I am deeply anguished on reading the news that R.K Narayan's house in Mysore was nearly demolished (“Stay on demolition of house where R.K. Narayan lived,” Sept. 6) In his autobiography “ My Days ,” he has narrated the ordeals that he underwent in constructing his house.
Intellectuals should rise to the occasion and prevent its demolition, and help convert it into a memorial by displaying his manuscripts, pictures and mementos, etc. In his novel “ English Teacher ,” he says that the trappings of trade do not leave us anywhere. It is tragic that the great storyteller's house is facing disaster.
D.V. Raghavan,Bangalore
The sentiments of thousands of R.K. Narayan fans would have been shattered had the Mysore City Corporation not prevented the demolition. We have to honour the creator of Malgudi and Swami and Friends .
P.U. Krishnan,Udhagamandalam
What is relevant is not the heritage value of the structure in terms of its age, but the fact that sitting in it, the internationally reputed writer shaped a fictitious world for us to delight in. The silence echoing from every nook and cranny of the house, loud with the vibrant strains of the man's creative urges, would be audible to every ardent R.K. fan. The Karnataka government should follow the example of Kerala which has taken over the house of Thakazhi Sivasankara Pillai, another writer of global fame.
C. Divakaran,Thiruvanathapuram
