"There is something very arch and elusive about Narayan’s treatment of India and Indians. The key to the Malgudi cycle appears to me to lie in the complicated nature of Narayan’s conservatism. He is typically (and orthodox) Hindu in his celebration of the static. Yet Narayan is ready to admit extreme scepticism about the genuineness of Indian ‘Godmen’ and their disciples and to see comedy rather than tragedy as an appropriate fictional reflection of India’s long and frequently catastrophic history."

"Why don’t you call, you swine, and announce your approach!"

"The trouble with liberal democracy is that it takes a long time to mature."

"Few Indians have been more truly Indian."

"As a storyteller, he was a natural, picking at the bedrock of everyday existence to uncover the barest truths and tease out the bald facts of life. Not surprisingly, comparisons have been drawn between Narayan and William Faulkner, whose novels were grounded in a compassionate humanism and celebrated the humour and energy of ordinary life."

"R. K Narayan is delightfully conscious of the disappearance of the caste system."

"Unflinchingly traditional outlook"

"Mulk Raj Anand, an Indian novelist, was convinced of conspiracy. The rapes were so systematic and pervasive that they had to be conscious Army policy, “planned by the West Pakistanis in a deliberate effort to create a new race” or to dilute Bengali nationalism, Anand passionately told reporters."

""Paved the ways". Yes, Narayan did that by writing about ordinary men and women, by translating the Indian experience into English, by doing it so easily, comfortably and without any affectation whatsoever, that it seemed enormously simple.But it's never simple. Only a writer knows how difficult this is. And it's because of what he did that it was possible for all the writers who followed to travel more comfortably; the road had been paved to a certain extent. As a writer I admire this almost invisible achievement. As a writer I admire him too for the fact that while his contemporaries seem dated, that while they have been relegated to the back shelves, he is still read and enjoyed. I envy him for his large and dedicated readership all over the world -- a readership that consists of ordinary readers as well as academics, critics and writers of acclaim."

"Significantly, it’s the western penetration of Indian life to level from which the character and events draw their sustenance that has been portrayed by R.K. Narayan in his novels. However, the ironical attitude itself, so characteristics of R.K. Narayan, is largely western; it has few parallels, if any, in pre-modern Indian authors."

"Past is gone , present is going and tomorrow is day after tomorrow's yesterday . So why worry about anything ? God is in all this ."

"You become writer by writing . It is a yoga ."

"Certain things acquired an evil complexion if phrased , but remained harmless in the mind"

"Society presses upon us all the time. The progress of the last half century is the progress of the frog out of his well."

"The unbeaten brat will remain unlearned."

"This is my child . I planted it . I saw it grow . I loved it . Don't cut it down ."

"I have no idea of the extent of this zoo. I know only my corner and whatever passes before me."

"We always question the bonafides of the man who tells us unpleasant facts."

"Life is about making right things and going on ."

"Death and it's associates, after the initial shock produce callousness."

"I am a weary heart surrounded by life's frothy ocean."

"Always another path you seek: today I seek no more."

""Into the half light and shadow go I. Within my head"

"Someone who lives to please others is never truly honest with themselves."

"It’s more important to avoid making enemies than to focus on making friends."

"Don’t blend in like a chameleon; shape your surroundings to reflect who you are."

"Never base your value on your body alone, or you risk being devalued."

"Remember: the mother gives fuel for the journey, but the father is the road that transports you"

"The case for vegetarians - plants cure illnesses (heard of Ayurveda). Animal diets cause most illnesses (heard of the China Study."

"Writing can only be as good as its subject matter."

"The purest love is between parents and children. Other loves may be more thrilling, but none are as deep or enduring."

"Arranged Marriages don't always have to be risky. Get to know your future in-laws. She's bound to be like one of them."

"The God of religion is a creation of mankind; the true God is beyond human comprehension."

"God exists...but only in our minds"

"Life is a series of small sorrows that ultimately lead to great joy. Learn to wait for it."

"Being a good human is simple: be a good son, husband, parent, and citizen."

"Couples often forget that after marriage and children, it’s no longer just a 'relationship' — it’s a family, a responsibility for life."

"Progress of mankind is the decadence of humanity."

"Couples should keep their love pure before it poisons the purest love of all - that between them and their children"

"Mastering an art is like climbing a passion mountain; when you reach the top, the passion fades. So, keep learning."

"Transportation has complicated our lives; without it, we would have everything we need within walking distance."

"When couples start a family, they sacrifice personal love for the greater responsibility of raising their children into good human beings. Nothing should distract them from that goal until their kids are independent."

"A little arrogance in the hands of the capable is well earned - and in most case, deserved."

"Marriage is a daily lesson in recognizing our flaws"

"Power in the hands of the ignorant can be a perilous thing, as demonstrated by Hitler."

"Religion can often be the fastest route to ignorance."

"Even the humblest men have a strange reason behind greed. Every man thinks money solves problems - and every man thinks not just of himself, but his next three generations - there is a probability he will live to see those generations - and he wants to care for them in times of strife."

"The greatness of a culture can be found in it's art"

"Greatness is the reward for genius...only a few can be great, the rest are plain good."