The
Guru-shishya theme in The Guide / Role of Velan
R.
K. Narayan has been described in The Times Literary Supplement as "awriter
having few equals among modern novelists." His novel The Guide is a
fineexample of his talent at its mature best.Narayan, a writer of ordinary
humanity and ordinary emotions, aims at a comprehensive view of humanity.In
this novel, Narayan presents in his characteristically muted manner, the story
of a radical spiritual conversion. It dramatizes one of Narayan's
recurringthemes—self-renunciation as the means to spiritual peace. ‘The
Guide’ tracing the growth of a corrupt tourist guide, Raju into a spiritual
guide, focuses on the spiritual relationship between a Hindu Guru (Raju) and a
Shishya (Velan). Narayan has tackled an invaluable relationship between the
Guru and the Shishya with great interest.
The
novel begins by Raju’s meeting with Velan, outside an abandoned temple in a
village named Mangala on the bank of the river, Sarayu. Raju, unable to
face the people of Malgudi, hides himself to live in secrecy. The
relationship starts with ambiguity and uncertainty for Raju who is not sure of
his future after his release from prison. For Velan, the relationship is
certain as it is based on his faith that Raju as a swami and a saviour, will
provide them peace and serenity.
Velan is trusting and respectful. Upon setting eyes on Raju, he seems to
identify something spiritual, and immediately puts his faith in him as a holy
man.
The
first meeting between Raju and Velan is significant. Raju welcomes Velan as he
is lonely while Velan gazes at him reverently. Velan has a problem on his mind
and Raju’s presence outside the temple makes him believe that he has been sent
here to help him. Raju, ‘the guide and every man’s helper’, solves Velan’s
problem and proves him a spiritual saint in the eyes of Velan and his sister.
The news spreads fast and Raju becomes a swami overnight.Velan encourages other
villagers to visit the Swami and soon Raju is rarely ever alone again. The
ignorant and illiterate villagers bring him offerings and Velan becomes his
staunchest disciple. Velan, his creator remains devoted and thus he plays an
important role in shaping Raju’s destiny. After careful consideration, Raju
realizes that ‘he has no alternative’ and he has to play the role given by
Velan.
It is Velan’s
faith in Raju that precipitates the latter’s transformation into a holy man of
renown as other villagers also begin to put their trust
in his powers. Later,
when Raju is being forced to fast, he makes a confession of his past life of
lies and crime, but Velan is unmoved. The ‘sraddha’ of his rustic disciple,
Velan towards him is so deep that he refuses to believe. The devoted ‘sraddha’
of the peasant brings about the transformation of the rogue, Raju into a saint.Velan’s trust is such that, even after
Raju confesses to him his life of deceit and trickery, his faith remains
unshaken: and it is this act of trust that motivates Raju to genuinely try to
help the villagers by undertaking a fast to bring about rains to end the
drought under which they suffer.
Thus
the unshakeable faith of the people of Mangala transforms Raju into an
instrument of their will and so he feels naturally inclined to fast for their
survival. Here the guru-shishya relationship reaches its fulfillment and
reveals the spiritual achievement of Raju. Raju’s martyrdom is a triumph of
Velan’s faithful devotion and faith in Raju. Velan acts as Raju’s support to the very last,
helping him down to the river to hold vigil on the final day of the fast.
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