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{{Short description|Novel}}
{{for|the academic degree|Bachelor of Arts}}
{{Multiple issues|
{{sources|date=May 2018}}
{{Sources exist|date=February 2024}}
}}
{{infobox book |
{{infobox book |
| name = The Bachelor of Arts
| name = The Bachelor of Arts
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| translator =
| translator =
| image = File:Book_cover_of_The_Bachelor_of_Arts_by_R.K.Narayan.jpg
| image = File:Book_cover_of_The_Bachelor_of_Arts_by_R.K.Narayan.jpg
| caption =
| caption = First edition
| author = [[R. K. Narayan]]
| author = [[R. K. Narayan]]
| illustrator =
| illustrator =
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| followed_by = [[The English Teacher]]
| followed_by = [[The English Teacher]]
}}
}}
'''''The Bachelor of Arts''''' (1937) is a novel written by [[R. K. Narayan]]. It is the second book of a trilogy that begins with ''[[Swami and Friends]]'' and ends with ''[[The English Teacher]]''. It is again set in [[Malgudi]], the fictional town Narayan invented for his novels.
'''''The Bachelor of Arts''''' (1937) is a novel written by [[R. K. Narayan]]. It is the second book of a trilogy that begins with ''[[Swami and Friends]]'' and ends with ''[[The English Teacher]]''.<ref>{{cite book|title=New Insights Into the Novels of R.K. Narayan|editor=M. K. Bhatnagar|publisher=[[Atlantic Publishers & Dist]]|year=2002|isbn=9788126901784|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=vA4LZtkvVjoC&dq=%22The+Bachelor+of+Arts%22&pg=PA106|page=106}}</ref> It is again set in [[Malgudi]], the fictional town Narayan invented for his novels.


== Plot summary ==
== Plot summary ==


The story follows the coming-of-age of Chandran, a young upper-middle class college graduate into adulthood. Chandran falls in love with Malathi, who he desires to marry. Their relationship is rejected by her parents as Chandran's horoscope<ref name="critical">{{Cite book|title=Critical Response to R.K. Narayan|editor=Amar Nath Prasad|publisher=[[Sarup & Sons]]|year=2003|isbn=9788176253703|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Vy0m8FpNXx8C|page=83}}</ref> describes him as having a [[Mangala Dosha]] -- a superstition in which a marriage to a non-Manglik, Malathi, would lead to her early death. Malathi is then married to someone else.
The story describes the complex transition of an adolescent mind into adulthood and the heartbreak which a youth faces. It revolves around a young man named Chandran, who resembles an Indian upper middle class youth of the pre-independence era. First, Chandran's college life in late [[British India|colonial]] times is described. After graduation, he falls in love with a girl, but is rejected by the bride's parents, since his horoscope describes him as a [[manglik]], a condition in which a manglik can only marry another manglik and if not, the non-manglik will die. Malathi, the girl with whom Chandran falls in love after graduating from college, is then married to someone else.


Chandran is absolutely heartbroken to the extent that he goes to Madras and starts living on streets. Famished, delusioned and full of self-pity, he ends up wandering from one place to another. Also frustrated and desperate, he then embarks on a journey as [[Sanyasa|Sanyasi]]. On his journey he meets many people and he is also misunderstood as a great [[Wise old man|sage]] by some villagers. After 8 months, he thinks of what mess he has become and thinks about his parents. Due to the compunctions and the realizations, he decides to return home. He takes up a job as a newsagent and decides to marry, in order to please his parents, thinking of the discomfort he had caused them earlier.
Heartbroken, Chandran goes to Madras and lives on the streets. Disillusioned, Chandran embraces a nomadic life, becoming a Sanyasi and renouncing his life of worldly pursuits.<ref name="critical"/> Along his journey, Chandran is misunderstood as a great sage by the villagers he meets. After eight months, Chandran rouses to his senses, remembering his parents. He returns home, finding employment as a newsagent.


Even after returning home, he is still unable to get Malathi out of his head completely and though he tries hard, the pictures and memories of her keep haunting him for a long time. After a long time, his father comes to him with a proposal of marriage to another girl Sushila Chandran is still skeptical about love and marriage and initially refuses but later decides to see the girl. When he goes on to see the girl, he ends up falling in love with her.
Despite his return home, Chandran still obsesses over Malathi. His father comes to him with a proposal of marriage to another girl, Sushila. Chandran is initially skeptical about finding love again, but later decides to meet her. Chandran falls in love with Sushila at first sight.


==References==
⚫
{{R. K Narayan}}
{{reflist}}

⚫
{{R. K. Narayan}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Bachelor of Arts}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bachelor of Arts}}
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[[Category:Novels set in India]]
[[Category:Novels set in India]]
[[Category:Thomas Nelson (publisher) books]]
[[Category:Thomas Nelson (publisher) books]]
[[Category:Novels set in British India]]


{{1930s-novel-stub}}

Latest revision as of 04:32, 21 May 2024

For the academic degree, see Bachelor of Arts.
The Bachelor of Arts
First edition
AuthorR. K. Narayan
LanguageEnglish
GenreNovel
PublisherNelson
Publication date
1937
Publication placeIndia
Media typePrint
ISBN0-09-928224-0 (2000 ed.)
OCLC6305101
823
LC ClassPR9499.3.N3 B3 1980
Preceded bySwami and Friends 
Followed byThe English Teacher 

The Bachelor of Arts (1937) is a novel written by R. K. Narayan. It is the second book of a trilogy that begins with Swami and Friends and ends with The English Teacher.[1] It is again set in Malgudi, the fictional town Narayan invented for his novels.

Plot summary

[edit]

The story follows the coming-of-age of Chandran, a young upper-middle class college graduate into adulthood. Chandran falls in love with Malathi, who he desires to marry. Their relationship is rejected by her parents as Chandran's horoscope[2] describes him as having a Mangala Dosha -- a superstition in which a marriage to a non-Manglik, Malathi, would lead to her early death. Malathi is then married to someone else.

Heartbroken, Chandran goes to Madras and lives on the streets. Disillusioned, Chandran embraces a nomadic life, becoming a Sanyasi and renouncing his life of worldly pursuits.[2] Along his journey, Chandran is misunderstood as a great sage by the villagers he meets. After eight months, Chandran rouses to his senses, remembering his parents. He returns home, finding employment as a newsagent.

Despite his return home, Chandran still obsesses over Malathi. His father comes to him with a proposal of marriage to another girl, Sushila. Chandran is initially skeptical about finding love again, but later decides to meet her. Chandran falls in love with Sushila at first sight.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ M. K. Bhatnagar, ed. (2002). New Insights Into the Novels of R.K. Narayan. Atlantic Publishers & Dist. p. 106. ISBN 9788126901784.
  2. ^ a b Amar Nath Prasad, ed. (2003). Critical Response to R.K. Narayan. Sarup & Sons. p. 83. ISBN 9788176253703.


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