THE MAN-EATER OF MALGUDI

           

The Man-Eater of Malgudi released in 1961 is considered by many to be RK  Narayan’s finest work. It is a short novel showing that evil is self-destructive. In this novel, Narayan employs the Bhasmasura myth. The title of the novel is ironic for man-eater in the novel is no tiger, but a mighty man, Vasu.The story is narrated in the first person by the protagonist, Nataraj, a printer of Malgudi. In his printing work he is assisted by Mr. Sastri, 

The smooth and peaceful life of Nataraj is disturbed by the arrival H. Vasu, a taxidermist who comes to stay with them as a tenant in a room in the upper floor of Nataraj's printing press. Vasu, a man of about six feet, with bull neck, hammer fist and aggressive behaviour creates fear in the hearts of Nataraj and his friends. Nataraj tolerates him in his room upstairs till he makes himself unbearable by robbing Mempi forest of its wild life and collecting dead animals in his room for stuffing them.

When even Nataraj’s neighbours complain to him about the unsanitary conditions of the neighbourhood, he requests Vasu to find a new house for himself and leave Nataraj alone. The taxidermist treats this as an insult and sues him for harassing him and trying to make him more out by unlawful means. The timely help from his clients, an old lawyer, saves Nataraj from the clutches of the law.

The crisis, however, comes to a head when the pitiless taxidermist threatens to kill Kumar, a temple elephant who is to be taken in a  procession organized to celebrate a poet’s completion of his religious book on Lord Krishna. Nataraj is very fond of the elephant, Kumar. He becomes upset and worried the moment he learns Vasu intends shooting it on the night of the proposed procession. Nataraj tells  the evil intentions of Vasu to his friend, the poet, the lawyer, and other important people of the town. The matter is reported to the police authorities but they say they cannot  take any action against him until the crime has been actually committed.

Nataraj constantly thinks of the danger awaiting Kumar. As the procession passes in front of his printing press, he feels uneasy and scared of hearing the fateful gun shots and cries of innocent people. He is surprised when the procession passes away without any harm being done.

Nataraj goes to his office in the morning.  He learns that Vasu, is dead. The police authorities of the town start investigations. Murder is suspected. However, medical reports say that Vasu had died from a concussion in his head received from a blunt instrument. Nataraj later finds out from one of Vasu's friends that he had died due to his own hammer-fist that he used to hurt other people with. 

The story's moral is that evil is self-destructive and will always meet its end.