The Language of Translation as an Ironic Strategy in R.K. Narayan’s Novels

Early practitioners of the novel in India could not count on a publishing industry, nor any vast readership, and only hope to be published overseas. However, writing for an international readership required some compromise between Indian forms beliefs one hand, publishers’ expectations other. This dilemma asserted itself primarily with language: what kind English, if at all, should novelist employ? Furthermore, Weltanschauung he rely upon build ethical framework novel? While Raja Rao chose his Kanthapura highly stylised which does mimic spoken variety, Narayan elected simpler style, apparently unproblematic, but likewise non-mimetic. Both strategies are devised accepted by global English would remain oblivious underlying “translation effect” Hindu world picture. With reference most renowned The Guide, this paper argues that author was consciously moving space shared West. He offered hilarious mirror life South Asian readers while pretending speaking audience like entertaining native informant. His widely appreciated ironical detachment can interpreted two ways: it looks modernist device à la Chekov; other, mirrors ascetic who has come recognise futility Maya’s world. Writing is therefore form Leela, earthly version divine play, wise reader cannot take too seriously.