Water Symbol Analysis

Water is an integral part of Raju’s final incarnation as a holy man, or “swami,” in the small village of Malgam. He ends up here after his release from prison, and as such the water associated with his new life represents his purification and redemption. It is by the river that Raju meets Velan, the villager who innocently puts his faith in his healing powers. The significance of water as a symbol of purification and redemption becomes apparent towards the end of the novel, when a drought afflicts the villagers, who then draw Raju into a long fast in the hope that his sacrifice will bring about rains. Raju, who at first reluctantly, and then willingly, accepts the responsibility, stands in the river each day during the fast to hold vigil, chanting incantations. For the first time in his life, Raju acts out of self-sacrifice, on behalf of others, not out of self-interest. As such, his immersion in the river signals the transformation and purification that he undergoes in his final role as a holy man. The significance of water as a symbol for redemption is further reinforced in the final image of the novel, which depicts a famished and weakened Raju, possibly on the brink of death, standing in the river with the help of Velan, perceiving rain coming over the hills. Although Narayan doesn’t confirm or deny whether rain does actually arrive, Raju’s perception of water coming from the sky is significant: whether real or imagined, he feels as though he is about to be drenched in rain, and indeed feels the water in his body, coming up his feet and legs. This imagery of rain suggests that, at the climax of his act of self-sacrifice, Raju is purified and transformed.