Narayan brought out intricacies of South Indian life

By Our Staff Reporter

CHENNAI, JUNE 4.

Nearly three weeks after novelist R.K.Narayan died, it was time for reminiscence once again, as Chennai remembered with great fondness, his life and literary contributions.

At a memorial meeting organised here today jointly by the Madras Book Club and Penguin India, speakers recalled the writings of the late author, paying tributes to his art and peculiar skill to elevate the ordinary into the literary.

Chennai chronicler, Mr.S.Muthiah, said Narayan was among the best three novelists read widely in India and abroad. His ability to tell a story simply and entertainingly set an example for other young Indian writers to follow.

Mr.Timeri N.Murari, writer, said those living abroad and writing about India would have to take Narayan's advice that they should come back to the country and write from here. Comparing him with the American novelist, Hemingway, Mr.Murari said Narayan's characters were etched in the reader's mind.

Mr.Sadanand Menon, journalist, said the Indian mainstream media was guilty of trivialising the author and reducing him to anecdotes.

Pointing out that Narayan had an exceptionally long writing career, Mr.N.Ram, Editor, Frontline said the late author was a master of `omissions' and the `clear glass style of writing'. In his art, he combined integrity with practicality, never succumbing to the publisher's prod to `write more'. Through his novels, short stories and essays, he presented to the rest of the Indians and a vast cross cultural audience, the intricacies of South Indian life.

Mr.Sreekumar Verma read out an unpublished short story of R.K.Narayan, `The Writerly Life'.

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