Outline Story of Bachelor of Arts.

The Bachelor of Arts, written by R. K. Narayan is the second book of a trilogy which began with Swami and Friends and ended with The English Teacher. It is also set in Malgudi, the fictional town Narayan invented for his novels.

This story revolves around an Indian typical youth of upper middle class, called Chandran who belongs to a well to do family. If I refer to his family background his father is a retired judge who is reliable and sensitive. His mother is a very religious lady and attentive to her sons. His only brother Seenu is still schooling.

When the story opens, Chandran is reading for his B.A. He is a bright history student with extraordinary organizing skills for college events. For example, he is appointed as the prime mover in a college debate and as the secretary of the History Association. He is careful not to get a black mark in his character considering his self - esteem. Therefore he sucks big time in doing the same for himself with a serious mood.

When he graduates, he spends his time relaxing at home without studying further. During that period he comes across a beautiful girl called Malathi at his first sight. And he is crazy about her. After having found that she is also from the same caste as his, Chandran pesters his parents to approach Malathi’s family and ask her for marriage. Unfortunately, their horoscopes are ill matched and the marriage doesn’t take place. Chandran gets so carried away with the loss of his sweetheart and eventually loses interest in life. Also he starts escaping from everyone.

Chandran embarks on a journey as a Sanyasi and to be untouched by the world as well as its sorrows and joys. He wanders for 8 months as a Sanyasi, before realizing that is just a passing phase. After that he realizes the philosophy of life.

Ultimately, he returns home with a satisfactory self - realization. Then he returns to Malgudi. So his parents are surprised. He does really well in his career as a newspaper agent and agrees to marry a girl called Susila to please his parents.

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by Nishadi Galgewela