Children and Childhood in the Short Stories of R K Narayan- An Autobiographical Perspective

Abstract

R K Narayan is one of the three in the “holy trinity” of Indian Writing in English. A highly acclaimed writer, master story teller, his characters and his portrayal of ‘Malgudi’ with coruscating virtuosity are testament to his enduring appeal to the readers and critics alike. He is one of the very few, writing in those times, who delved deep in the world of children. His stories of ‘Swami and his Friends’ firmly establish his status as a writer with rare insight into child psychology. This insight, however, is rooted in Narayan’s own experiences as a child. His ouvre can be read as an autobiography of the author himself. Although the autobiographical strain invests all his writings, the present article is an attempt to study his short stories as reflection of his own personal experiences, particularly with reference to his childhood.
Keywords: Indian writing in English; Children; childhood; autobiographical; Malgudi.