R. K. Narayan’s A Tiger for Malgudi: An Indian view on non-human animals

Abstract

This article examines R. K. Narayan’s novella A Tiger for Malgudi through the lens of animal studies, arguing that a purely Western critical framework overlooks the significance of Hindu philosophy in understanding the novel’s portrayal of animal consciousness. While postcolonial literature has brought non-Western narratives to the attention of the whole wide world, interpreting paradigms have often remained rooted in Western thought. Likewise, animal studies predominantly draws upon Western philosophical traditions, potentially limiting its applicability to non-Western texts. By analysing Narayan’s text, particularly the tiger protagonist’s first-person perspective and his spiritual journey, the article argues that Hindu concepts like metempsychosis and the figure of the sannyasin offer crucial insights into the novel’s exploration of animal subjectivity, human exceptionalism, and the interconnectedness of beings. Ultimately, the article calls for a more culturally sensitive approach within ecocriticism and animal studies, urging a move beyond Western epistemologies to fully appreciate the nuances of non-Western literary representations of animals.