BLOG POST 4: A Review on 'Grandmother's Tales' by R.K. Narayanan
‘Grandmother’s tale’ by R.K.Narayan is the story of his great grandmother, who lived in those days of child marriages. The writer’s great grandmother, Balambal, addressed as Bala was only seven when she was married and her husband being just ten years old. On one auspicious day she was clad in a sari, decked in jewellery and taken to the pillared hall of the temple where she was garlanded and made to sit beside a boy whom she was shy to look at. After the marriage, the girl’s life had changed. She could neither go out nor meet her husband except on special occasions. Bala’s husband, Viswa, had finally discovered a way to access her from the backyard of her house where she washed clothes.
One fine day he told her that he would be going away. When enquired why and with whom, he had no answer. He only said that he was joining the pilgrims beyond the river. But Viswa’s disappearance had extended for more than a month and had become a sensation in the village. Bala could not go out because of the stares and criticisms of people in the village. She showed herself outside home as little as possible except for a visit to the temple. Other women would look at her strangely and whisper among themselves. They felt that she was polluting the temple, as she was a widow pretending to be a sumangali.
One day the priest visits Bala’s house and advises her mother that Bala should be restricted from going to the temple because it’s sanctity had to be preserved. Bala however knew that her husband was alive and protested, claiming that she would not rest until she came back with her husband someday. Saying this she flounced out of the house. She joined travellers going on foot or by some mode of transport and reached Poona about a year later.
She was noticed one day by a Marathi old lady while roaming in the bazaars of Poona. While lamenting her grief’s to that lady in her own language (Tamil), someone in the crowd recognized her language and enquired if she was a Madarasi. A boy then guided her to a man who came there years back and would understand her language. She found herself sitting below the archway of a big house. Sitting there she noticed a man who was dressed in breeches and embroidered vest and crowned with a turban. She could not recognize him. She noticed him coming out of his house. He threw at her a brief glance and passed. (This was Viswa) Hours later, he sent his guards to flee her away.
At this point, a woman, middle aged and authoritative entered and demanded for her to be left alone. She was kind enough to offer food to Bala and take her round the house and garden. Slowly, Bala had become a close acquaintance of Surma, the kind lady, and learnt that Viswa was her husband now. He had been carrying on the trade of his late father-in-law. It had been ten years since Bala left her home and twenty years since Viswa left his. Bala had started making plans to bring Viswa back home. One day Bala convinces Surma for a trip to the South where they could visit many temples.
At a camp in Bangalore, Bala had lagged behind with a plan. She turned right about and went down the stairs leading to the waters edge. Once, she stood in neck deep water she screamt that she was drowning. Viswa and Surma came to the scene and panicked not knowing what to do. Bala soon told the truth and gave Viswa two options of choosing between Bala and Surma. Surma left with grief giving her blessings to the couple. Bala and Viswa finally reached the village where they found all the landmarks and people were gone. They searched for their old house but could not locate it.
Slowly, they settled in Kumbakonam where Viswa established himself as an appraiser of gems. Their first-born came two years later. Their third daughter was the writer’s grandmother and the fourth was a son. Changes were coming in Viswa and Bala’s lives. Once their son who had become a doctor left for Kolar, Viswa and Bala missed their children and found life dull. Bala had become tired and engaged a cook who brought along with her a twelve-year-old daughter. Slowly she passed away. Later Viswa was persuaded to go to Kolar with his son, leaving two rooms open for the caretaker and her daughter.
Viswa was proud of his son in the beginning. Later he started to brood over the fact that his son had been handing over his salary to his wife and imparted an undue significance to it. So he left the house one day and went back to his own house where the caretaker was. Viswa’s life had again entered another phase when he married the caretaker’s daughter who was now seventeen.
This new wife now had him under her control and had their eyes on his stock of precious stones. The wife’s mother finally consulted a local wiseacre to make her son-in-law friendly and amenable. The wiseacre gave her a packet with two pills and claimed that once the pills were assimilated into his system, he would follow his wife like a lamb. A grand feast was arranged that day and the woman managed to dissolve the two pills in his food. And Viswa’s end had come suddenly. All of Viswa’s assets were later taken charge of by Viswa’s fourth son Dr.Swaminathan.
One fine day he told her that he would be going away. When enquired why and with whom, he had no answer. He only said that he was joining the pilgrims beyond the river. But Viswa’s disappearance had extended for more than a month and had become a sensation in the village. Bala could not go out because of the stares and criticisms of people in the village. She showed herself outside home as little as possible except for a visit to the temple. Other women would look at her strangely and whisper among themselves. They felt that she was polluting the temple, as she was a widow pretending to be a sumangali.
One day the priest visits Bala’s house and advises her mother that Bala should be restricted from going to the temple because it’s sanctity had to be preserved. Bala however knew that her husband was alive and protested, claiming that she would not rest until she came back with her husband someday. Saying this she flounced out of the house. She joined travellers going on foot or by some mode of transport and reached Poona about a year later.
She was noticed one day by a Marathi old lady while roaming in the bazaars of Poona. While lamenting her grief’s to that lady in her own language (Tamil), someone in the crowd recognized her language and enquired if she was a Madarasi. A boy then guided her to a man who came there years back and would understand her language. She found herself sitting below the archway of a big house. Sitting there she noticed a man who was dressed in breeches and embroidered vest and crowned with a turban. She could not recognize him. She noticed him coming out of his house. He threw at her a brief glance and passed. (This was Viswa) Hours later, he sent his guards to flee her away.
At this point, a woman, middle aged and authoritative entered and demanded for her to be left alone. She was kind enough to offer food to Bala and take her round the house and garden. Slowly, Bala had become a close acquaintance of Surma, the kind lady, and learnt that Viswa was her husband now. He had been carrying on the trade of his late father-in-law. It had been ten years since Bala left her home and twenty years since Viswa left his. Bala had started making plans to bring Viswa back home. One day Bala convinces Surma for a trip to the South where they could visit many temples.
At a camp in Bangalore, Bala had lagged behind with a plan. She turned right about and went down the stairs leading to the waters edge. Once, she stood in neck deep water she screamt that she was drowning. Viswa and Surma came to the scene and panicked not knowing what to do. Bala soon told the truth and gave Viswa two options of choosing between Bala and Surma. Surma left with grief giving her blessings to the couple. Bala and Viswa finally reached the village where they found all the landmarks and people were gone. They searched for their old house but could not locate it.
Slowly, they settled in Kumbakonam where Viswa established himself as an appraiser of gems. Their first-born came two years later. Their third daughter was the writer’s grandmother and the fourth was a son. Changes were coming in Viswa and Bala’s lives. Once their son who had become a doctor left for Kolar, Viswa and Bala missed their children and found life dull. Bala had become tired and engaged a cook who brought along with her a twelve-year-old daughter. Slowly she passed away. Later Viswa was persuaded to go to Kolar with his son, leaving two rooms open for the caretaker and her daughter.
Viswa was proud of his son in the beginning. Later he started to brood over the fact that his son had been handing over his salary to his wife and imparted an undue significance to it. So he left the house one day and went back to his own house where the caretaker was. Viswa’s life had again entered another phase when he married the caretaker’s daughter who was now seventeen.
This new wife now had him under her control and had their eyes on his stock of precious stones. The wife’s mother finally consulted a local wiseacre to make her son-in-law friendly and amenable. The wiseacre gave her a packet with two pills and claimed that once the pills were assimilated into his system, he would follow his wife like a lamb. A grand feast was arranged that day and the woman managed to dissolve the two pills in his food. And Viswa’s end had come suddenly. All of Viswa’s assets were later taken charge of by Viswa’s fourth son Dr.Swaminathan.
In the story, R.K.Narayan portrays how an innocent docile young girl like Bala changed into a strong smart woman. The zeal with which she finds Viswa and gets him back is the main part of the story. As the story was completely told from Bala’s point of view, there were many questions unanswered. Why did Viswa become ready to desert his second wife even though he loved her? What happened to Surma, his second wife when Viswa abandoned her? Though he prospered after coming back to his village, why didn’t he make any efforts to search for Surma?
