Under the Banyan

Tree
By R.K. Narayan
(Rasipuram Krishnaswami Narayan)
 R.K. Narayan: An Introduction
One of the most famous and
widely read Indian novelists.
Born on October 10, 1906 in
Madras(Now Chennai)
Began his writing career with
Swami and Friends in 1935
Most of his works are set in
the fictional (Unreal) town of
Malgudi.
Guide is not an exception
(viokn) to this.
 Introduction Continued…
• Writing style marked by
simplicity and subtle
humor.
• Tells stories of ordinary
people trying to live their
simple lives in a changing
world.
• Died on May 13, 2001
 His famous works
• The Bachelor of Arts (1937)
• The Dark Room (1938)
• The English Teacher (1945)
• The Financial Expert (1952)
• The Guide (1958)
• The Man-Eater of Malgudi
(1961)
• The Vendor of Sweets
(1967)
• Malgudi Days (1982)
• The Grandmother's Tale
(1993)
 Various Awards
• Sahitya Akademi Award
for The Guide in 1960.
• Padma Bhushan in 1964.
• AC Benson Medal by the
Royal Society of
Literature in 1980.
• Elected an honorary
member of the
American Academy and
Institute of Arts and
Letters in 1982
 Under the Banyan Tree
• “Under the Banyan Tree,” the title story in R.
K. Narayan's collection Under the Banyan
Tree, and Other Stories (1985), appeared
originally in his earlier volume, An Astrologer's
Day, and Other Stories (1947).
• It is the story of an old-fashioned storyteller
named Nambi, in whom Narayan has created
a character of mythic dimensions. The story
radiates its author's deep love for tradition as
he, using the omniscient point of view,
nostalgically evokes the Old World charm of
oral storytelling by showcasing Nambi