The world of Nagraj truly depicts the world of the main protagonist. Written in the form of dialogue the novel is an apt illustration of the people around Nagraj, the central character and the picture of his world through them. The title, "the world of Nagraj" thus offers a clear view of the storyline of the novel.
Born in 1906, R. K. Narayan impresses the whole world with his write-ups till the age of 95 years. And is survived by his brother, Mr. R. K. Laxman, the famous cartoonist of the `Common man`, son-in-law and two grandchildren. Narayan`s publications include, short stories, essays, epics, sketches and memoirs, all of which tried to convey his understanding of the land and the people he knew. His work was born out of his own `regional` experience. He wrote in English but the inseparable tinge of the flavours of Tamil was still there. Tamil was the language the genius grew up with. His works have been extensively translated in Hebrew and European languages as well. Narayan all total wrote 34 novels, including all-time favourites as The Bachelor of Arts, The Man-eater of Malgudi, The Financial Expert and Malgudi Days. Swami And Friends and Malgudi Days were made into a highly successful Doordrshan series in the eighties by the late Kannada filmmaker Shankar Nag. Dev Anand`s Navketan Films made another of Narayan`s hit novels, The Guide, into a successful Hindi film in 1962. All his works were possible to make on celluloid as those were already have that characteristics to make the people mesmerized.
Synopsis:
The protagonist in this story is Nagaraj. The story revolves around Nagaraj. He is a rich aristocrat belonging to the wealthy Kabir Lane. He enjoys his time at home,lecturing his wife Sita or seated on the pyol watching people move around in the mystical town of Malgudi. In his free time he works for free doing the accounts for his friend Coomar`s sari shop, he eats in his favorite cafe, he gossips with his neighbour the Talkative Man, and he plans to write a book about the sage Narada. He is forever planning snappy responses or forceful actions he never finds the courage to carry out He is unable to stand up even to his wife Sita, his brother Gopu, or his nephew Tim. Not even when Tim`s wife Saroja`s harmonica playing destroys the peace of his home. His plans to write about Narada never come to much, between his own worthlessness and the uncooperativeness of the pundits he has to work with.
The story is published with Viking adult, William Heinemann Ltd., Vintage, Minerva, Penguin USA, and Mandarin.
Mostly told through dialogue, `The World of Nagaraj` is a portrait of Nagaraj and the people around him and through them of the town of Malgudi. Narayan`s characters are memorable and unique in every way. But these are placed solidly in their settings that they seem almost inevitable. All the characters are connected to one another and plays a realistic as well as practical role.
