Malgudi to Kittur: Evolving Social Narratives in R.K. Narayan and Aravind Adiga's Fiction

Social narratives reflect society and provide insights on the human condition, influencing both individual and collective consciousness. A principal function of social narratives within the realm of literature is to mirror the sociopolitical and cultural contexts pertinent to their respective eras. Authors construct fictional realms that encapsulate the realities of their time, thereby capturing the prevailing zeitgeist. This study focusses on the contributions of R.K. Narayan and Aravind Adiga to the Indian literary milieu and offers a comparative analysis of the changing social narratives within Indian literature. These two prominent authors have had a tremendous impact on our perception of Indian society through their fictional settings, Malgudi and Kittur. Narayan’s Malgudi, characterized by its quaint small-town ambience and depiction of traditional Indian life, depicts the socio-cultural landscape of India before and after independence, often highlighting the enduring strength of human values amidst the challenges of modernity. Conversely, Adiga’s Kittur is a representation of contemporary urban India, providing a critical and in-depth analysis of economic inequality, caste issues, and the moral complexities faced by a nation in the throes of globalisation. By examining pivotal works from both writers, this research delineates the evolution of Indian social and cultural narratives, transitioning from Narayan’s gentle humour and emphasis on personal experiences to Adiga’s unflinching realism and critique of entrenched inequalities. This investigation seeks to illuminate how Indian literature has adapted to reflect the shifting societal landscape, where traditional values confront modern challenges and rural life intersects with urban realities. This paper examines Malgudi and Kittur to trace the evolution of Indian society through literature, highlighting how both authors engage with the social realities of their respective eras while demonstrating how literature can serve as a historical testament to social change.