Explore the detailed summary of Father’s Help by R.K. Narayan – a humorous and insightful short story about a schoolboy’s lies, parental discipline, and the consequences that follow. Perfect for students and literature lovers.
Father’s Help By R.K Narayan
Summary of Father’s Help By R.K Narayan
Author Introduction
R.K. Narayan is a leading storyteller of Indian literature, best known as the author of “Malgudi Days”. His stories show simple but deep aspects of common Indian life. He presents the mentality of children and adults, social conditions and human behavior in a very simple and impressive manner.
Start of the story – A Monday morning
The story begins on a normal but ‘heavy’ day for children i.e. Monday. Swaminathan, whom everyone calls ‘Swami’, is lying in bed in the morning and does not feel like going to school. He has sleep in his eyes, and he is thinking how to avoid going to school. Every child goes through this situation at some point or the other – when he wishes that the school would close or he could find some excuse to get a holiday.
Swami’s first weapon is – lie. He tells his mother that he has a headache and he Swami cannot go to school. His mother shows sympathy but does not agree completely. She tells him to stay at home if he is feeling very bad. But when Swami feels that his mother’s consent is not enough, he goes to his father – who is more strict and disciplinarian.
Swami’s lie – creation of image of teacher Samuel
Swami tells his father that he does not want to go to school because his teacher, Samuel, is very cruel. He scolds the students, beats them without any fault, and has a very harsh nature. All these things are fabricated by Swami himself – his headache was a lie, and now he has made Samuel’s character a lie as per his convenience.
Here the author shows the thinking and imagination power of children very beautifully. Swami knows that his father does not believe in excuses, so he creates a false story to make his point serious – in which he himself is in the role of a suffering student and his teacher is a demonic personality.
Father’s reaction – a lie taken seriously
Swami’s imagination gets the better of him at that time When his father takes this matter very seriously. He immediately writes a letter to the school headmaster – in which he complains about Samuel that he punishes the children physically and is having a bad effect on his son’s mental state.
Then he gives this letter to Swami and asks him to give it to the headmaster himself. This is where Swami’s troubles begin. He had only asked for leave on the basis of a lie, but now the matter has reached the school administration.
Inner fear and mental conflict
While going to school, many thoughts come to Swami’s mind. He thinks of tearing the letter, or hiding it somewhere on the way. But he is afraid that if his father has taken note while giving him the letter, and later asks him what the headmaster said, then what will he answer?
This is the situation where children often do not think while lying, but later when the layers of lie start opening, they are filled with stress and fear.
Meeting Samuel in school – Facing the truth
When Swami reaches school, he sits in the class. For a while Later Samuel comes to the class. Swami is completely alert, he is observing every move – maybe he thinks that Samuel is really a bad person, so that he can justify himself.
But the opposite happens.
Samuel behaves very normally and mildly. He talks to the children with a smile, concentrates on studies and does not scold or beat any student. Swami now feels guilty.
He is ashamed of his lie. He feels that if this letter reaches the headmaster, Samuel might get punished without any fault. This is the point where the voice of conscience awakens within Swami.
Decision – to give the letter or not to give?
Now Swami is in a deep dilemma. He thinks that he should tear the letter, but then he will have to lie to his father. If he gives the letter, an innocent person will be harmed.
Finally, after school is over he returns home and tells his father that the headmaster was not in school today, so he could not give the letter.
The father without showing any anger, tells him that he should tear the letter, but then he will have to lie to his father. He says – “No problem, I will go and give it to you myself.”
This is where the most important moment of the story comes – Swami’s face turns pale. He realizes that there is no end to lies and the truth comes out someday.
Theme and message
1. The consequences of lying:
The story shows that even a small lie can cause a big crisis. Children should be taught that it is always better to speak the truth.
2. Childhood innocence and cunning:
Many children like Swami sometimes lie for fun or laziness, but when their lie is taken seriously, they themselves get entangled.
3. Power of conscience:
The story also shows that even children like Swami, after making mistakes, start understanding the difference between right and wrong. This is their moral development.
4. Father-son relationship:
Swami’s father is strict, but he also worries about his son. He is unable to catch his lies, but his behavior brings Swami face to face with the truth.
Writing style Features
Simple and natural language:
R.K. Narayan’s language is simple, so every reader can connect with the story.
Satire and humour:
The author adds a light touch of humour to Swami’s lies, his fears and his plans, which makes the story interesting.
Realism:
The story is completely based on reality – every child can be like Swami
Father’s Help Class 10 Question and Answer
Question 1: Write a brief summary of the story ‘Father’s Help’.
Answer : – This story is about a child named Swami who makes excuses to not go to school. He lies that his teacher Samuel is very strict and beats the students. His mother believes him and writes a complaint letter. But when Swami goes to school, he starts fearing that the truth will come out. Till the end when he does not give the letter, Samuel has not done anything wrong, but later Swami himself argues to prove his behavior wrong. This story is based on the mindset of children, the consequences of lying and the faith of parents.
Question 2: Why did Swami not want to go to school?
Answer : – Swami did not want to go to school because he was not in a mood to go to school on Monday. He made an excuse that his teacher Samuel is very strict and beats the children.
Question 3: What did Swami’s mother do with Samuel?
Answer : – Swami’s mother believed him and wrote a complaint letter against Samuel so that Swami could give the letter to the headmaster and get exemption from school.
Question 4: How did Samuel behave with Swami?
Answer : – Samuel behaved normally and decently with Swami. He did not scold Swami, nor did he hit him. But Swami himself tries to make Samuel angry so that he can say something against him.
Question 5: What is the main message of the story?
Answer : – The main message of this story is that lying is wrong and its result is often bad. This story highlights the superstition of parents, cleverness of children and moral values.
Question 6: How did Swami’s lie become a problem for him?
Answer : – Swami got a complaint lodged against Samuel by lying, but when Samuel did not do anything wrong, he got confused. In the end, he himself tries to provoke Samuel. This makes it clear that lying can increase problems.
Question 7: What might Swami’s mother have felt at the end? (Imagine)
Answer : – When Swami returns from school and doesn’t tell anything and blames Samuel, the mother might get confused. She might later realise that she made a mistake by trusting Swami in a hurry.
Recommended Reading
Under the Banyan Tree By R.K Narayan
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