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Ratings: ★★★★★ (4.6/5)
Genre: Literary Fiction / South Asian Literature / Historical Fiction / Political Fiction
Review:
Waiting for the Mahatma is R.K. Narayan's finest novel about the Indian independence movement. Sriram, a twenty-year-old, is drawn into Mahatma Gandhi's entourage by an enchanting and unpredictable girl, Bharati. As Sriram evolves into manhood, he navigates love, Gandhian philosophy, and the influence of a charismatic terrorist. Told with Narayan's trademark warmth, humour, and lack of sentimentality, this novel offers remarkable insight into the upsurge of Indian nationalism through the eyes and hearts of young lovers. This Centenary Edition (2006) commemorates Narayan's 100th birth anniversary.