The Independent Indian Woman Painted by R. K. Narayan Megha Ghosh College

Narayan has covered a whole range of human ages from boyhood to the old age. He has presented a whole variety of characters, viewing the landscapes of human existence from a rich assortment and perspectives. His characterization ranges from adolescent fantasy to renunciative reflection. He has tried to show the real picture of the south Indian middle class society with their agony and sufferings especially in the case of women

R. K. Narayan’s protagonists, antagonists and peripheral characters are mostly men. One tends to forget that he has also created a number of complex, and sometimes, strong women characters. Interestingly, the novels featuring women in significant roles, namely The Dark Room, Mr.Sampath, The Guide and so on virtually offer a timeline on the changing situation of women in India before and after Independence. One has to analyze Rosie fully by locating her amongst the gallery of Narayan’s women.

Shanti, in ‘Mr.Sampath’, seems to function as an anticipation of the far more fully developed character of Rosie. Unlike Savitri in ‘The Dark Room’, when Rosie is rejected by her husband in ‘The Guide’, she is able to uphold herself through her art, like Shanti, who was an actress and dancer in ‘Mr.Sampath’. Shanti,...