An Astrologer’s Day: R. K. Narayana

 

 

Summary

The story opens with an account of an unnamed place and environment in which an astrologer consults his clients as a daily ritual. He lays out tools of his trade, a mix of cowry shells obscure charts, a notebook, and other such curios. They serve no purpose but create an illusion of mysticism. The astrologer has also painted his forehead with sacred ash, wrapped his head in a turban, and seated himself and his gear beneath a large tree. All of these things serve to give him an air of wisdom, transcendence, and prophetic power, though the narrator is quick to point out that none of these qualities actually belong to the man.

The astrologer has set up his little shop amidst a busy marketplace among people fencing stolen goods, presenting the same cheap food as a variety of gourmet delicacies, and auctioning off low-quality fabrics. The astrologer quickly established as a fraud, is in the company of other fraudsters and spin doctors selling their wares and making their livings. The marketplace is lit by various shop lights and flares, the dancing shadows of which enhance the astrologer’s mystical quality. He notably has no light of his own, but simply uses that of the other vendors.

 

As the marketplace is emptying at the end of the day, and the lights are being put out, a stranger named  Guru Nayak appears. In the darkness, neither can see much of the other’s face. Seeing the opportunity for one more client, the astrologer invites the stranger to sit and chat. He does so but is instantly skeptical of the astrologer. He aggressively claims that the astrologer cannot tell him anything true or worthwhile. They haggle over the fee and the astrologer agrees. However, when Guru Nayak lights a cheroot, the astrologer catches a brief glimpse of the man’s face and is filled with fear. He tries to get out of the bet, but Guru Nayak holds him to it and will not let he leaves.

The astrologer tries his usual take of vague, self-affirming advice, but Guru Nayak will have none of it. The astrologer sincerely prays for a moment and then changes course. He reveals to Guru Nayak that he knows he was once stabbed through the chest and left for dead and that now he is here searching for his assailant. He even reveals that he knows the stranger’s name, something he attributes to his cosmic wisdom. Guru Nayak is greatly excited by all of this, believing the astrologer to truly be all-knowing. He presses the astrologer for the whereabouts of the man who stabbed him so that he can have his revenge. The astrologer tells him that he died several months ago, crushed by an oncoming lorry. Guru Nayak is frustrated by this but satisfied that at least his attacker died terribly. He gives the astrologer his money and leaves.

The astrologer arrives home late at night and shows his wife the money he has made, becoming briefly bitter when he realizes that although Guru Nayak has paid him a great sum, it is not quite as much as promised. Even so, his wife is thrilled. As they lie down to sleep, the astrologer reveals to his wife that a great burden has been lifted off of his shoulders. Years ago, the astrologer was the one to stab Guru Nayak and leave him for dead, which forced him to flee his home and make a new life as a fraudulent astrologer. He had thought himself to be a murderer but was now content that he had not in fact taken a life. Satisfied by this, he goes to sleep.

 

Understanding the text

Answer the following questions.

a. How does the astrologer’s appearance help him attract customers? How does he help the customers satisfy their needs?

 

The appearance of the astrologer helps him attract customers. His forehead is bright with sacred ash and vermilion. His eyes are assumed to have a prophetic light by his customers. He wears a saffron turban. He presents himself so perfectly that he is a point of attraction for all the people. He helps the customers satisfy their needs with his working analysis of their troubles like marriage, money, etc.

b. How do you characterize the astrologer’s attitude toward the stranger?

 

One day by late evening the astrologer sees the stranger before him and perceives him to be his possible customer.

c. What details does the astrologer give the stranger about his past?

 

The astrologer tells the stranger that he was stabbed by a knife and thrown into a well to die. Some passers-by saw him and saved him from dying.

d. Why does he advise the stranger to go home immediately?

He advises the stranger to go home immediately to get rid of danger in his life.

e. What is your reaction to the conversation between the astrologer and his wife?

 

I feel satisfied that the astrologer has released the suppressed emotion of his guilt and fear and managed to earn a little extra money that day. I feel pity that these simple people become happy when they earn something to meet their both ends meet.

Reference to the context

 

a. Suspense is the feeling of anticipation you may have as you read. In this story, what details contributed to your feelings of suspense and surprise? Explain.

The feeling of suspense is created when we get to know about the personal and past life of the astrologer. He was not trained to be an astrologer. He was forced to leave his village without a prior plan. He broke the ancestral cycle by not choosing to continue the farming profession and picked up a profession of that of a fraudulent astrologer. The sense of suspense is heightened with the astrologer’s encounter with the stranger. The astrologer catches a glimpse of the stranger’s face in the flash of light of matchstick and immediately disagrees to accept the stranger’s challenge. At the end of the story, however, the reader is surprised with a revelation of the fact that the astrologer was the person who stabbed the stranger and left for dead when he was drunk during one of his days as a youngster.

b. Analyze the conflicts in “An Astrologer’s Day.” Explain how the conflicts are resolved and what they reveal about the characters involved in the story.

In the story, conflict sets in when a stranger appears in the scene to be consulted before the astrologer. The astrologer is packing up his stuff and ready to call it a day. The stranger challenges the astrologer to provide specific answers to his questions. As the stranger lights his cheroot, he catches a glimpse of his face by the match light, and for some unclear reasons, the astrologer feels uncomfortable and rejects the challenge. But, he is forced to tell the stranger something that will satisfy him. The stranger is surprised to be told about his past life by the astrologer and agrees to give up his search for his enemy who was declared to have been crushed under a lorry. The astrologer ensures a safe and secure life for himself hereafter.

c. “All right. I will speak. But will you give me a rupee if what I say is convincing? Otherwise I will not open my mouth, and you may do what you like.”

i. Who is the speaker?

ii. Who is he speaking to?

iii. What does the expression ‘open my mouth’ mean?

 

i. The speaker referred to above is the astrologer.

ii. He is speaking to Guru Nayak.

iii. The expression ‘open my mouth’ means to speak out convincing information about the stranger.

d. Description helps readers visualize what is happening in a story. What details and techniques does the author use to describe the astrologer?

The author presents events in the story unfolding in an impressive way. The astrologer builds a new personality and struggles to survive in a densely populated urban environment by using his intelligence. Despite having no mystical knowledge about the trade, he is skillful to attract passers-by. It is obvious that he sits for long hours to read the future of a few clients and earn enough to keep himself and his family keep going. He is courageous and determined. When he deals with Guru Nayak and realizes his life is in danger at his hand, yet he still insists on bargaining for money. He brings every single anna home to his wife so that she can buy food for the family. He is a devoted husband and father.

e. Irony is a contrast between appearances and reality. What is ironic about Guru Nayak’s meeting with the astrologer?

The irony of the situation builds around the meeting of Guru Nayak with the astrologer. The former approach the latter to know about the whereabouts of the assailant who had attempted to murder him.  The man whom he is looking for is none other than the astrologer himself. As soon as the astrologer recognizes the man, he feels very uncomfortable. But the astrologer wisely manipulates the situation and bargains for the money. When he finally calls the stranger by his name and tells him about the incident that had happened in the village, he has won the heart of Guru Nayak. He skillfully turns the events in his favor.

f. How does the astrologer’s manner of dress suit his character?

The astrologer’s manner of dress suits his character. He is dressed typically like an astrologer. His forehead is bright with sacred ash and vermilion. He winds a saffron-colored turban around his head. His dress and appearance make him a center of attraction. Gullible passers-by are easily fooled by him. He is intelligent and has shrewd ways to go about his profession. He has a working analysis of mankind’s troubles.