10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Tale Of Love & The Common Man Touched By A Great Soul, May 2, 2005
This review is from: Waiting for Mahatma (Paperback)
R. K. Narayan's "Waiting For Mahatma" is set in southern India, in the fictional village of Malgudi, during the final years of the country's struggle for Independence from the British Empire. This is the second book I have read by Narayan, and I enjoyed both immensely. The author is a classic teller of tales, totally irreverent in his use of humor and irony. His straightforward prose is graceful and highly readable.
Sriram is an orphan who has lived with his Granny since childhood. His father was killed fighting for the British in Mesopotamia, and the grandmother has received a monthly military pension for the boy ever since. She saved every penny in an account set up for Sriram, and now that he is twenty years-old, she signs the account over to him. Feeling wealthy and quite independent, he strolls around town until he is stopped by a beautiful girl, asking for a contribution. She is collecting money for Mahatma Gandhi's work. And Mahatmaji is coming to visit the people of Malgudi.
Sriram is not particularly knowledgeable about Gandhi, nor has he thought much about Indian independence, the elimination of the caste system, and nonviolent civil disobedience. He is totally focused on the girl collecting coins for a cause. He wants to know her name, her age, her caste, her horoscope and whether she is free to marry him. He is love struck from the first glance. Later, Sriram wades into a great gathering of people, all awaiting the arrival of "the great soul," to look for the lovely young woman in the crowd. The throng suddenly cries out in one great voice, "Mahatma Gandhi Ki Jai!" He has arrived. The great man begins to clap his hands rhythmically and loudly and asks the crowd to do the same, with vigor and spirit. "No good. Not enough. I like to see more vigor in your arms, more rhythm, more spirit. It must be like the drum beats of the non-violent soldiers marching to cut the chains that bind Mother India."
Sriram eventually finds Bharati, the girl of his dreams, in Gandi's entourage. He asks to volunteer, to work for the cause, and charms Bharati by his obvious romantic intentions. She, however, has more serious matters on her mind. She brings Sriram to meet Gandhi, after he promises to tell the truth in all things. He suddenly blurts out that he wants to work and live in the ashram so he can be close to Bharati. Gandhi responds that Bharati must be pleased to have such a fine friend. He will permit Sriram to travel with him and his followers for a few weeks if Granny permits. When the Mahatma finally leaves the area, Sriram becomes Bharati's disciple, and she his Guru, with the great man's blessing. His parting words to the boy are, "Spin and read Bhagavad Gita, and utter Ram Nam continuously, and then you will know what to do in life." He promises to write to both of them, and he does.
As the struggle becomes more intense, Gandhi is jailed and many of his followers choose to protest by going to prison also. Such a one is Bharati. Sriram is left on his own to do the best he can and remain faithful to the ideals he has dedicated himself to. Although his version of nonviolent resistance is quite different from Gandhi's and Bharati's.
Although I found fascinating, and terribly moving, all the narrative that has to do with Mahatma Gandhi, this is, in fact, a story of the common man. Most of the novel's characters are touched only slightly by the political events taking place in their nation. Their primary concerns are much more basic - food, shelter, clothing, health, etc.. The problems of the larger world may intrude occasionally, but not for long. The author perfectly portrays the small village and its peoples concerns, trials and tribulations, and juxtaposes them against Mahatma Gandhi's take on the big picture and love for his people. This is a wonderful novel which I highly recommend.
JANA
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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
An excellent tale of a man's life intertwined with his land., April 20, 1999
By A Customer
This review is from: Waiting for Mahatma (Paperback)
A truly Indian experience. As told by R.K. Narayan this story evolves from a dreamy pace to a fevered pitch. Sriram is a child growing up in his own world. A world of security, comfort and laziness. What is it that drives this youth to seek change? The entrance of a romance in his life, the natural process of growing up or is it the Mahatma? Narayan uses his narrative style and rustic observation to enrich this tale and capture the spirit of rural India coming to terms with its liberation. What does this liberty mean? Our hero's life has changed for good. Driven by the spirit of the events unfolding around him Sriram is involved in the fight for freedom. But Sriram's motives are suspect. And has his life really changed? Yet Sriram is still capable of selfless action. His love for Bharathi and his devotion to her vindicate his motives. With his characteristic charm Narayan has recreated the common life amidst a historic perspective. For lovers of Narayan this is a must read. Enjoy.
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3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Love transcends everything, September 7, 2002
This review is from: Waiting for Mahatma (Paperback)
Sriram, a 20-year old lad with lots of money, a loving grandmother and all the time in the world (to waste) meets Bharati, a beautiful woman. And as it always happens, falls in love instantly. But Bharati is involved in the Indian freedom struggle, and is a disciple of Mahatma Gandhi, the father of the independence movement. She is a serious-minded woman and will think of nothing other than the task on hand. Sriram realises that the only way to win her hand is by immersing himself in the freedom movement.
Thus he embarks on a life of struggles - he deserts his grandmother and all the money. At times, Sriram thinks if he should ever have altered the course of his life. Did he not enjoy life before? But love transcends everything. And for that one woman in his life, he will undergo any tribulation. He is waiting for her, but will she? The ending of the story is quite excellent, and will have you spellbound.
Set in the 1940s, this book wonderfully narrates the freedom struggle through the eyes of Sriram and Bharati. To me, it is the most important work of R.K. Narayan and ranks alongside his classic debut novel, Swami and Friends.
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