Book Review: Waiting for the Mahatma by R. K. Narayan
*SPOILER ALERT* proceed only if you have already read the book (or if you do not intend to read it) (or if you don't mind reading books which have been spoilt for you)
Published in 1955, Waiting for the Mahatma is set in pre- independent India, in the fictional town of Malgudi. Sriram, a twenty- four- year old falls in love with Bharati, a feisty, quick- witted and sharp- tongued young girl with the backdrop of rising nationalism in the 1940s.
My mom bought this book way back at Dakshinchitra in Chennai, along with The English Teacher, by the same author. I was perhaps seven or eight. At the time, I was only allowed and encouraged to read The English Teacher (I suppose I must have liked it), and this one just sat on the bookshelf all these years. What made me pick it up recently was the idea that it seemed like a quick read (I'm lagging behind schedule on the 2018 Reading Challenge on Goodreads); I finished it in 4 hours.
As always, I will begin with what I liked about the book.
R. K. Narayan's mastery of his craft is evident in the way he has seamlessly woven a non- fictional, HistoricalTM figure into a story that he's otherwise completely made up. Gandhiji's dogmas, beliefs and habits are introduced very naturally in the book, and Bharati is convincingly shown as somebody who clearly worships him.
He is not single- mindedly glorified (not that much) or presented as The One Holy Truth anywhere in the book. (That would have annoyed me, because as a history student, I know that history is always told from the perspective of the one who tells it; nobody is ever completely, perfectly, utterly good; bla bla bla). Even when there are instances of Bapuji being deified in the narrative, it is only done by the protagonists and not the narrator.
It provides an insight into orthodox, Indian ways of thinking and acting. This exchange between Sriram and his grandmother:
"Why should anything be concealed from anyone?""asked the boy.
"Because it's better so, that's all."
This curt exchange is only too relatable to the average Indian who gets snubbed for 'asking too many questions.' But I mean it in a good way; it's amusing that even a twenty- something- year- old would get rebuffed like that. Instances like this one, where the Indianness of the characters leaps off its pages make this book charming.
When Sriram goes about painting 'Quit India' on walls but does not want to waste his black paint on the letter 'Q' so he ends up writing what looks like 'Ouit India' everywhere. It's these small observations of our tendency for 'Bachat' and 'Jugaad' that show Narayan's genius.
Now, for the other side.
While one of the main themes of the novels is the 'unlikely romance' between Sriram and Bharati, I saw absolutely no chemistry between them. Anywhere. But we'll get to that later.
First for the main guy. Sriram was one of the most flat characters I have ever read. Sorry, was that too blunt? You'd think someone who'd lived in one place right from his birth would have developed some connections in the 24 years that he's been alive. I was also baffled to learn that Bharati is the first girl he's ever looked at? Like, friend, did you sleep through your adolescent years?
He's mean to his grandma, but in a grudging way he still respects and loves her, and I liked that: it's a cute relationship; but with Bharati, boy, was it whirlwind.
Which brings me to, where WAS the romance?? (I probably read too much YA, sorry) But seriously, he saw her like once. And he fell in eternal love.
He then goes looking for her everywhere, his soulmate. Like, son, no, that's called infatuation. I get that a lot of fictional characters fall in 'love upon first sight' but that is followed by, like, getting to know them, their personality, who they are.
But here, aint nobody got time for that! Skip riiiight to the courting.
If I were Bharati, I would've steered clear of someone who sneaked into the camp of Mahatma Gandhi at night, and said, "Who is Bapuji? I was only waiting for you to come out."
!!!STALKER ALERT!!!
Anyway, this goes on throughout the book. The scenes in which I could actually see them growing closer by virtue of their affection and fondness of the other person could be counted on my fingers. If I had no fingers. (#SAVAGE)
While his love (read: obsession) for Bharati leads him to become a Satyagrahi, a follower of ahimsa, non- violence, it brings about no change in his attitudes and beliefs. He pines for her while she's away, being a true patriot, and the motivation behind every single action of his is the hope that he might marry her. While his association with Bapu is brief, he magically becomes a worshipper and follower of him immediately.
"Though the Mahatma's physical presence was no longer with him, Sriram had the feeling that his movements were being guided."
There are many more reasons I dislike his character: he grabs at Bharati when they are alone in an abandoned temple, far away from civilization, without her consent (She has the good sense to leave, but not stay away *slaps forehead, rolls eyes*). He is easily impressionable. One would think he didn't have a mind of his own. His extremist activities upon the orders of Jagadish (um, like how do you take orders to burn a police station and overturn a train from someone you barely know?) and gets sent to jail, where he languishes for years, longing to be with... you-guessed-it.
When he finally gets released, he goes to Delhi to find Bharati (who has adamantly maintained so far that she would NOT marry him without Bapu's consent and blessing. Heck, I was secretly hoping that she was secretly hoping that Bapu would NOT give his consent, like, "Nah, that dude's WAY too clingy, child. Admit it, you don't even like him, you deserve someone better, even if he had half a brain cuz that'd be half more than this perv's got lol" But this was, of course, wishful thinking.)
They go to where the Satyagrahis are temporarily put up (and his sexual frustrations make him sniff at her Khadi saris, ew. Sorry, now I'm just being mean).
Anyway, here. Comes. The. Moment.
The-asking-for-consent-omg-what-if-he-says-no-omg-what-if-he-says-yes-omg-omg-omg Moment.
You know, at this point, I actually predicted the end. The novel's called Waiting for the Mahatma, right? I figured its like Sriram's been waiting for this moment, this man all his life. And then we all know what happens to Bapuji. I felt so intelligent.
Except I was wrong.
They do get their permission, and he even offers to be the priest at the marriage. Sriram and Bharati are elated.
(Side note: Scene of The Moment;
MG: Do you like each other so much?
Sriram: *bursts out* I've waited for five years thinking of nothing else!
Bharati: *bows her head and flushes and fidgets*
MG: Ah, that is the sign of a dutiful bride...Does this silence mean a yes?
Me: NO! NO! WTH, NO!
Sriram: *looks at her with bated breath*
MG: She'd be a very unbecoming bride, who spoke her mind aloud!
Like, what?? Wasn't her entire character throughout the book always speaking her mind aloud?? Why this sudden shift??)
Anyway. They are exhilarated.
They follow the Mahatma into the evening prayer assembly.
"As the Mahatma was about to step on the dais, the man took aim and fired. Two more shots rang out. The Mahatma fell on the dais. He was dead in a few seconds."
I loved the ending. Sudden, quick and shocking (to the characters, not me, ha.)
I still thought it was kinda disappointing that they did manage to get his blessing before he died, but then I'm content to make up an epilogue in my head where Bharati is so shook by the assassination of her father- figure that she takes the vow of celibacy and retires to the Himalayas to spend the rest of her worldly existence in meditation, away from weird, chauvinistic guys who are unable to look beyond bodily features at the beauty that lies within.
Happily ever after.
