The Boys who created Malgudi

As a child, R.K Narayan, the famed creator of Swami & Friends would fill his books with words and peer over his father’s vast library of books. He was also a keen observer of his surroundings and one of his earliest subjects of attention was his brother Doodu who went on to become the creator of ‘The Common Man’, (R.K Laxman ) and also happened to illustrate his brother’s work.

The book traces the childhood of the brothers and I enjoyed the fictionalized banter created between the brothers. The climb atop the Chamundeshwari hills changed Narayan’s life and he inscribed some words of wisdom on the interior walls of the temple. The illustrations in the book are heavily inspired by R. K. Laxman’s art.

The story is mainly told in a pictorial format that makes it easy to grasp for the kids. The illustrations especially those depicting the Chamundeshwari temple are beautiful to behold.