“Vender of Sweet” character of Mali

Critically Appreciate character of Mali in the novel “The Vendor of Sweet”. 

Answer

Introduction:-

            Like many of R.K. Narayan’s novels, “Vender of Sweet” also deals with father –son relationship in which son is spoilt.  “Vender of Sweet” is not exception in this matter. Mali emerges as a spoilt son. Because of him Jagan feels mental tension.  The ambitious son and carious father fails understand.

1. Mali: Jagan’s only Son:-

            Mali is Jagan only son. Jagan always loved his son as Mali had lost his mother many years ago. Mali was born after ten years of married life of Jagan and Ambika. He was born after the pilgrimage to the temple of “Santana Krishna” at Badri Hill. The only son born after so many years was very dear to Jagan. Jagan had preformed both the duties of a mother and of a father. He used to cook breakfast for his son, placed it on the table, with five rupee note for his lunch and the other expenses. He was always worried about his son’s eating. All the demands by Mali were satisfied, so he was spoilt. He never understood that he should respect his caring and loving father. He never tried to exchange his emotions and feelings with his father. He always remained aloof.

2. The Probable Reason for Mali’s Aloofness:-

            When Mali was a boy, he used to help his father in his tanning activities. Everything was changed gradually. Jagan always believed in “Nature Cure”. Once his wife had headache and she wanted aspiring but Jagan insisted on giving her the yellow flower of neem freed in ghee.

            At that time Mali was not mature. Mali’s mother had got brain-tumour. She was bed-ridden. All the time the doctor was attending her with a oxygen needles, ice bag etc. Even at that moment when his wife was dying, Jagan foolishly preferred for Nature Care. In presence of Mali the doctor had said that Nature would not be useful for the cure of brain tomour. The doctor had suggested,

“Go back go back to your wife for the few hours left.

Your son is watching us protect him.”

            After that the boy had ceased to speak to his father normally. His little heart could not understand mother’s death and from that day the barrier had come between the father and son.

3. Mali’ Ambition and Unfavorable Action to fulfill it:-

            One day suddenly Mali declared to his father that he didn’t find the study interesting so he could not study more. Through cousin Jagan came to know that Mali wanted to become a writer. After denied of study to his father, he went to college to bid farewell to his friends and teachers. He said,

                        “My father has other plans,

  Probably he is sending me to America.”

            Finally Mali decided to go to America as he wanted to learn the art of story writing in America. He had started spending his day at the “Town public Library”. He had done all kinds of preparation without Jagan’s permission or help. He had fixed his passport and other such things.

            For the fare, he had taken money from his house even without his father’s knowledge; it gave the great shock to his father. His actions always hurt Jagan but Jagan never complained him or never rebuked him for anything Finally Mali paid for the air ticket and went to America leaving his father alone.

4. Mali in America and His Return from America:-

            The frustrated father always boasted to every one that his son was in America. After waiting of many days. Mali wrote a letter to his father,

“Arrived. New York is big. The buildings are very tall, not like ours. Thousands of motor cars in the street. Food is difficult. I am in a Hostel Next week. I go to school”.

            Thus generally his letters were impersonal and dealt with American Civilization only. After three years of stay, he wrote to his father,

“I’ve taken to eating beef; and I don’s think I am any the worse for it.”

            Jagan felt very angry at that. He sent a cable one morning, “Arriving home; another person with me.” Jagan was again puzzled But When he saw the ‘Another person’ directly he was much more confused. Mali indicated the at his side and said,

                                             “This is grace. We are married”.        

            That was unbelievable news for Jagan but Mali was taking it very easily. Gradually Grace settled down. She used to take care of the house or well as Jagan. She cooked food, cleaned utensils, talked to Jagan with warmth. So Jagan cultivated a liking for her.

5 . Mali’s intended Business and Demand of two lakh rupees From Jagan:-

            Mali always speaks too little to Jagan. One day he went to Jagan and called Grace by telling that he was discussing business. At that time he came to know that Mali wanted fifty one thousand dollars from him to set up a factory for manufacturing novel writing machines in collaboration with his America associates. Mali convinced so many people from Malgudi were going to join in his “Schemes”. Grace had come to India specially for this purpose.

            Mali explains each and every detail about the story writing machine but For Jagan it was a risky business and fifty one thousand dollars was not small amount. Jagan felt his sweet stall was running quite successfully; if mali wanted to run it. He had no objection; but giving that amount was not without risk. Mali and Grace insisted a lot but the couldn’t change his decision.

6. Mali’s greatest secret;-

            One day Mali told Jagan that Grace had come there to work and she had no work so she was going to back. Thus Mali’s idea of sending grace back to America disturbed Jag a lots. Through cousin Jagan had come to know that Grace had started spending his tine with the girls at Dr. Kuruwilla’s house. When Jagan talked to Grace, he got the greeted shock of his life. The great secret of Mali was revealed by grace by grace. She told Jagan,

“But we are not married. He promised he’d marry me

in the India way. But it did not happen.”

            Jagan was shocked. He felt that both of them had tainted his ancestral house. For sometimes he barricaded himself in the one part of his house but finally decided to leave for retreat..

            This is the great example of Mali’s being spoilt. He emerges as a shameless and careless person without any respect for his elders.

7. Mali; ruined:-

            Mali’s father Jagan was unable to live in that tainted house. So he decided to leave the house and all the worried and worldly life as he prepared to go, As he was going to, cousin delivered the news that Mali was imprisoned. He caught with half a bottle of alcohol in his car. At first Jagan felt like fainting hearing this but he was recovered soon. He gave all the charge of his sweet stall to cousin and felt tan Mali always needed a lesson. He said to cousin

            “A dose of prison life is not  a bad thing It may be just what he need now.”

            Then Jagan went to his retreat leaving Mali on his fate.

Conclusion:-

            The spoilt son finally lost everything. There was no story- writing machine factor. Neither a loving father nor a caring girl liked grace to look after him Mali himself was responsible for his ruin. Mali’s idea of going America, his business of manufacturing story writing machine, living with Grace without marriage, habit of drinking alcohol, wishes for having the facilities of a telephone, scooter, car shows dreaming and reckless, spoilt youth who never consults for any matter to his father