A boy called Swami
I grew up with Swami. If it weren't for the fact that fiction renders you immortal, he would be 85 years old now. Since my childhood, I have read, reread and still read Swami and friends, still laugh at his follies and still relate to all the stupid things that he does. He is a reflection of what I was as a child -a shy, average kid easily impressed and easily frightened. Unlike most fictional characters, he is no hero. He is not exceptional in any way and perhaps that is how R K Narayan works his magic on kids, by making Swami just as goofy, just as mischievous as you or me. This is one of my favourite passages in the book ( Excerpt from ' What's a tail?') - "Swaminathan was loitering in the compound. He heard familiar voices behind, turned round, and saw Somu, Sankar, and the Pea, following him. Swaminathan wondered whether to stop and join them, or wait till they had passed and then go in the opposite direction. For it was awkward to be c...
