An Astrologer’s Day is a novel written by Famous Indian author, R.K Narayan. The novel was originally published on 1947. Its a short story about an Astrologer and a part of early Indian English literature.
An Astrologer’s Day By R.K Narayan
Astrologer’s Day
Summary of An Astrologer’s Day By R.K Narayan
The story of novel begins with Astrologer who lives in a small village of India. The Astrologer is sitting under a shadow of tree with things like cowrie shell, an amulet and obscure charts which he mostly used to tell the direction of sun and moon. He possesses lots of weird things which is completely strange to him and villagers.
These things are like tools to him which he used for the sake of influencing the people of his village. The Astrologer has put a tilak of ash on his forehead to look more religious and mystic. He is also wearing a turban on his head and sitting under a big tree with all of his tools.
There are lots of fake people in this village like astrologer who are selling medicine in packet by being a fake doctor. This astrologer is so poor that he doesn’t even have a lamp on his shop. But he is not sad about this because he knows that if he will sit in dark then people will think of him as unique and special Astrologer. Its a evening time, market is getting empty slowly-slowly.
The Astrologer is thinking about his work, he don’t want to do this work but he is doing it to fulfil his daily basic needs. He is doing this work to feed his poor family. Few years ago, he used to live in his native village but due to some problem he ends up shifting in this new village.
Thereafter, Astrologer saw one man who is standing still in one place not going anywhere in market. The Astrologer saw him and thinks that this might be a good client for him. If he impresses him with is work then he may give him few money. Astrologer goes towards that man and tries to talk to him, but that man ignores him by telling him that he doesn’t believe in a Astrologer like him.
Astrologer tries his best to convince him, he tells him that he can predict his future life. That man who was standing alone, takes out a Bidi from his pocket and started smoking in front of astrologer. When astrologer saw this man face when he was lightning his Bidi, he gets afraid and tries to go away from him. But that man suddenly stops astrologer and asks about his future life from him.
Astrologer is stuck now as he don’t want to sit with this man but can’t leave him anymore. Afterwards, Astrologer tells him that you are going to face lots of difficulties in future. That man ignores Astrologer’s advice and asks him tell him something real which make him to believe in him. The Astrologer put his hand on his forehead and tells him that he knows about his past life.
The man asks astrologer to tells him about his past life. Astrologer tells him that once upon a he was attacked by a man with knife and was thrown in well to die. That man was in shocked because astrologer was telling him the truth. He asked him how he knows about his past life. Astrologer tells him that he knows that he is looking for same man who attacked him. Thereafter, Astrologer tells him that he also know his name which is Guru Nayak.
Guru Nayak is impressed by astrologer as he was telling him everything correctly about him and his life . He asks him about a man who attacked him. The Astrologer tells Guru Nayak that he can’t take his revenge in this life because the man he is looking for is already dead. He was killed by an accident with Truck. Astrologer assures him that his death was very painful.
As soon as Guru Nayak learns about a death of a man who attack him, he gets frustrated because he wanted to kill him with his own hands. Afterwards, Guru Nayak gives few money to astrologer as he was impressed by his work. The astrologer return to his home and gives that money to his wife. Astrologer’s wife gets very happy after receiving money because he never gave her that much money before.
After having dinner, Astrologer tells his wife that a huge burden has fallen off his shoulders. He tells her that once upon a time he had a fight with a man named Guru Nayank. In anger, he attacked him with knife and thrown him out in well to die. Astrologer knew if he would stays in that village then villagers would have killed him.
Therefore, he runs from that village and comes into this village and started living a life as astrologer. The Astrologer thought him a murderer but when he saw Guru Nayak again, he gets a relief. At the end of story, astrologer goes to sleep after telling everything to his wife.
About Author : Rasipuram Krishnaswami Iyer Narayanswami was a famous Indian writer famous for his work set in southern part, Malgudi in India. He was born in 10th October in 1906. R.K Narayan was awarded with many great awards like Sahitya Akademi Award, Padma Vibhusan, and Benson Mandal. The famous books include “The English Teacher”, “Engine Trouble”, “A Man Eater of Malgudi” and “The Vendor of Sweets”.
RECOMMENDED READING