Colonialism and Resistance – The novel shows the anti colonial regime of the British from Indian society. The colonial space and consciousness as the novel is set in colonial India. Narayan shows the school religious teacher Ebenzer who is biased towards the Indian religion and demeans Indians gods and goddesses to be dirty and filthy. He attacks Bhagavadgita and demeans the representations in comparison to Christianity which is the Western religion. The resistance is seen where Swami is a rebellious character showing anti colonial stress and tells his father regarding the attack on Hindus and non -Christians. Swami’s father also writes a letter to the headmaster regarding religious issues which seems to be taken seriously in the class as the headmaster himself came to visit the class of Ebenzer. This scene reflects the anti-colonial and colonial setting of India.
Friendship – The theme of friendship is beautiful in the novel. However , the friendship always starts off with a bully as usual. The very male egotism of excessive pride in masculinity and proving it to others reflects the Indian patriarchal notion. The novel projects such aspects where Mani openly challenges Rajam to show his masculinity while Rajam accepts and brings a gun to the river they were supposed to fight. The friendship developed when Swami liked Rajam’s attitude and his notion of defending himself. The theme of friendship however in India especially for a man is based on masculinity and many man are attacked for such masculinity constructs. Swami became conscious about it and understands the idea of what masculinity is. His own friends Mani and Rajam have left him behind and Somu also walks behind them implying Somu as just a tail of Rajam including Swami which infuriates him. This notion is clearly a reflection of Indian patriarchy where many men are demeaned if they lack masculinity.
Class Consciousness – The class consciousness exists in Indian society. Rajam belongs to the wealthy and Swami belongs to the lower section of society. His self consciousness to serve and treat Rajam shows the class consciousness and differences in the novel. The class consciousness shows the result of colonial mentality imbued in Indian consciousness where Swami was embarrassed of his own culture and identity. He wants his grandmother to move somewhere and dislikes the food they eat on a regular basis and wanted something special for the guest. This shows not only the class consciousness but also of the colonial mentality of feeling embarrassed to their own culture.
Growing Up – Narayan’s novel focuses on the characters who are growing up and transitioning from childhood into adulthood. Swami at the beginning takes his family for granted which every child does at the beginning or while they are growing up. As he grows , he also depends on them constantly for his needs and desires. His parents also gives him social support and academic support for Swami. As the new baby boy arrives into the family. it is common for Indian culture especially boys and girls might feel left unloved by their parents as the parents shift all their attention to the new child. This also happened to Swami and Swami resented his father as he pressurizes him to study which made Swami to believe that father is suppose to protect the child but his father is pressurizing him for the studies. It is beautifully weaved symbolically when Swami gets into a fight with the son of a coachman reflecting his tension between his innocence and danger from the world.
Indian Setting and Indianess– Narayan celebrates Indian culture and Indianess of all common Indians experiences in everyday life. The Indian setting is based on the fictional town of Malgudi which represents the small microcosm of India itself. The experiences of Swami and his family life as well as his experiences in school life with bullies and fights is an exemplification of all Indian experiences while growing up. Since he depicted the colonial India, he indirectly establishes certain political colonial implications symbolically throughout the play. The cricket team was suppose to bring Rajam and Swami’s friendship together but it is also the same cricket which wrecked their friendship for Rajam fails to forgive Swami for missing the match. It is symbolical for the representation of British colonial divide and rule policy and the tore of friendship between the two suggests the two partition of India or communal in India.
