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Swami and Friends LitChart
Swami and Friends LitChart
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Ebenezar. This quote demonstrates that at the start of the Related Characters: Rajam’s Father, Rajam, Swami’s
book, Swami’s budding political inclinations and Grandmother / Granny
understanding of the world around him are usually
overshadowed by childish, self-centered desires. Related Themes:
It also hints at the extent to which the school environment
Page Number: 20
acts as a microcosm of the broader colonial rule that Swami
faces, in which personal beliefs are subjugated to the Explanation and Analysis
overarching power of the state and individuals like
Just after becoming friends with Rajam, Swami recounts his
Ebenezar are allowed to hold positions of power and even
greatness to his grandmother, eager to impress her with
smile when mildly reprimanded for their misdeeds.
descriptions of his new friend. She attempts to reply with
stories of Swami’s own family’s greatness, but he is
uninterested. This quote shows Swami’s unquestioning
Chapter 2 Quotes submission to the authority figures around him, when he
Swaminathan gasped with astonishment. In spite of his views Rajam’s father’s position as an impressive one. Later,
posing before Mani he admired Rajam intensely, and longed to Swami will come to abhor the police forces that Rajam’s
be his friend. Now this was the happiest conclusion to all the father leads, so his attitude here is particularly notable.
unwanted trouble. He danced with joy. Rajam lowered his gun, Additionally, Swami’s lack of interest in Granny’s stories
and Mani dropped his club. To show his goodwill, Rajam pulled shows his own thoughtless disregard for the past and his
out of this pocket half a dozen biscuits. self-interested focus on his own present concerns. Swami
feels so secure with his family, especially Granny, that he
Related Characters: Mani, Rajam, Swami doesn’t need to reflect on their past or think about how it
might apply to his own life. At this point, Swami is not yet
Related Themes: mature enough to think about his family’s role as his
protector and instead takes the safety of his home for
Page Number: 18 granted.
Explanation and Analysis
Swami reacts with joy after Rajam and Mani decide to be Chapter 4 Quotes
friends instead of fighting. This moment is one of the book’s
This was probably Swaminathan’s first shock in life. It
earliest instances of a rapid change of identity, as Rajam
paralysed all his mental process. When his mind started
goes from being an enemy to a beloved friend in only a
working again, he faintly wondered if he had been dreaming.
matter of minutes. The boys’ reliance on violence and even
The staid Somu, the genial Somu, the uncle Somu, was it the
weapons to settle childish disputes also displays the way
same Somu that had talked to him a few minutes ago? What
that they reenact colonial power structures in their own
was wrong in liking and going about with Rajam? Why did it
relationships, seeking raw dominance as a means of
make them so angry?
controlling their social environment. As the gun and club are
quickly replaced with cookies, Narayan illustrates the fine
line between danger and comfort, hinting that Swami’s Related Characters: Rajam, Somu, Swami
innocent childhood state may mask underlying threats.
Related Themes:
‘His father is the Police Superintendent. He is the master Explanation and Analysis
of every policeman here.’ Granny was impressed. She said that After hearing his friends calling him a “tail,” Swami gets
it must be a tremendous office indeed. She then recounted the Somu to admit that they call him “Rajam’s tail” because he
day when her husband, Swaminathan’s grandfather, was a acts like he is too good for them now that he’s friends with
powerful submagistrate, in which office he made the police the son of the Police Superintendent. This moment is a
force tremble before him, and the fiercest dacoits of the place pivotal change for Swami in several ways. First, it is his “first
flee. Swaminathan waited impatiently for her to finish the story. shock,” the first time that his safe and predictable world
becomes unexpectedly painful. This small instance of
emotional danger foreshadows the greater dangers that Related Characters: Mani, “The Pea”, Sankar, Somu, Swami,
Swami experiences later on as he gains more and more Rajam
independence.
Second, his confusion over Somu’s altered character Related Themes:
demonstrates that the fluidity of identity that let Rajam go
Page Number: 46
from friend to enemy can also work the other way. This is
the first time that Swami begins to understand that the Explanation and Analysis
identities of those around him can shift in harmful ways.
After tricking Swami and Mani into coming to his house and
Finally, Swami’s obliviousness to the downside of meeting with Somu, Sankar, and the Pea, Rajam gives a
associating with the Police Superintendent illustrates his lecture on friendship and then offers the other boys gifts in
lack of political awareness and the ease with which he exchange for renouncing enemies. The incident cements
accepts hierarchies of power at this point in the story. Rajam’s place as the leader of the friends, demonstrating
again how his father’s powerful position passes on to the
son and recreates adult hierarchies in the world of children.
Chapter 5 Quotes Additionally, Rajam’s offer of gifts indicates that the
‘You had better prepare something very nice, something abstract value of friendship is not enough to win the boys
fine and sweet. Rajam is coming this afternoon. Don’t make the over; rather, they require material prizes in order to make
sort of coffee that you usually give me. It must be very good and the commitment that Rajam asks for. This contrast between
hot.’ He remembered how in Rajam’s house everything was the mature notion of making peace and the childish desire
brought to the room by the cook. ‘Mother, would you mind if I for toys illustrates the in-between phase of growing up in
don’t come here for coffee and tiffin? Can you send it to my which Swami finds himself at this time.
room?’
Explanation and Analysis Related Characters: “The Pea” (speaker), Swami’s Brother,
As Swami prepares to host Rajam for the afternoon, he Swami
enlists the help of everyone in his family to convince Rajam
that his home is luxurious. Ironically, Swami’s attempt to Related Themes:
prove his independence to Rajam depends completely on
Page Number: 49
the actions of others, demonstrating how much Swami is
still reliant on his family even as he tries to form an identity Explanation and Analysis
apart from them. His imperious orders to his mother and
After Swami’s baby brother is born, he tells the Pea that he
the cook also show how little he considers the needs of
thinks little of the baby. The Pea’s reply that the baby will
others in his family. He views them mainly in terms of how
soon grow into something unrecognizable underscores the
they can be of use to him.
theme of constant change within an individual, offering a
concrete example of how quickly and easily a person can
grow from one state of being into something completely
Chapter 6 Quotes different.
The company was greatly impressed. Rajam then invited Additionally, the Pea’s idea that the baby will soon seem
everyone to come forward and say that they would have no much older foreshadows the coming changes in Swami’s life,
more enemies. If Sankar said it, he would get a bound notebook; in which his baby brother will become the center of the
if Swaminathan said it, he would get a clockwork engine; if family’s attention and he, Swami, will begin to strike out on
Somu said it, he would get a belt; and if Mani said it, he would his own.
get a nice pocket-knife; and the Pea would get a marvellous
little pen.
Chapter 8 Quotes
person, and when the list disappoints him, he recreates it to
Swaminathan reflected: suppose the Pea, Mani, Rajam and match his idea of who he would like to be. This active
Sankar deserted him and occupied Second A? His father was creation of self is one of Swami’s early steps toward self-
right. And then his father drove home the point. ‘Suppose all determination, which will remain an ongoing struggle
your juniors in the Fifth Standard become your class-mates?’ throughout the story.
Swami sat at decimals for half an hour.
Significantly, this moment takes place in the context of
Swami’s preparations for school, showing again how the
Related Characters: Swami’s Father (speaker), Sankar, school environment can promote some forms of growth at
Rajam, Mani, “The Pea”, Swami the same time that it causes stress and discomfort.
Related Themes:
Chapter 9 Quotes
Page Number: 51
At the end of the prayer the storm burst. With the loudest,
Explanation and Analysis lustiest cries, the gathering flooded out of the hall in one body.
As Swami prepares for his school exams, his father All through this vigorous confusion and disorder, Swaminathan
motivates him to study by suggesting that he’ll be left kept close to Mani. For there was a general belief in the school
behind by his friends if he fails. The immediate emotional that enemies stabbed each other on the last day. Swaminathan
effect of this idea on Swami shows that as much as school is had no enemy as far as he could remember. But who could say?
unpleasant for him, it also provides him with the friendships The school was a bad place.
that form the core of his day-to-day life. This is an early
example of the recurring theme of finding supportive, Related Characters: Mani
positive facets of oppressive systems.
This quote also shows a shift, driven in this case by Swami’s Related Themes:
father, toward Swami’s understanding of the importance of
his friends in his life. As Swami slowly starts to leave Page Number: 65
childhood and moves out of his family’s orbit, his friends Explanation and Analysis
take on a greater role, and this quote hints that Swami’s
father himself is aware of and preparing for that upcoming After the Mission School exams end, the entire school
change. community celebrates the arrival of vacation. This quote
demonstrates how quickly the ordered setting of the school
can transform into a chaotic, even frightening place.
Swami’s nameless fear of the enemies who might harm him
He nibbled his pencil and reread the list. The list was is one of the book’s most vivid examples of the menacing
disappointing. He had never known that his wants were so nature of the school. Only by associating with the violent
few. When he first sat down to draw the list he had hoped to fill Mani can Swami make himself feel safe. With the school
two or three imposing pages. But now the cold lines on the standing in for India under British rule, this quote shows the
paper numbered only five. extent to which vaguely-defined danger lurks beneath even
everyday facets of life.
Related Characters: Swami
Related Themes:
Chapter 12 Quotes
Swaminathan was watching the scene with little shivers of Page Number: 101-102
joy going down his spine. Somebody asked him: ‘Young man, do
you want our country to remain in eternal slavery?’ Explanation and Analysis
‘No, no,’ Swaminathan replied. Following the protest at his school through town, Swami
finds himself in a public square where police have gathered
‘But you are wearing a foreign cap.’
to break up the protest. There, he realizes that Rajam’s
Swaminathan quailed with shame. ‘Oh, I didn’t notice,’ he said, father is the leader of the police. Although he has often
and removing his cap flung it into the fire with a feeling that he bragged in the past about his association with the powerful
was saving the country. Deputy Superintendent of Police, this passage marks the
first time that Swami actually sees what that title means in
Related Characters: Swami (speaker) real life. In an instant, his horror shows him the terrible
truth that, like anyone else, Rajam’s impressive father also
Related Themes: has a dark side.
Swami’s understanding of authority figures and government
Related Symbols: power also changes in this moment as he witnesses the
brutality of the police treatment of the protestors. Rather
Page Number: 96-97 than being figures to admire, Swami now intuitively grasps
that those in positions of power may in fact be more traitor
Explanation and Analysis
than hero.
Swami and Mani stumble upon a protest for Indian
independence happening at the Sarayu river, and both boys
eagerly join in, swearing to boycott English goods. The joy Chapter 13 Quotes
that Swami feels watching the protest speaks to his innate
Rajam realized at this point that the starting of a cricket
excitement at his first true act of political engagement,
team was the most complicated problem on earth. He had
though he does not yet have a deep understanding of the
simply expected to gather a dozen fellows on the maidan next
issues at hand. Narayan suggests that even for a relatively
to his compound and play, and challenge the world. But here
naïve young boy, the wish for independence rings true and
were endless troubles, starting with the name that must be
inspires action.
unique, Government taxes, and so on. The Government did not
These lines also introduce the symbol of the cap, which seem to know where it ought to interfere and where not. He
had a momentary sympathy for Gandhi; no wonder he was
dead against the Government.
Related Characters: Rajam, Swami vulnerable essence beneath the imposing exterior. Although
the headmaster continues to maintain control over Swami’s
Related Themes: schedule, Narayan seems to say that his power is hollow
rather than legitimate, a notion that also undercuts the
Related Symbols: validity of the broader power structures the book deals
with. Through the vivid descriptions of the dusty, stuffy
Page Number: 113-114 room, Narayan also hints that this kind of absolute power is
outdated and growing obsolete.
Explanation and Analysis
After agreeing to form a cricket team together, Swami and
Rajam discover how complicated the process will be, in Chapter 15 Quotes
large part because of the role that they imagine the
Another moment and that vicious snake-like cane,
government will play in regulating their activity. Rajam’s
quivering as if with life, would have descended on
simple, reasonable idea of forming a casual team becomes
Swaminathan’s palm. A flood of emotion swept him off his feet,
immediately overcomplicated, demonstrating both the
a mixture of fear, resentment, and rage. He hardly knew what
extent to which the government inserts itself into the
he was doing. His arm shot out, plucked the cane from the
private lives of citizens and the extent to which the boys
headmaster’s hand, and flung it out of the window. The he
fear this intervention, even when it is not actually happening
dashed to his desk, snatched his books, and ran out of the room.
in the moment.
This passage also introduces the game of cricket as a symbol
for British colonial power and its complicated effects on the Related Characters: Mission School Headmaster, Swami
lives on the colonized. Here, the game brings camaraderie at
Related Themes:
the same time that it causes stress and strife, suggesting
that these effects are a scaled-down version of the broader
Page Number: 146-147
national impact of colonial rule.
Explanation and Analysis
After Dr. Kesavan lies to Swami about getting him
Chapter 14 Quotes permission to leave school early, Swami misses several drill
The headmaster was sleeping with his head between his practices and is confronted in his classroom by the
hands and his elbows resting on the table. It was a small stuffy headmaster. The headmaster seeks to demonstrate his
room with only one window opening on the weather-beaten power by caning Swami, but when Swami throws the cane
side wall of a shop; it was cluttered with dust-laden rolls of out the window, he robs the powerful figure of both his
maps, globes, and geometrical squares. The headmaster’s white weapon and his physical support. Swami’s ability to wrest
cane lay on the table across two ink-bottles and some pads. The some small measure of power away from the oppressive
sun came in a hot dusty beam and fell on the headmaster’s nose school environment highlights the potential of small acts of
and the table. He was gently snoring. This was a possibility that rebellion and also marks a new level of self-determination
Rajam had not thought of. for Swami.
Notably, Swami begins to feel his sense of self slip away
Related Characters: Mission School Headmaster, Rajam, even as he takes this action, as he “hardly [knows] what he
Swami [is] doing.” By tying those two experiences together,
Narayan indicates that growth and maturity may
Related Themes: necessarily go hand in hand with an ability to take on new
and confusing identities.
Page Number: 135
Chapter 16 Quotes
he has already wandered far away. Swami’s wish that he had
He had walked rather briskly up Hospital Road, but had taken the punishment from the Board School headmaster
turned back after staring at the tall iron gates of the hospital. illustrates the difficulty and danger of rebelling against the
He told himself that it was unnecessary to enter the hospital, ingrained power structures at school. Simultaneously,
but in fact knew that he lacked the courage. That very window Swami’s desire to have been able to rely on his father shows
in which a soft dim light appeared might have behind it the cot his wish to return to a previous phase of immaturity, one
containing Swaminathan all pulped and bandaged. that he has partly lost as he moves out of childhood.
The phrasing that Swami “marvelled at himself” is also
Related Characters: Swami, Swami’s Father significant, as it indicates that Swami continues to be
somewhat unsure of who exactly he is and what motivates
Related Themes: him. This thought foreshadows the more complete
breakdown of identity that occurs soon thereafter.
Page Number: 157
Related Themes:
Swaminathan was considerably weakened by the number
Page Number: 160 of problems that beset him: Who was this man? Was he
Father? If he was not, why was he there? Even if he was, why
Explanation and Analysis was he there? Who was he? What was he saying? Why could he
Almost immediately after running away from home, Swami not utter his words louder and clearer?
regrets his actions and wishes to be at home again, though
Related Characters: Swami (speaker), Mr. Nair, Swami’s
Father false: the thing that Swami fears the most—missing the
cricket match—actually has happened and he just doesn’t
Related Themes: know it yet, although the reader does. By juxtaposing this
happy scene with the reader’s knowledge of the upset to
Page Number: 168 come, Narayan undercuts Swami’s simple innocence and
Explanation and Analysis demonstrates more forcefully before that it can never truly
last.
After being rescued by Ranga, Swami wakes up in the
company of Mr. Nair, the District Forest Officer and initially
thinks that the man is his father. The repetition of the Chapter 19 Quotes
question “Who was he?” highlights the depth of Swami’s
confusion and his inability to understand what role his Mani ran along the platform with the train and shouted
father now plays in his life. Swami begins to see what the over the noise of the train: ‘Goodbye, Rajam. Swami gives you
reader learned in Chapter 16: Swami’s father’s identity is as this book.’ Rajam held out his hand for the book, and took it, and
complicated and subject to change as anyone else’s. As he waved a farewell. Swaminathan waved back frantically.
works through this realization and attempts to process Swaminathan and Mani stood as if glued where they were, and
what it means for his own life, Swami is rendered unable to watched the train. The small red lamp of the last van could be
speak clearly, showing the intensity of the shock that Swami seen for a long time, it diminished in size every minute, and
undergoes. disappeared around a bend. All the jarring, rattling, clinking,
spurting, and hissing of the moving train softened in the
distance into something that was half a sob and half a sigh.
Chapter 18 Quotes
Swaminathan had a sense of supreme well-being and Related Characters: Mani (speaker), Rajam, Swami
security. He was flattered by the number of visitors that were
coming to see him. His granny and mother were hovering round Related Themes:
him ceaselessly, and it was with a sneaking satisfaction that he
saw his little brother crowing unheeded in the cradle, for once Related Symbols:
overlooked and abandoned by everybody.
Page Number: 184
Related Characters: Swami’s Brother, Swami’s Explanation and Analysis
Grandmother / Granny, Swami’s Mother, Swami
After being too intimidated to approach Rajam on his own,
Swami enlists Mani’s help to give Rajam the book of fairy
Related Themes:
tales as a going away present. After the novel’s seemingly
endless shifts in the characters of Swami and his friends,
Related Symbols:
from bad to good and back again, this moment stands apart
for its utter ambiguity. Swami gives Rajam the book but
Page Number: 173
does not get the resolution he hopes for; at the same time,
Explanation and Analysis he does not get rejection, either. It is unclear, at the end,
After returning home from his ordeal, Swami enjoys a brief how Rajam feels about Swami and whether he is ultimately
period of happiness at home with his family before a friend or an enemy. Nowhere in the book is this sense of
discovering that he has missed the cricket match and fallen uncertain identity as strong.
out with Rajam. This passage is notable mainly for its vivid The lack of motion from Swami and Mani as they watch the
depiction of the kind of simple satisfaction that Swami train depart also indicates a new maturity and ability to
enjoyed at the beginning of the novel; even the permanent tolerate and even accept the uncertainty of their situation.
addition of Swami’s baby brother is symbolically reversed Rather than taking rash action to solve his problems as he
here, as the family ignores the baby in favor of celebrating has done throughout, Swami stands still, alongside a friend
Swami’s return. rather than a family member, and at last begins to take on
However, while this comfort was thorough and genuine in his own more complicated, less innocent identity as well.
the book’s early chapters, here it is quickly revealed to be
CHAPTER 1
A schoolboy named Swami wakes up on Monday morning, The opening scene establishes Swami’s character as youthful and
reluctant to get out of bed. He dreads facing his school, self-centered, with only childish concerns like finishing his
teacher, and the Mission School’s Headmaster, especially since homework on time. This small travail sets the stage for Swami to
he has left all of his homework to do in the two hours before develop a much greater sense of responsibility and awareness of the
school starts. He settles into his desk in a corner of his father’s world around him.
dressing room and begins to work.
Swami sits in his classroom, bored throughout the first few Swami’s boredom during most of the school day introduces
hours of school. He can only stand to be at school at all because Narayan’s skepticism of the value of conventional education
he enjoys watching the toddlers in the nearby Infant Standards settings. Rather than wise authority figures, the teachers appear as
classroom. His teacher, Vedanayagam, appears very ugly to him comic caricatures, frightening demons like Vedanayagam, or
and pinches his hand when he finds that Swami’s math loveable buffoons like D. Pillai.
homework is incorrect. Swami enjoys his next class more,
because it is a history class taught by a kind man named D. Pillai
who tells stories of great battles in history rather than
following any “canon of education.”
The final class of the morning is scripture class, taught by Mr. Ebenezar’s fanaticism is the novel’s first example of an oppressive
Ebenezar, a religious fanatic. Swami and his classmates colonizing force in Swami’s life. Although he does not yet know
sometimes enjoy the colorful Bible stories they learn there, about the movement for Indian independence from England, Swami
despite the fact that Mr. Ebenezar insults the beliefs of the intuits that Ebenezar’s forceful rejection of Hinduism constitutes an
non-Christian students. Mr. Ebenezar launches into a rant offensive threat to Swami and his values. Swami is physically
about the failings of the Hindu god Krishna in comparison to punished for speaking up, an early example of the way that
Jesus, which causes Swami to stand up and argue against his colonialism’s violence manifests in every corner of even a seemingly
teacher. Mr. Ebenezar twists Swami’s ear as punishment. carefree Indian life.
Swami arrives at school the following day, feeling guilty about a Swami’s father’s intervention from a more mature perspective
letter that he carries in his pocket. He thinks that he is an idiot clarifies the point that Swami’s school acts as a microcosm of
for telling his father about the trouble with Mr. Ebenezar. colonial oppression of Indian life. The letter also demonstrates that,
Swami delivers the letter to the Mission School Headmaster, at at this point in Swami’s life, his father acts as his trustworthy
which point the reader learns that Swami’s father has protector. This initial relationship is important because Swami’s
complained to the headmaster about discrimination against ability to rely on his family, especially his father, changes
non-Christian students. The letter states that the school should substantially over the course of the story.
be more tolerant of students of other religions and requests
that the headmaster inform Swami’s father if Hindu boys are
not welcome at the school, so that he can send Swami to school
elsewhere.
Swami tells his friends about his father’s letter and all four of Like Swami, most of his friends are comfortable with the idea of
them approve of his telling his father about Ebenezar’s relying on their fathers for support. Only Mani, who is noted for
behavior, although Mani wishes he could have attacked the making trouble, would consider handling the situation himself, again
teacher himself. The Pea feels embarrassed because he himself showing that Swami and his friends have not yet achieved much of
is a Christian and agrees with Ebenezar, but he does not say so a sense of autonomy.
to his friends. The day’s scripture class proceeds normally at
first, with Ebenezar vigorously denouncing Hinduism, but then
the Mission School Headmaster enters the class and criticizes
Ebenezar’s teaching, embarrassing the teacher.
At the end of the day, Swami is called to see the Mission School Despite the headmaster’s scolding of Ebenezar, Swami discovers in
Headmaster, who has Ebenezar waiting in his office. Swami is this conversation that the oppressive force of the school is still
uncomfortable talking with Ebenezar present and wishes to essentially intact. Furthermore, the headmaster’s request that
leave, but the headmaster keeps him in the office long enough Swami not turn to his father with problems is the story’s first
to tell him that, in the future, Swami should trust the indication that Swami will have to learn to grow into the ability to
headmaster and come to him with complaints instead of telling face issues on his own. However, he runs away after this
his father. The headmaster gives Swami a letter to give his conversation without reflecting much on its meaning, simply happy
father and Swami runs home, relieved. to have escaped punishment. This reaction further illustrates
Swami’s relatively innocent perspective at this point in the story.
CHAPTER 2
Swami and his friend Mani are sitting on the banks of the River Mani’s reaction to the threat of Rajam is an early instance of the
Sarayu, a pleasant area near the center of their town, Malgudi. ways in which Swami and his friends re-create their conflicted
Mani tells Swami that he wants to throw Rajam, a new student political context within their own relationships. Mani relies on
at their school, into the river. Rajam dresses well, speaks good violence to express dominance, while Swami perceptively notes that
English, gets good grades, and has impressed the class enough having a powerful father makes Rajam less vulnerable. Swami’s
to be a rival to the powerful Mani. Swami points out that eagerness to please Mani also hints at the slowly increasing
Rajam’s father is the Police Superintendant, but Mani says that importance of Swami’s friendships, which will begin to overshadow
he doesn’t care and hints that he might beat up Swami if Swami his family connections over the course of the novel.
gets too friendly with Rajam. Swami protests that he hates
Rajam, convincing Mani that he, Swami, is on Mani’s side.
The next evening, Mani arrives at the river carrying a club, By bringing weapons to a fight between children, both Mani and
ready to fight Rajam, and Rajam himself arrives with an air gun. Rajam demonstrate that they have internalized the necessity of
The two talk awkwardly for a few minutes and then Rajam asks using violence to solve problems, which they likely learned from the
Mani what he has done to offend him. Mani answers that he political environment in which they’ve grown up. However, their
had heard Rajam had called him a sneak behind his back, but awkward conversation and reluctance to use the weapons shows
Rajam denies doing so and says that he wouldn’t mind being that they are essentially still children, unsure of what to do with the
friends. Mani agrees that he would also be glad to be friends, tools of their society. Rajam’s rapid transformation from enemy into
and the two drop their weapons. Swami, having secretly friend also underscores the central theme of fluidity of identity,
admired Rajam, is delighted at the turn of events, and the new showing that an objectively “true” identity of good or evil may be an
friends sit by the river eating cookies that Rajam brought to illusion.
share.
CHAPTER 3
The reader learns about Swami’s grandmother, who lives with This first scene featuring Swami’s grandmother shows again how
him in a passageway of his parents’ house and whom he calls reliant Swami is in these early chapters on the unfailing comfort of
Granny. Swami spends time with his grandmother after eating his home and family. Still self-centered, Swami seems barely aware
dinner, feeling warm and safe with her. He tells his of his grandmother’s personhood but nevertheless derives security
grandmother about his new friend Rajam and how wonderful from her presence. Swami’s enthusiasm for befriending the son of
he is, and he expresses particular excitement that Rajam’s the Police Superintendent shows that he is not yet skeptical of those
father is the Police Superintendent. Swami goes on to list all of in power.
Rajam’s good qualities, often cutting his grandmother off
rudely when she tries to speak. She tells him about his brilliant
grandfather, but Swami ignores her and continues talking about
Rajam.
Swami becomes suspicious that his grandmother is not By falling asleep during his grandmother’s story of the past, Swami
listening to him and that she does not believe how wonderful again shows that he has little conscious understanding of history’s
Rajam is, but she emphasizes her approval of Rajam and Swami influence on his own life.
is comforted. She begins to tell him a story that Rajam
reminded her of, but Swami falls asleep halfway through her
telling.
Swami and Mani are impressed by Rajam’s house, which is large This encounter seems to cement the close friendship between
and tidy. Rajam comes to meet them and shows off his amazing Swami, Mani, and Rajam, setting them on the path that will lead
collection of toys. Then, Rajam orders his cook to bring in a Swami away from the safety of his family and into a more complex
plate of snacks. Rajam bullies the cook in order to impress his understanding of the world. Rajam’s desire to impress his friends
new friends, but the cook talks back to Rajam, at which point with acts of violence again illustrates the boys’ enmeshment in their
Rajam brings the snacks in himself while telling his friends that society’s notions of power and importance.
he left the cook lying unconscious in the kitchen.
CHAPTER 4
Between classes on a Wednesday, Swami is unable to find his Swami’s contempt for the younger children is an ironic
friends and wanders alone around his school. He stops to look foreshadowing of his own vanishing childhood; soon, he will come to
at the younger children in the Infant Standards area, feeling view himself as he does these children. The quick transformation of
“filled with contempt” at how small and unintelligent they are. Somu, Sankar, and the Pea into people who are cruel to Swami
Eventually he happily runs into Sankar, Somu, and the Pea, who rather than kind furthers the idea of identity and social roles as
he had thought were not at school. However, his three friends constantly changing. Instead of steadfast friends, Swami finds
barely acknowledge Swami and refuse to let him join their himself facing people who seem to be strangers, all because he
game. They call Swami a “tail,” saying that it means “a long thing unwittingly allied himself with a symbol of power by befriending
that attaches itself to an ass or a dog.” Swami doesn’t know Rajam.
what this means but he feels upset and embarrassed. On his
way home, he catches up to Somu, who tells Swami that they
now call him Rajam’s Tail, because he acts like he is too good for
his old friends now that he spends time with the police
superintendent’s son.
This experience is Swami’s “first shock in life.” In particular, he This upsetting experience is a key turning point for Swami. By facing
feels unsure of who his friends are and confused that someone the reality that even someone as kind as Somu can quickly become
as nice as Somu could be so angry with him. Swami returns cruel, Swami begins to lose his belief that his friends play static roles
home and watches water and debris rush through a gutter by in his life. By encountering a painful problem that no one in his
his house. He builds a paper boat and places an ant inside it, family can help him solve, Swami is also forced to face the reality of
then launches the boat into the water. Swami watches in his own autonomous life for the first time.
excitement as the boat progresses, recovering from several
dangerous turns. Finally, however, a leaf falls onto the boat and
overturns it, and Swami is unable to find the boat or the ant. He
pinches some dirt in the gutter and says a prayer “for the soul
of the ant.”
CHAPTER 5
On Saturday, Swami prepares excitedly to host Rajam, who has Swami’s decision to use his father’s room to host Rajam and pretend
promised to come to his house that afternoon. Swami wonders it is his own demonstrates that, although he wishes to appear
where to host Rajam and realizes that, because his father will independent, his ability to do what he wants still depends on his
be out at court, he can host Rajam in his father’s room, father’s resources.
pretending that the room is Swami’s own. Swami’s
grandmother is also excited about the visit and asks Swami to
bring Rajam to see her, but he refuses, telling her not to
interact with Rajam because she is “too old.”
Swami continues to prepare for Rajam’s visit, demanding that Again, Swami’s preparations for Rajam’s visit keenly illustrate how
his mother make good coffee and something “fine and sweet” Swami is stuck between childish reliance on his family and a desire
for the afternoon snack. He also tells the cook to change into to impress Rajam with his maturity. He does everything he can to
clean clothes and asks him to bring the food directly to him and make a good impression, but he requires help from everyone in his
Rajam. Finally, Swami asks his father if he can use his room to family to do so. Swami’s father’s submission to the importance of
host Rajam, and his father agrees when he hears that Rajam’s the Police Superintendent is also a reminder that imperial power
father is the Police Superintendent. structures remain influential even within Swami’s home.
To Swami’s surprise, Rajam’s visit goes well, with all of Swami’s Swami’s embarrassment at Rajam’s finding out that the room and
demands met except for the fact that the cook does not change books do not belong to him underscores his desire to be impressive
his clothes. Rajam and Swami talk happily for hours, until Rajam in and of himself, rather than relying on his family. However, Rajam’s
notices Swami’s father’s large books and asks Swami if he reads enthusiasm for meeting Swami’s grandmother repairs the situation,
them. Embarrassed that Rajam has discovered the room is not though Swami is surprised to find Granny acting as a social asset
his own, Swami admits that the table belongs to his father and, when he expected her to be an embarrassment. This moment again
in order to distract Rajam from asking about his own develops the idea of quickly changing identities and continues
possessions, he mentions his grandmother. Rajam says that he Swami’s journey toward valuing his grandmother as a person rather
would love to meet her and Swami runs to see Granny, hoping than a simple comfort in his life.
that she is asleep. Swami is disappointed to find her awake, but
she is delighted to meet Rajam and impressed with the
luxurious details of his life.
CHAPTER 6
Three weeks later, Swami and Mani are on their way to Rajam’s Swami and Mani’s humorous transformation into baby animals is
house. Rajam has invited them to his house, telling them that he one of the more comedic instances of fluid identity. Their joking
has a surprise waiting for them. On the way, Mani muses about willingness to give up their true identities allows them to enter a
the ways that he’d like to inflict violence on Somu, Sankar, and situation where their friendships will be repaired, showing that
the Pea. When they arrive at Rajam’s house, Rajam peeks out changing identities can function in positive ways as well as negative
but then closes the door again. To get him to let them in, Swami ones.
pretends to be a blind kitten and Mani and blind puppy, mews
and barking at the door. Rajam opens the door and the two
enter, still pretending to be animals with their eyes closed,
while Rajam barks and mews in response.
When Swami and Mani open their eyes, they discover that Rajam’s eloquent defense of friendship, drawn from a classic Indian
Somu, Sankar, and the Pea are in the room with Rajam. Swami is text, is an example of the boys’ growing maturity and attempts to
embarrassed at his behavior and Mani becomes angry at relate to each other in ways not defined by Britain’s influence on
Rajam, threatening to leave. Rajam comforts both and their country. However, Rajam’s authority still derives in part from
convinces them to stay, offering everyone a snack. After they all his father’s powerful position, which complicates his pacifistic
eat, Rajam gives a long lecture on the value of friendship and all request.
the terrible things that the Vedas say will happen to a person
who makes enemies. At the end of his lecture, Rajam asks the
other five boys to swear that they won’t have enemies any
more, and offers them each a gift if they do so.
The Pea is the first to accept his gift and the other four boys The boys’ acceptance of gifts from Rajam adds an ironic spin to
soon do the same. The Pea receives a fountain pen, Somu gets a Rajam’s convincing lecture. Perhaps the boys have matured enough
new belt, Mani gets a new knife, Sankar receives a bound to take his argument seriously, but perhaps they simply want the
notebook, and Swami gets a green clockwork engine. gifts. Again, Swami and his friends are stuck between childish
desires and newfound maturity.
CHAPTER 7
Swami’s mother has been in bed for two days and he misses the Swami’s confusion at his mother’s changed appearance highlights
attention that she usually pays to him. He sees her lying in bed the fact that he cannot yet tolerate the truth of his family’s
looking unwell and speaks to her coldly, thinking that she complicated identities. His indifference at the news of his brother
“seemed to be a different Mother.” His Granny tells Swami that also shows a lingering self-centered immaturity.
he will soon have a baby brother, but he is not excited about
this news.
Swami sleeps in Granny’s room, listening to people moving Despite the change occurring all around him, Swami does not think
around throughout the night and seeing a female doctor to feel fear or anxiety. His ability to feel completely safe with Granny
entering his mother’s room. Although Granny asks, they get no stands in contrast to his later realization that his family cannot
news of what is happening. Swami feels safe and comfortable necessarily keep him safe.
with Granny and does not worry about what is happening to his
mother.
In school the next day, the class grows restless during a boring Although Swami cannot yet comprehend the role that his brother
lesson. Swami sits next to the Pea and tells him about the birth will play in his life, the Pea’s words underscore the fact that, again,
of his new brother early that morning. Swami tells the Pea that identity is far from constant. His emphasis on the speedy passage of
the baby is “hardly anything” and “such a funny-looking time also foreshadows how quickly life will change for Swami in the
creature.” The Pea laughs and tells Swami that the baby will following chapters.
grow up quickly.
CHAPTER 8
Two weeks before his April school exams, Swami notices that In this chapter, Swami’s father becomes a more antagonistic
his father is becoming more strict about making him study. He presence as the pressure of Swami’s schoolwork increases. His
pesters Swami frequently, eventually pointing out that Swami convincing point that Swami needs school to maintain his
will have to be in a different class from his friends if he fails the friendships also illustrates the paradoxical truth that school, while
exam. At that point Swami listens to his father and begins to often harmful to Swami, also fosters some of the most important
study harder. parts of his life.
All of Swami’s classmates and friends are overwhelmed by the Mani’s foolish attempt to cheat at the exam points to the
pressure of the upcoming exams. Mani is particularly worried impossibility of true success in the boys’ academic environment.
and attempts to get information about the exam questions Even an important school administrator does not know how to
from the school clerk, who is rumored to know everything. He achieve success, and talking to him only gives Mani false hope.
bribes the clerk with food and although the clerk is pleased, he
tells Mani that he doesn’t know anything about the test
questions. Mani persists, and eventually the clerk gives him
advice about what to study, despite not actually knowing what
will be on the exam. Mani is pleased with the information he
gets from the clerk and shares his knowledge with Swami.
Two days before the exam, Swami makes a list of everything he Swami’s surprise at learning something about himself through
will need for the exam and is disappointed that he can only making the list is an early example of his fluid identity. Swami’s
think of five things, thinking that he had “never known that his discovery that he does not know himself as well as he expected
wants were so few.” Swami makes his list longer and more leads him to fashion a new, more admirable self through the
complicated and then brings it to his father, who is busy creation of a new list. However, his father undermines this initial
working. Swami tries to go away and not interrupt him, but his effort of self-determination, effectively bringing Swami back under
father hears him at the door and calls him in, demanding to see his control and constraining him within the family system. All of this
the paper he’s holding. Swami’s father calls his list plays out through an academic task, again showing the dual role of
“preposterous” and tells Swami to take supplies from his desk support and restriction that school plays in Swami’s life.
instead. Although Swami gets most of what he needs, he is sad
not to be able to go and buy everything on his list. As he leaves
his father’s office, his father asks him to move the baby out of
the hall so that his father won’t have to hear the baby crying.
CHAPTER 9
Swami exits his classroom after taking his final examination. He Swami’s simplistic interpretation of the story’s moral again shows
waits outside, worrying because he turned in his exam 20 his childish view of the world, in which facts seldom hide deeper
minutes early while most of the other students were still meaning. His eagerness to leave school also shows that he feels freer
working. He reflects on the exam questions and feels especially outside its walls, even when he perceives that he should stay longer
confident about the last question, which involved explaining the as the other students do.
moral of a story about a man who is fooled by a tiger offering
him a gold bangle. Swami wrote a simple, single-line answer:
“Love of gold bangle cost one one’s life.” Then, he sat restlessly
pretending to revise his work until he saw a few other boys
leaving, at which point he did the same.
The exam ends and the rest of Swami’s class comes outside. Swami’s unease as he discovers his classmates’ answers to the last
Swami asks a classmate what he wrote for the last question, exam question indicates that, although he does not yet understand
and the classmate reveals that he wrote a full page. Swami tells why, he is beginning to become aware of the more complicated
Rajam and Sankar about the classmate and they reply that they meaning of outwardly simple events. Swami’s easy lie, with which he
wrote only half or three-quarters of a page for the last deceives even himself, also demonstrates his growing ability to
question. Swami tells them that he also wrote half a page, shape his own identity at will, which he began to exercise when
fooling even himself into thinking he actually did so. making the list of supplies before the exam.
At the end of the prayer, the boys begin tearing up paper, As the students’ excitement grows, the school transforms from a
smashing ink bottles, and destroying whatever they can find. place of boredom and routine into one of ecstasy and chaos. Swami
Swami sticks close to Mani at first, afraid of the rumor that is initially unsettled by this change but he quickly embraces it,
enemies stab each other on the last day of school, even though demonstrating how easily individual identity may be influenced by
he doesn’t think he has any enemies. Then as the excitement the emotions of a group, adding nuance to the idea that identity is
builds, Swami joins in the destruction and even pours his ink never truly individual.
bottle over his own head. Mani calls jokingly to a policeman to
arrest the rowdy boys and then threatens to steal the turban of
the school peon and dye it with ink. The peon breaks up the
crowd of boys.
CHAPTER 10
Swami realizes that his friendships with Somu, Sankar, and the In this section, Swami gains a new understanding of how important
Pea are not meaningful to him outside of school. His social context is in determining the roles that people play in one
friendships with Mani and Rajam are “more human” and the another’s lives, as he sees that some of his close friends no longer
three spend nearly all of their time together with school out. feel important outside of school. His intense desire for a hoop—an
Without school to worry about, Swami wants a hoop to play essentially useless plaything—reinforces the image of Swami as
with more than anything and thinks constantly about getting childish, but at the same time his methods for getting the hoop
one. He tells a coachman about his wish and the coachman quickly become somewhat adult, illustrating the ongoing change in
claims that he can get Swami a hoop quickly in exchange for five Swami’s maturity.
rupees. Swami can barely imagine having that much money, but
the coachman says that he has a way of converting copper
coins into silver, so all Swami needs to do is bring him six paise
(a smaller denomination) to start the process.
Swami is convinced of the coachman’s plan and immediately After his family’s refusal to help him, Swami turns almost
begins trying to find six paise, which the coachman says he thoughtlessly to the kind of Christian practice that he earlier
needs within six hours. He asks his Granny first, but she has no opposed in Ebenezar’s class, showing that his burgeoning political
money to give him, even though she wants to. Swami’s mother awareness is still rather self-serving. Somewhat irrationally, Swami
and father also refuse his request. Unable to find any coins in still fears the gods’ anger after they too fail to give him what he
his house, he remembers that Ebenezar claimed that God wants. This disjointed view of reality illustrates the growing pains of
would help those who pray to him and wonders if he might be Swami’s increasingly complex understanding of the world around
able to perform magic. He gathers six pebbles and puts them in him.
a box with sand, then prays over them in the room where his
family keeps images of gods and idols. He decides to wait for
half an hour but only lasts ten minutes before opening the box.
He is at first enraged to find pebbles instead of coins, but then
he becomes afraid that the gods will punish him for his anger
and instead buries the box reverently.
The next day, Swami and Mani go to the coachman’s house. Despite his fears, Swami puts himself almost completely at the
Rajam has made a plan for Mani to befriend and then kidnap mercy of Rajam and Mani in this section, going along with their plan
the coachman’s son, with Swami going along to point out the even though he is clearly anxious about it. Swami wishes to appease
correct house. On the way, Swami gets frightened and tells the and impress his friends even more than he wishes to get his money
Mani that the coachman returned the money, but Mani doesn’t back, and his earlier goal of getting a hoop is essentially forgotten.
believe him and insists on continuing with the plan. Swami Now, Swami’s concerns are somewhat more adult, focusing on his
points out the house and Mani decides at the last minute that relationships with Rajam and Mani, the two most powerful figures
Swami should come to the door with him. in his immediate surroundings.
Outside the house, Mani hits Swami and yells at him until a The final phase of this confrontation vividly shows the transition
crowd gathers, including the coachman’s son. Mani tells the from Swami’s childish wish for the hoop to his involvement in a
crowd that Swami is a stranger who has demanded money from clearly dangerous situation. This dual meaning indicates that
him, and the coachman’s son says that Swami should be sent to Swami’s seeming innocence may have been something of an illusion
jail. Swami turns and confronts the son about his missing all along, if something so simple as wanting a hoop can lead so
money that the coachman took, but Mani interrupts by offering easily to a violent confrontation. Swami is also forced to accept that
the boy a toy top and promising him a bigger one if he leaves his strong friend Mani is not all-powerful, again complicating his
with them. The boy agrees but then runs back into his house understanding of his friends’ identities.
with the top. Mani knocks on the door until the coachman’s
neighbors violently drive Swami and Mani from the
neighborhood, throwing rocks and chasing them with dogs.
CHAPTER 11
Although many people view Swami’s hometown of Malgudi as This scene again underscores the way that even a good friend like
intolerably hot in the summer, Swami, Mani, and Rajam enjoy Mani can behave in ways that are clearly harmful to Swami.
going out together in the summer afternoons and barely notice Learning to accept this kind of complexity is key to Swami’s
the heat. They sit together just outside town and discuss the development over the course of the story. At the same time, the
ways that their plan with the coachman’s son went wrong, with boys’ tolerance of the heat despite the adults’ hatred of it reveals
Mani admitting that he was wrong to give the boy the top so their continued separation from the fully adult world.
quickly. Swami complains that his neck still hurts where Mani
attacked him, but Mani says that he only pretended to attack
Swami.
As the summer continues, Swami’s father stays home on Swami’s father’s unexpected insistence that Swami continue
vacation from his job at the courts. On his third day at home, studying shows how Swami’s old ties to his family come into
Swami’s father tells Swami that he cannot go out to meet Mani increasing conflict with his newer ties to his friends. Swami’s
and Rajam but instead must stay at home and study. Swami interpretation of the math problem also shows his sensitive,
protests that he should not have to read when school is out, but imaginative nature and how poorly suited that kind of thinking is for
his father disagrees and makes him sit down with his books. conventional academic work. Again, Narayan suggests that the
Asked to find a cloth to clean off his dusty books, Swami grabs a school environment does not educate Swami so much as suppress
cloth from under his baby brother, causing his mother to scold his naturally positive attributes.
him. His father sits with him while he attempts to solve a math
problem involving two men selling mangos. Swami is unable to
understand the problem and gets distracted thinking about the
characters of the two men in the problem, frustrating his father,
who calls him an “extraordinary idiot.” Swami’s father walks him
through the problem step by step, and Swami bursts into tears
when he finally gets the correct answer half an hour later.
Later that evening, Swami’s father feels sorry for making Swami Again, an object of childish happiness—visiting the club with his
study all afternoon and invites Swami to join him at his club. father—becomes a cause for fear and danger as Swami discovers
Swami changes his clothes and gets in the car with his father. the coachman’s armed son at the club. This surprise shows that
Swami is “elated” to go to the club and wishes his friends could Swami’s powerful friends were truly unable to help him solve the
see him traveling in the car. When they arrive at the club, problem of the coachman’s son.
Swami happily watches his father play tennis, but his mood
changes when he discovers that the coachman’s son works at
the club as a ball boy. The boy sees Swami and turns to smile at
him, holding up a pen knife. Swami is terrified and sticks close
to his father as they leave the tennis courts.
Swami feels safe again when he is inside with his father in the This episode marks a crucial shift in the relationship between
card room, but it is dark outside by the time they leave the club Swami and his father. Whereas before his father could keep him safe
and Swami becomes afraid again. He begins to imagine that the from anything, now Swami feels that his father can do nothing to
coachman’s son has a gang waiting to attack him and almost protect him from the coachman’s son. This scene completes the
tells his father about his fears, before changing his mind and thematic development begun in the previous chapter, as Swami’s
staying silent. Swami sits in the back of the car, feeling very far childish pursuit of the hoop transforms fully into a more adult
from his father and his father’s friend in the front seat, and he situation that feels genuinely dangerous to Swami.
cannot relax until they pass through the gates of the club.
CHAPTER 12
While sitting on the bank of the Sarayu one August evening, This chapter sets in motion the clear turning point in Swami’s
Swami and Mani encounter a large group of people protesting changing understanding of the world around him. For the first time,
the arrest of a political worker. They listen to an activist saying he takes to heart the impact that English colonization has on his
that the people of India are slaves and should remember their country, and he eagerly allies himself with the independence
own value and power. He asks the crowd to defy England and movement even without really understanding what he’s doing. His
its rule, a speech that Swami and Mani find very moving. They sense of agency remains shallow, as he feels that he has saved the
get upset about Indian peasants and vow to boycott English country just by burning his cap, but his emotional commitment is
goods, especially certain kinds of cloth made by particularly genuine and meaningful, showing a new maturity in Swami’s
despicable Englishmen. Mani tells Swami that he is wearing a development as an autonomous individual.
coat made of that English cloth, which makes Swami feel
ashamed. A bonfire is lit and the crowd begins to throw articles
of clothing into it, and when someone points out that Swami is
wearing a foreign cap, he throws it into the fire “with a feeling
that he was saving the country.”
The next day Swami wakes up feeling anxious and remembers As before, Swami’s commitment to a cause larger than himself
that he has no cap to wear for school. He leaves for school quickly turns back to self-interest, as he worries what to do without
anyway and is happily surprised to find a crowd blocking the his cap. When the school is closed, Swami is excited not because he
gate of the school. A student tells Swami that the school is believes in the protest, but because he is happy he won’t get in
closed due to the jailing of the political worker, and Swami is trouble for missing the cap. Through this dichotomy, Narayan shows
relieved that he won’t get in trouble for not wearing his cap. He how deeply entwined Swami’s political awakening is with his
sees the Mission School Headmaster and some of the teachers ongoing youthful self-centeredness. This scene also establishes the
standing on the school veranda, calling for the students to go to school as a clear microcosm of political activity, as has been hinted
their classes and threatening punishment. at throughout.
The self-appointed leaders of the crowd of students yell that it Again, Swami is profoundly caught up in the emotions of others,
is a “day of mourning” and should be observed in silence. thoughtlessly losing his identity to that of the crowd and
However, other students are throwing rocks at the windows of experiencing again how easily his sense of self can change. Further,
the school. Swami joins in and he is excited to be able to break Swami continues to engage in the protest with a childish mindset,
the ventilator in the Mission School Headmaster’s room, enjoying breaking windows most of all.
finding the experience of being in the crowd “thrilling.”
Someone runs into the crowd and announces that classes are Swami continues his enmeshment with the crowd, even going so far
happening at the Board High School, so the crowd, including as to menace younger children. This moment is an extension of the
Swami, moves to that school. A representative from the crowd scorn he felt for the young children in Chapter 4, demonstrating
asks the Board School Headmaster to close the school, but the how easily emotional violence can transform into actual, physical
headmaster refuses and threatens to call the police. The crowd violence, even for someone as relatively innocent as Swami.
angrily begins to vandalize the Board School, joined by many of
its own students. Swami enthusiastically joins in the shouting
and destruction, feeling happy at how much glass there is left to
break. He even threatens the children in the school’s Infant
Standards and stomps on the cap of one small child.
Swami plans to keep his experiences in the riot secret from his Even after his momentous—and very dangerous—experience at the
father, but upon arriving home his father immediately begins protest, Swami returns again to thinking about his cap and whether
talking about how Rajam’s father is “a butcher,” which Swami he will get in trouble for losing it. This turn shows how deeply Swami
finds himself agreeing with as he remembers his brutal is caught between innocence and understanding, childish concerns
behavior. Swami’s father asks him if he was involved in the riot, and adult dangers. Furthermore, his father’s claim that the cap was
in which many people were injured and a few may have died. Indian anyway undercuts the value of Swami’s political act and
Swami realizes that he now has an excuse for losing his cap and demonstrates afresh how tied to his father Swami still is.
tells his father that someone tore it off in the crowd because it
was made of foreign material. His father tells him that it was
made in India and that he would never buy his son something
made abroad. Swami lies in bed thinking about all the injuries
he got during the day, and is especially angry at the policemen
for hitting him and calling him a monkey.
At school the next day, the Mission School Headmaster enters Swami’s confused reply to the headmaster’s questions clearly shows
Swami’s class and reads a list of all the students who were just how ill-equipped he is to understand and explain his role in
missing the day before, forcing them to stand on their benches society and the actions he takes. Again, Swami’s feelings are real,
as punishment. One by one, he asks them to explain why they but he does not yet know how to transmute them into meaningful
weren’t in school the previous day, with each giving a different behavior. As before, his school does not help him ease his confusion
excuse. The headmaster punishes each boy in turn, rejecting but rather punishes him for it, leading to Swami’s most drastic act of
their excuses. Swami gets more and more nervous, and when self-determination yet.
the headmaster gets to him, he gives a confused, muddled
answer using pieces of his experiences at the recent protests.
The headmaster hits Swami with his cane as punishment for
not speaking clearly and says that he saw him breaking the
ventilator in his office. The headmaster hits Swami several
more times until Swami grows desperate and runs out of the
school, saying to the headmaster: “I don’t care for your dirty
school.”
CHAPTER 13
Six weeks pass, after which Rajam comes to Swami’s house to Rajam’s casual acknowledgement of the way that political
tell him that he forgives him for everything, from his political differences separate him and Swami underscores the theme that
activities to his new status as a student at the Board School. the pressure of English colonization appears everywhere, even in
The reader learns that Swami refused to return to the Mission close boyhood friendships. The sudden disappearance of Sankar
School and that his father sent him instead to the Board School. and Somu also shows how easily a person can go from close friend
Swami quickly found himself happily the center of attention at to distant memory, again challenging Swami to accept the changing
his new school, though he does not yet have close friends there. identities of those around him.
Back at the Mission School, Somu was left behind after failing
an exam, Sankar moved away after his father was transferred,
and the Pea began school months late due to mysterious
causes. Swami still sees Mani every day but had not seen Rajam
since leaving the Mission School.
Rajam finds Swami trying to build a camera, and Swami explains Just as Swami’s friends earlier accused Swami of thinking he was
that a boy in his new class had done so. Rajam criticizes Swami too good for them by hanging out with Rajam, so too does Rajam
for thinking that his new school is superior and Swami, wanting accuse Swami of thinking he is superior. That even the powerful
to win Rajam over, agrees that he does not like the Board Rajam would make this accusation shows the depth to which
School but says that he had no choice in leaving the Mission external ideas of power structures are embedded in the boys’ lives.
School. Rajam tells Swami that he should have stayed away Swami’s desire to please Rajam wins out over his political
from politics in the first place, and Swami agrees. Rajam is convictions, again showing the confusion that Swami feels as he
convinced by Swami’s consent and tells him that they should go attempts to take charge of his own priorities.
back to being good friends.
Rajam suggests forming a cricket team, and although Swami Rajam and Swami’s plan to form a cricket team introduces the
initially feels that he’s not good enough to play, Rajam novel’s most important symbol, the English game of cricket. The
convinces him to try. Rajam says that the team will be called the boys do not discuss the fact that cricket comes from the country of
M.C.C. but Swami worries that they could get into legal trouble, their colonizers; rather, they simply embrace it as a way to enjoy
since there is already a professional cricket team using that themselves and legitimize their pursuits outside of their families.
name. Swami suggests some other names for the team and they However, with his concerns about government regulations, Swami
make a list of all the possibilities, choosing Victory Union intuits that even in this harmless pastime, the effect of political
Eleven as an additional name. Swami brings up the idea that structures will still be present. By somewhat ironically equating the
they might need to pay a tax to the government, concerned cricket team with Gandhi’s fight for Indian independence, Narayan
that their name will not be reserved unless they do so. shows the inextricability of the political from personal life.
Considering all of the Swami’s points, Rajam reflects that
starting a cricket team is “the most complicated problem on
earth” and feels sympathetic toward Gandhi’s opposition to the
government.
Swami and Rajam go to Mani’s house to choose cricket The act of choosing equipment and writing to the company serves
equipment from a sporting goods catalogue. Mani insists that a as an important act of self-determination for the boys. They are
certain kind of bat, the Junior Willard Bat, is the best kind and excited to have chance to choose their own name and do not feel
that their team must order them. The three friends choose the concern about the team’s ties to British culture. This lack of worry
goods they need from the catalogue, arguing good-naturedly illustrates the paradoxical point that colonized people like Swami
about how many bats they need, and then settle down to write and his friends can and sometimes must adapt to the culture of the
a letter ordering the supplies. Swami at first agrees to write the colonizer and even embrace aspects of it in order to lead normal,
letter but becomes overwhelmed by the task, at which point enjoyable lives.
Rajam takes over, writing a letter from both M.C.C. and Victory
Union Eleven. They complete the letter and agree to mail it.
Soon thereafter, Rajam receives a reply from the sporting While the friends are excited that an adult organization like the
goods company addressed to the captain of the M.C.C. The sporting goods company has recognized their team as legitimate,
friends are delighted to have their team recognized by the they are not able to respond to the company’s request, showing how
company and the postal service. The letter from the company far they are from becoming truly autonomous. Their irrational belief
asks for a 25% payment, which confuses them and leaves them that the letter was a mistake also shows the persistence of childish
unsure how to respond. Eventually, they conclude that the magical thinking in their lives.
letter was sent to them by mistake, even though Swami points
out that it is addressed to the captain of their team. They write
back to the company returning the letter and asking that their
cricket supplies be sent quickly.
Swami, Rajam, and Mani continue to believe that the cricket Swami and his friends remain intent on playing even without ideal
supplies will arrive soon, and that perhaps the company is even equipment, perhaps symbolizing the way that the citizens of India
making them especially for their team. In the meantime, they must make do with lesser versions of the cultural artifacts brought
make bats from a wooden box and get used tennis balls from to them by the English. The boys also end up needing help from
Rajam’s father’s club and begin practicing without their Rajam’s father, demonstrating another way that their families of
complete supplies. The Pea joins their team, along with a few origin are still crucial to their pursuits.
boys that Rajam chooses from his class.
The team assembles for its first practice. The Pea arrives late Swami’s sudden transformation, after a very short time playing, into
without the stumps he promised to bring, but says that he will the cricket star Tate indicates that not only is identity fluid, but it
bring them to the next practice. Rajam and the others are at can also change based on scant evidence or even happenstance.
first upset not to have the supplies they need to play a full game Over the course of the rest of the novel, Swami is a continual
of cricket, but they manage to continue when someone disappointment to his cricket team, so it is noteworthy that he keeps
suggests using the wall as a temporary wicket. As practice the nickname Tate nonetheless.
starts, Swami bowls very well and is immediately given the
nickname Tate, after a famous bowler.
CHAPTER 14
Swami discovers that the workload and pressure of his new Swami is unhappy to find that, like the Mission School, the rules at
school are much greater than those he experienced at the Board School run contrary to what he believes are his best interests,
Mission School. Swami is also obligated to attend mandatory in this case arriving on time for cricket practice. This time, however,
drill practices and scout classes after school, and the the restrictions force Swami to become a better student and help
punishments for missing a class are harsh. Swami’s days are him develop his individual academic skills even as it keeps him away
now full of rigor and work, and he is a more attentive student from his team. Again, Narayan points to the kernels of positivity
than he had been previously. After his after-school obligations, that still exist within oppressive systems.
he runs home to drop off his supplies and then arrives at the
cricket field by evening. Though he tries his best to get there
quickly, Swami is often disappointed to find that the practice is
concluding by the time he arrives and Rajam is annoyed at him
for arriving late.
One day, Swami’s grandmother calls to him during the brief This encounter shows Swami’s inner conflict between following his
time that he is at home between school and cricket practice. self-interested impulses as he is used to doing or instead supporting
He feels sorry for how often she is ignored and goes to see someone else whose needs are counter to his own.
what she wants. She asks him to go and get her a lemon to
soothe her stomach pain and offers to let him keep three paise
for himself, but when she gives him a time limit, he gets
annoyed and runs out to practice.
Later that evening, Swami arrives home feeling guilty for Swami’s genuine concern for his grandmother’s health marks a new
abandoning his grandmother earlier. He goes to see her, facet of their relationship, in which he begins to see himself as her
worrying that she might die because of his neglect, but she tells caretaker rather than the other way around. Even when she upsets
him that his mother gave her a lemon and she is feeling better. him by failing to understand his new identity as Tate, he remains
Swami is joyful and relieved to find her doing well, and in his patient and loving, for once setting aside his own wishes in favor of
excitement he tells her about being nicknamed Tate. However, caring for her. It is similarly significant that Swami’s father remarks
he is dismayed to find that she does not know who Tate is and, on the baby’s growing role in the family, pointing to the fact that
furthermore, she does not know what cricket is. He lectures Swami is no longer the center of his family’s attention and will soon
her on the basics of cricket and explains how well Rajam leads have to make way for the growing needs—and intelligence—of his
his team. Swami’s father enters, carrying Swami’s baby brother, younger brother.
and remarks that soon it will be the baby teaching everyone
about the world.
Rajam warns Swami that he cannot keep being late to cricket At this point, it becomes clear that rather than simply bringing
practice. Swami tells Rajam that the Board School schedule Rajam and Swami together, the cricket team is beginning to burden
keeps him from arriving on time, so Rajam suggests asking the their friendship. As their political disagreements did before, the
Board School Headmaster to let him leave early until after their team—symbolically standing in for British oppression—creates an
match. Swami tells Rajam that he is afraid of the headmaster, so excuse for conflict that Rajam attempts to solve through
Rajam announces that he will speak to the headmaster himself straightforward dominance.
at Swami’s school the next day. Swami begs Rajam not to go to
the school, but Rajam insists on doing so.
Rajam leads Swami back to school and tells Mani to wait It surprises Swami to see his imposing headmaster asleep and
outside while they speak to the Board School Headmaster. powerless, but he soon learns that the man’s authority is
Rajam and Swami enter the headmaster’s office and find him nonetheless absolute. Even though he is old and weak, strong young
sleeping. They wait for ten minutes and then make noise to Rajam and Mani are unable to defy him. In this situation, the
wake him up. The headmaster asks what they’re doing there wizened headmaster seems to stand in for the idea of the
and Rajam explains that Swami, the best bowler on the team, oppressing culture which, old and outdated though it may be,
needs to leave school early to get to cricket practice on time. nevertheless wields power over the people of India.
The headmaster listens and then orders them to leave the
office without granting Swami permission to leave school early.
Mani gets tired of waiting outside and enters the office with his
club, but the headmaster is not intimidated. Rajam tells the
headmaster that Rajam’s father is the Police Superintendent,
but even that fails to convince the headmaster. Rajam leads his
friends out of the office in disgust.
CHAPTER 15
The M.C.C. has scheduled a cricket match against a team called The M.C.C.’s irrational insistence on threatening their opponents
Young Men’s Union. The match is friendly in name, but in fact shows the senseless conflict inherent in their game, and the extent
the M.C.C. sends a complicated list of demands and threats to which their desire to win may stem from a wish for dominance
along with their invitation, including asking the other team to rather than excellence.
bring their own supplies and telling them that they will have to
pay for anything damaged in the course of the match. The
match is scheduled for a Sunday two weeks in the future.
As the team’s captain, Rajam throws himself into ensuring that While Swami wants to please Rajam, he is not willing to outwardly
his team beats the Y.M.U. Rajam believes that they are capable defy his school rules and so seeks permission from the very
of doing so but he is very worried about Swami, who continues institution that oppresses him. Even though he is ridiculed and
to arrive late to practice. With only a week to go until the granted only a small reprieve, Swami is happy for even this reward,
cricket match, Swami realizes that he has to find a way to get again showing the psychological necessity of gaining small victories
extra practice and goes to tell his after-school drill master that within oppressive systems.
he is not feeling well. The master asks what is wrong and Swami
tells him that he is delirious and has been unable to sleep.
Though he angrily accuses him of lying, the drill master lets
Swami leave early and Rajam is very pleased to see Swami at
practice on time.
Swami leaves school early and attends practice on time for the Swami’s punishment at the hands of the Board School Headmaster
next several days, making Rajam and the rest of the team very mirrors the earlier scene of humiliation at the hands of the Mission
happy. On Friday, however the Board School Headmaster School Headmaster, which indicates that, to some extent, all
comes to Swami’s class and confronts him in front of the class schools are the same in their harsh oppression of students like
about missing drill practice all week. Swami protests that Dr. Swami. This time, Swami rebels even more forcefully, physically
Kesavan had said he would “die if [he] attended drill” and that robbing the headmaster of his strength by taking his cane. With this
the doctor should have talked to the headmaster. The action, Swami moves still farther on his journey to self-
headmaster dismisses Swami’s defense and Swami realizes that actualization, haphazard though it may be.
the doctor betrayed him. The headmaster prepares to cane
Swami, but without thinking Swami grabs the cane, throws it
out the window, and runs away from school.
Swami sits under a tree to think through his situation. He In this moment, Swami’s father is not only powerless to help Swami,
realizes that there are no more schools in Malgudi, and that his but he transforms into something of threat to Swami’s well-being.
behavior might mean that even schools in other cities wouldn’t Facing this new reality, Swami chooses uncertainty rather than this
accept him. He thinks that he might have to get a job, and new version of his formerly protective father.
although he would enjoy having money, he knows that his
father won’t let him live at home without going to school.
Swami decides that he cannot face his father, and chooses to
leave the city on his own.
Swami continues onward to his old school, the Mission School. Swami’s sudden fond feelings toward the Mission School indicate
He feels full of nostalgia and misses everything about it, from that, as much as it caused him pain while he was there, the school
his friends to his teachers to the Mission School Headmaster, acts as a kind of home in Swami’s life. This change in Swami’s
whom he now finds dignified. He feels as if he is an outcast and feelings offers a new perspective on the school as site of colonialism;
has no choice but to leave Malgudi. He wishes to talk to Rajam just as Swami ends up feeling comfortable in the familiarity of a
and Mani before going, so Swami goes behind the school and place that oppressed him, so too must the Indian people learn to call
waits for a young boy to come outside to blow his nose. He calls their colonized nation home.
the boy over and offers him an almond peppermint in exchange
for going and getting Rajam from his class. The boy agrees and
returns with Rajam. Swami gives the boy a three-paise coin
rather than the promised peppermint, which disappoints the
boy, but he goes back to his class nonetheless.
CHAPTER 16
Swami’s father walks through town, ashamed of himself as he The sudden shift to Swami’s father’s perspective marks one of the
moves toward the Sarayu river. He is planning to look for only times that the narrative strays from a close focus on Swami
Swami’s body in the water and feels ridiculous doing so, but he himself. This section is particularly notable because it shows the
also feels unable to return home without finding news of his humanity of Swami’s father in a newly immediate way, letting the
missing son. Swami’s mother and grandmother are at home, reader see the emotional, vulnerable side of his character that had
“dazed and demented” with worry about Swami. previously been hidden.
Swami’s father thinks back to earlier in the evening, when he Swami’s father’s confusion over the role that he himself might have
had not yet been worried about Swami and had only gone played in Swami’s disappearance points to a key moment in the
looking for him to “please his wife and mother.” He checked changing relationship between Swami and his family. At this point,
Swami’s school, as well as Rajam’s house, and was unable to it’s unclear even to Swami’s father whether or not he is his son’s
find Mani’s house. He returned home after an hour without protector. As Swami moves beyond the reach of his family’s safety in
news, which made Swami’s mother and grandmother even the book’s final section, his father’s sense of his own identity
more nervous. Eventually, their worry began to rub off on him becomes as fragile as Swami’s.
and he became convinced that something had happened to
Swami. Granny seemed to blame him for Swami’s
disappearance, but he thought back over his actions during the
day and couldn’t think of anything that would have driven
Swami away. He went out again, leaving his wife crying at home.
Swami’s father considers checking the hospital, but thinks that The final phase of this chapter highlights Swami’s father weakened
he is not brave enough to see Swami injured if he is indeed state, as he finds his own bravery lacking. Furthermore, his sincere
inside. Instead he goes toward the river, praying and wondering fear that he may find his son drowned or dead on the train tracks
what he will do if he does find Swami’s body in the water. illuminates just how dangerous Swami’s world has become; he is
However, he sees nothing but shadows on the water and still a child in some ways, but he is now fully subject to all of life’s
proceeds to the railway station. He walks along the rails for dangers, as well.
about a mile and finds nothing, stopping once to see whether a
wet patch is blood. When he finds that it is water, he thanks
God.
CHAPTER 17
Swami walks alone on a road branching off the familiar trunk Even before realizing he is lost, Swami misses home intensely and
road of Malgudi. He walks for a mile and finds the road quiet, regrets his decision to leave school, already finding his reasons for
deserted, and unfamiliar. He wishes to be back on the trunk fleeing trivial. In this sense, the self that Swami was only a few hours
road, and realizes that he has been walking for hours. Swami before has already become a stranger to him, demonstrating the
misses home, imagining all of the food the cook makes and depth of the instability of his identity during this sequence. But as
thinking of eating with his mother. As the sun begins to set, much as he wishes to be at home, he remains in unfamiliar
Swami rests and then decides to go home. He thinks that his geographic territory, again illustrating his half-independent, half-
troubles at school don’t matter after all and he is surprised that childish state.
he ever thought he needed to run away. Swami regrets not
telling his father what happened and is especially sorry to miss
cricket practice leading up to the match.
Swami walks toward home, thinking of the excuses he will give Swami continues to think of excuses to tell his parents even as he
his parents. After some time, he feels that he should have finds himself far from their influence, demonstrating the difficulty of
reached the trunk road but still seems to be far away on an separating from his family’s sphere. This section also marks the
unfamiliar road. Night falls and Swami becomes nervous, beginning of Swami’s temporary dissolution of identity, as he feels
realizing that he might still be far from home. He begins to walk the barriers between himself and the rest of the world grow thinner
faster and is unnerved by the “uncanny ghostly quality” of birds and perceives his own name coming from outside himself. Swami
fluttering in the quiet trees. As Swami continues, he wishes to has frequently redefined his identity throughout the story, but at
run but is afraid of making noise. He feels that his senses this point, he begins to reach a state of barely having an identity at
become more keen, hearing small noises that he cannot identify all.
or understand. Eventually, Swami even hears his name
whispered through the night and thinks that he sees a monster
crouching in the shadows, though it turns out to be a group of
trees.
Swami looks forward to reaching the trunk road soon and feels This moment of false hope adds emphasis to the idea that Swami
“a momentary ecstasy” when he comes into a clearing that may not ultimately have control over his circumstances or sense of
looks like the trunk road and he is able to see the stars self. Though he goes forward confidently, he remains lost
overhead. He decides to go forward without resting but quickly nonetheless, showing the extent to which his life is circumscribed by
realizes that the road he is on lacks some of the signs of the outside forces even at this moment of unprecedented autonomy.
trunk road and is probably a different location. Beginning to
walk anyway, he soon finds himself lost in tall grass and has to
turn back the way he came.
Pausing, Swami is forced to accept that he is far from home late As the barrier between Swami’s inner life and the threats of the
at night, and that he does not know how to get back. He outside world breaks down at last, he loses all sense of himself as a
becomes “faint with fear” and is barely able to continue coherent individual. In this moment of complete disorientation,
walking, and he feels the dark world around him closing in with Swami falls back on a fantasy that illustrates the essential
“a sense of inhumanity.” Swami falls to the ground and cries scaffolding of his life. Associated with both the supportive power of
aloud, praying for someone to rescue him. With his imagination Swami’s friends and the oppressive power of British rule, cricket’s
running wild, Swami thinks he sees a succession of deadly appearance at this crucial moment symbolizes the paradoxical but
creatures—elephants, tigers, cobras, even demons—attacking nevertheless powerful forces that shape Swami’s existence.
him. Soon, he falls into a fantasy that he is playing cricket in the
coming match, playing well and watching his team win, with the
odd addition that the Board School Headmaster is playing for
the opposing team. He collapses with exhaustion, imagining
that he is still on the cricket field.
Swami regains consciousness and does not understand where When Swami awakens in an unfamiliar place, his sense of self
he is. At first he thinks he is at home, but then begins to remains diffuse, and he attempts to regain it by talking to the man
remember his recent ordeal and looks around him in confusion, he perceives to be his father. However, it quickly becomes clear that
unable to see clearly. He sees and hears a man talking to him this source of comfort and stability is an empty one; Swami does not
and wonders why his father is there with him. The man says know whether the man is his father or what his purpose is.
that his father will arrive soon, which makes Swami even more Regaining consciousness after his ordeal, Swami finds himself still
confused; he wonders whether the man is his father and, without a clear identity and severed from his family connections in
whether or not he is, what he is doing there. an unprecedented way.
The man turns out to be Mr. Nair, the District Forest Officer. As in Swami’s fantasy, cricket is the first thing to ground him in
He recalls helping to revive Swami and notes that Swami was reality as he regains his composure, again showing how crucial its
not at first able to explain who he is, where he is from, or what dual meaning is in supporting Swami’s sense of self. In this case, the
happened to him. Now, he finds Swami outside, practicing issues of the cricket match allow Swami to return to himself enough
cricket bowling with a tree and some rocks. Swami thanks Mr. to explain who he is and get Mr. Nair to help him return home.
Nair for helping him and says how eager he is to get back in
time for his match. He asks what day it is and Mr. Nair tells him
it is Sunday. Swami is horrified at this news because the match
is on Sunday, but Nair quickly amends what he said and tells
Swami that it is Saturday. He promises to get Swami home by
evening if he can explain who he is.
CHAPTER 18
On Sunday afternoon, the cricket match between M.C.C. and Without Swami present, the reader gains advance knowledge of the
Y.M.U. is underway. The M.C.C. is losing and Rajam is furious, in fissure that is forming between Rajam and Swami as a result of the
particular regretting that his team does not have a good cricket match. While cricket helped Swami return home safely in the
bowler. Rajam’s father interrupts the game to give him a letter previous chapter, in this one it causes a painful break between him
about Swami, from which Rajam learns that Swami is safe. and his closest friend, again showing the complex effects of this
Rajam’s father plans to leave and give the letter to Swami’s symbol of British power. This chapter also marks the most
father and asks Rajam if he would like to come. Rajam declines, significant transformation in Rajam’s character, as he goes from
saying that he doesn’t care about Swami and wants to stay at being an encouraging leader to a cold former friend. An extension of
the match. Rajam begins to tell Mani that Swami is safe, but the changes of social roles that Swami witnessed earlier in the book,
then remembers that he has resolved not to care about Swami this instance is perhaps the most extreme example of the fluidity of
and stops talking before giving Mani the news. individual identity, as Rajam actively chooses to stop caring about
Swami.
Mani arrives to visit Swami and the two friends go into the The start of this scene with Mani indicates Swami’s continued
backyard to talk. Mani has heard the story of Swami’s naivete, as he assumes that his friendships will continue in the same
disappearance from Rajam and calls him a fool for running away comfortable pattern he is used to. This moment marks the last time
from the Board School Headmaster, but he also expresses that Swami is able to feel confident in his connection with Mani and
concern for Swami and asks where he was when he went Rajam, although the reader already knows that this connection has
missing. Swami tells Mani the whole story of his terrifying been strained by the results of the cricket match.
night, being picked up by Ranga, and then being rescued by Mr.
Nair and forgetting to say goodbye. Mani recommends that
Swami write him a letter of thanks and Swami agrees, saying
how grateful he is that Mr. Nair returned him in time for the
cricket match.
Mani explains, to Swami’s dismay, that the cricket match has With the revelation that he has missed the cricket match, Swami is
already happened earlier that day, Sunday. He tells the story of forced to accept that his plan has failed and that his close
the team’s defeat and the ways in which it was Swami’s fault for relationships will be altered as a result. Swami attempts to evade
being absent. Swami is devastated and changes his mind about responsibility by blaming Mr. Nair, a surrogate father figure, but the
writing to Mr. Nair, who told him that it was only Saturday. consequences of Swami’s actions remain unchanged. Furthermore,
Mani also tells Swami that Rajam is furious with Swami and will Swami admits that he must return to the Board School, indicating
never speak to him again. Swami begs Mani to help him that as much as Swami has changed, he must still operate largely
reconcile with Rajam, but Mani says there is nothing he can do. within the structures that have always constrained his life.
Swami plans to see Rajam the following morning, and also
informs Mani that he will be returning to the Board School the
following week.
CHAPTER 19
Ten days later, Swami gets up early in order to get to the train Although Swami has returned to the safety of his family’s home, his
station, from which Rajam is about to leave. Rajam’s father is new knowledge of the world’s dangers and the true instability of
being transferred to a new city, which Swami learned the individual identity has left him irrevocably changed. Despairing at
previous evening from Mani. Swami feels desolate knowing the loss of Rajam, Swami no longer has a clear sense of himself and
that Rajam will soon be gone, unable to imagine life without his place in the world.
him. In particular, Swami is ashamed because he has not found
the courage to go and see Rajam since missing the cricket
match. When Swami heard the news from Mani, he asked Mani
to come to his house early the next morning to go to the station
with him, but Mani said he could not because he would be
sleeping at Rajam’s house. Knowing that he is missing their final
night together fills Swami with despair and jealousy.
Swami arrives at the station in the dark early morning, holding Even at the last, Swami discovers that the presence of Rajam’s
the book of fairy tales. He sees Rajam and Mani get out of a powerful family and their police guard comes between himself and
car, along with Rajam’s family. He sees how tidy and refined his friend. Despite his newfound maturity and knowledge of the
Rajam looks and loses his courage, hiding in the shadows rather world, Swami is still subject to conventional power structures and
than going to speak to him. Rajam remains surrounded by his needs to ask his stronger friend Mani for help.
family and a group of policemen, and Swami is unable to find a
gap in which to speak to Rajam. The train arrives and Rajam’s
mother gets in as the policemen say goodbye to Rajam and
Rajam’s father. Swami finds Mani and asks if Rajam will speak to
him, and Mani says that he will.
Rajam gets onto the train and Swami asks for Mani’s help giving The uncertainty of this moment leaves Rajam’s final role in Swami’s
him the book. Mani runs to the window and calls to Rajam that life undetermined as he departs. At this point, the book’s theme of
Swami is there to say goodbye, but Rajam replies only by saying fluid identity comes to a head, as Rajam appears to be neither good
goodbye to Mani. Mani points out Swami again, and Swami calls nor bad but rather a mystery.
out to Rajam in despair. After looking at Swami for a moment,
Rajam says something but his words are drowned out by the
noise of the train. The train begins to move.
Swami hands the book of fairy tales to Mani in panic, and Mani Swami succeeds in his effort at repairing the friendship by passing
runs alongside the train to give it to Rajam. Rajam takes the the book off to Rajam with Mani’s help. However, neither he nor the
book and waves goodbye as the train departs. Swami waves reader knows if the attempt is successful, and Rajam and Swami’s
back, watching as the train vanishes from sight. Swami tells relationship to each other remains far from clear. At the end, even
Mani that he is glad he got to say goodbye and Mani tells Swami the previously simple Mani becomes impossible to interpret, and
that Rajam will write to him. Swami is surprised but Mani claims Swami has no choice but to acknowledge and accept the ambiguity
that he gave Rajam Swami’s address. Swami accuses Mani of of his words. This tolerance for uncertainty marks a new phase of
lying and asks him what the address is; Mani is unable to say. maturity for Swami as he continues to contend with the new
Still, he insists that he did give the address to Rajam. Swami confusions and complexities of his changed life.
looks at Mani and is ultimately unable to tell whether or not he
is joking or sincere.
To cite any of the quotes from Swami and Friends covered in the
HOW T
TO
O CITE Quotes section of this LitChart:
To cite this LitChart: MLA
MLA Narayan, R. K.. Swami and Friends. University of Chicago Press.
1980.
Sheldon-Dean, Hannah. "Swami and Friends." LitCharts. LitCharts
LLC, 23 Jul 2018. Web. 21 Apr 2020. CHICA
CHICAGO
GO MANU
MANUAL
AL
CHICA
CHICAGO
GO MANU
MANUAL
AL Narayan, R. K.. Swami and Friends. Chicago: University of Chicago
Press. 1980.
Sheldon-Dean, Hannah. "Swami and Friends." LitCharts LLC, July
23, 2018. Retrieved April 21, 2020. https://www.litcharts.com/lit/
swami-and-friends.