Where is Malgudi

Although Malgudi was created out of RK Narayan’s imagination, it is very live and a vibrant city.   Everything is there. The little Post Office, the grocery shop, the Town Hall Park, the vendor of fried groundnuts, the astrologer with his cowrie shells and paraphernalia, the Vinayak Mudali Street with four parallel streets, Thanappa the Postman on his bicycle pedaling furiously down one of the streets, City X Ray Institure at Race Course Road etc etc.       You name it and it is there. It is a full fledged city which you can picturise as though you are being driven through its streets as you read through the stories.

The city has its permanent inhabitants who move through the stories as though the events were happening in a real city having real living people. After having read only a few of his books it is difficult to shake off the feeling that you have lived in this town.

Malgudi could be anywhere. It has no geographical limitations. You walk down the street in your city and it is as good as walking down Malgudi. You will find most of the characters who inhabit Malgudi present in your city too. Malgudi is depicted in the 1930s India when modern day developments had not taken place.   If RK Narayan were to write some new stories depicting the present day world, probably Malgudi would have developed into a modern city with the neon lights, flashing banners, multi storied buildings etc.