Amalgamation of Culture in the Novel ‘The Vendor of Sweets’

Abstract

R. K. Narayan in his novel ‘The Vendor of Sweets’ (1967) has portrayed that Indian culture is a mixture of traditional ideals and modern spirit The juxtaposition between the two worlds – the traditional and the modern is represented through the father and son characters, Jagan and Mali respectively. Jagan is a man of simplicity who wants to preserve his traditional culture whereas his son Mali is a man of complexity, because of his visit abroad tries to bring the western culture into the land of tradition. Mali’s living in relationship with a foreign girl named Grace, starting a new business, his curiosity in technology and living a life of luxury creates tension in Jagan. The focus of the paper is to portray that Indian culture is an amalgamation of traditional principles and modern life.