposed towards him and is somewhat modern in his outlook but he hesitates to overrule his
wife’s decision

The protagonist of the story is Chandran, a student of History. He lives quite a stereotypical
life with a loving family (mother, father and a brother) and trusting friend Ramu. His college
life is full of pre-exam anxiety, friendly banter and hotly contested

debates.

However, college friendships often last only until one graduates and the same happens with
Chandran. He graduates college and is primed to join the professional life designed in the
mould of post-colonial India fighting to find a balance between a chaotic past, uncharted
present and an uncertain future.

He hails from Tamil Nadu and has lived a life as per the traditions and conventions of his place
and time. However, his education has kindled a desire within him to break the chains of
conservatism and look for an escape into the freedom of the world. This change is triggered
by heartburn, a loss.

Chandran is lovesick for a girl named Malathi who he meets at the village river. He falls
hopelessly in love with her and spends all his time immersed in her thoughts. The situation
becomes apparent to his parents and they try to surrender to his wishes.

Vivified by a burning desire to wed the girl, Chandran impels them to go to Malathi’s house
and approach her parents. However, the stars in their horoscopes are crossed and his
marriage proposal is declined. Malathi is married off to another suitor soon.

Chandran feels hurt and helpless in the hands of fate. Dazed by such heartache, he decides to
give up control and throw caution to the wind. He leaves his home in a spirit of the rebellion
reaches Madras. Residing in a hotel at first he quickly weans off a unique path.

Ultimately, he decides to commit to a life of asceticism and cuts off his hair. During his travels,
he acquires fame as an accomplished sage. His defiance lasts for nearly eight months and then
it starts to wear off. He feels guilty about deserting his family and parents.

The toil and aimlessness of life as hermit dawn over Chandran and soon he returns to the
mundane life as a householder. He gets a job in publishing and decides to marry according to
his parents’ bidding. He is still afflicted by the memory and lost life with Malathi and still pines
when looking at her pictures.

Finally, his father finds a young Brahmin girl named Susila for him. He is still gripped with
uncertainty and initially refuses to marry her. However, fate turns a circle and he ends up
falling in love with Susila on his visit to her house.

One glance at her he is imprisoned by the same desire and yearning he had long forgotten.
Interestingly, she comes laden with considerable dowry too.

Surrendering his spirit of adventure he finds peace and tranquillity in the domesticated life
and returns to his roots and social function as prescribed by his Brahminical society. The youth
and itinerant whims of a young man finally find restitution in the domestic responsibilities
and familial relationships.

Set in the backdrop of South India, the story is autobiographical in nature with Narayan
heavily utilizing his own experience in the sketch of Chandran. The tale successfully enmeshes
the post-colonial mix of traditional and modern life values and thoughts.

Narayan depicts the strands of suffering and humour in a beautiful tapestry of Malgudi and
its vibrant characters. The story is part of a Malgudi based trilogy starting with Swami and
Friends and ending with The English Teacher.
A book which effectively deals with realistic issues and perfect embodiment of simplicity and values
is found in Bachelor of Arts. R.K Narayan has this uncanny knack of portraying Indian values in
the most authentic way. He handles it in a way that no author can do the same justice to the Indian
conditions. Many foreign authors have tried and faltered to come to terms with the living conditions
here. But, R.K. Narayan has repeatedly come up with books that essays deeply into the emotions
of the common man, picking out little things from daily lives that makes a big difference to the
reader when reading the book. Be it the masterpiece Swami and friends, where any reader can be
attributed to have lead a life similar to that of Swami, The Financial Expert which brilliantly deals
about the relationship between father and son or The English Teacher, which explores the intricate
association between a husband and wife, and the subsequent agony of the husband after his wife's
departed soul, R.K. Narayan comes up with touching themes that leaves the reader in deep
introspection.

Bachelor of Arts is a walkthrough of a generation revolving around the main protagonist of the
story, Chandran. Chandran is so ominously present in us that it doesn't become difficult to get into
his groove. There are times when the reader has to stir himself up with the feeling Oh!! Is this
happening to me?!! A story starting from college days of a B.A, History graduate, progressing into
that difficult phase where every student faces a huge roadblock in his life - whether to continue
studies or not or rather What do I do next?, and then, falling unsuccessfully in love with the girl
next door only to think that solitude is the best company before realising that family means a lot
more than that of a girl's love, and chalking out a career after the worn-out days of love is the
walkthrough of this brilliant piece of literature by the greatest Indian writer of all times.

Chandran's college days are a gentle reminder of our days. Planning out a study schedule for the
exams brings memories where we have planned more than we studied. The household of
Chandran brimming with life, with his mother, father and brother is like any typical Indian family.
The college activities of Chandran are superbly written. The debates of whether historians have to
be slaughtered or not, is brilliantly depicted. His friendship with Ramu and their mutual admiration
for each other is well handled. R.K. Narayan has also beautifully brought out the fact how college
friends do not end up as friends for life. When Ramu loses all touch from him after a few years,
R.K. Narayan through Chandran says People pretended that they are friends, but the fact is
they are brought together by forces of circumstances. How true!!!

His life changes when he sees a girl, Malathi in the town. He constantly ponders about her at
home. His parents become distressed seeing his situation at home. They, to fulfill their son's wish
try their best to strike the alliance, but due to the conventional concepts of horoscope matching, ill
luck has its claim on the alliance. Chandran is shattered with the developments, and all the more,
when he sees his hearthrob getting married. He feels that running away from home is the best
thing for him to do. He does run away to Madras, where he carefully eludes staying at his cousin's
house, and slips away to obscurity. There, he comes to face with circumstances that makes him
realise how foolish it was of him to slip away from loved ones at home. He comes back to Malgudi
to a relieved reception from his parents. He realises that he has to take up some responsibilities
and chalks out a career, until he really falls in love with a girl and gets married.

This forms the gist of Bachelor of Arts. The reader is constantly in a trance while reading this book
not because he is elevated to fictitious situations, but because he is take to stunning reality that
places him so close to this cherubic Chandan.

Narayan’s The Bachelor of Arts has a galaxy of memorable characters:

Though The Bachelor of Arts is a small novel running to 166 pages, it has a crowded canvas. Chandran,
the protagonist of the novel is the central figure and round him are gathered a number of other
characters of varying importance. First we have Chandran’s parents. Narayan’s depiction of
Chandran’s father with his undemonstrative affection for Chandran and his concern for him are drawn
in a very memorable manner. Chandran’s mother is a typical Indian housewife who is tradition bound
but concerned about the welfare of her husband and sons. Narayan’s portrayal of Chandran’s parents
is highly realistic.

Then we have a glimpse of Chandran’s younger brother Seenu studying in Third Class in Albert Mission
School. Then we have Chandran’s friends, Ramu, Mohan, Natesan and Veerasami. Of the four, Ramu
and Mohan play a significant role in the life of Chandran. We also have the Professors of Chandran’s
college, Principal Brown, Professor Ragavachar and Professor Gajapathi. We have Malathi and Susila
who play a significant role in the life of Chandran.

We also have minor characters like Ganapathi Sastrigal and the Srouthigal who study and compare
the horoscope of Chandran and try to help him marry Malathi but in vain. Narayan’s depiction of these
astrological experts is mingled with realism and irony. At Madras, we have Chandran’s uncle, aunt and
cousins of whom we get a smattering acquaintance.

Then we have a very interesting picture of the middle-aged stranger Kailas who forces his friendship
on Chandran. Then there is the barber Ragavan who helps Chandran become a sanyasi. Then there is
Murugesam, the General Manager of Engladia Limited the influential friend of Chandran’s uncle at
Madras who helps Chandran secure the Malgudi agency of The Daily Messenger. All these characters
fit in the novel perfectly and provide structural cohesion and episodic interest.

Dr Manju Pandey
Associate Professor
Department of English