The Vendor of Sweets

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name = The Vendor of Sweets
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author = R. K. Narayan
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country = India
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genre = Novel
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release_date = 1967
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media_type = Print
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"The Vendor of Sweets" is a 1967 English novel by R. K. Narayan.

Plot summary

The main characters are Jagan and his son Mali. It revolves around the issues arising from the generation gap between father and son. Narayan in his superb style narrates the principled life-story of Jagan.

Jagan, an orthodox Hindu Brahmin and owner of a sweet shop, has come up the hard way in life following Gandhian principle and in boasting the claims of taking part in Freedom struggle movement. His belief in hand spun cloth that he wears, signifies purity, for him, in all formats of life. In earlier days Jagan loses his wife because of his pseudo-philosophy of Nature Cure and not being able to spend much needed time with his wife, Ambika, which caused a repulsion in the attitude of Mali, the son, against his father. Mali, disapproved his father, totally, thereafter, and at one stage discontinues his education, goes to America, brings along a girl, Grace, from America saying they got married and she was of his choice and returns back home which causes an upheaval in Jagan and his friend Cousin's (no proper name has been given to the character, but is addressed as cousin)life.

Jagan develops an affection for his daughter-in-law though she is a half Korean-American and feels Mali is not giving the due attention his wife deserves. Mali's desire to start a story writing machine factory by the know-how from America and asking his father to invest on this venture throws the entire gear of "Malgudi Thinking" and this friction splits the family and Jagan starts living in seclusion in his own house. Ultimately Jagan wants to retire from active working at which time he is informed that his son Mali is caught by the police for drunkenness and has deserted his American wife also.

Jagan half heartedly assists Mali, indirectly through Cousin (which is only implied in the novel), to get out of the police clutches and advises Cousin, his friend and philosopher to take care of Mali's wife (so called) and to provide her the passage money so that she can return back home. The conflict between the old and young generation, the ideas and ideals and the generation gap makes 'Vendor of Sweets' a story to be remembered for