R.K. Narayan House, situated in Yadvagiri in Mysuru, was opened to the public as a museum in 2016. It houses personal memorabilia of the writer who spent nearly four decades, from the 1950s to the 1990s, living and writing there.
The building was acquired by the Mysuru City Corporation in 2011 at a cost of INR 2.4 crores from the relatives of the author and declared a heritage site in the very same year. Restoration of the two-storeyed house was completed in 2016. Modelled after Shakespeare’s house in England, the museum offers the viewer a glimpse into the writer’s life. The books that R.K. Narayan wrote, the desk and chair he used, his clothes, his awards (including the Padmabhushan, the Padmavibhushan) and photographs documenting his life find space here. Hanging on the white walls, among other things, are panels with writings from his friends such as N. Ram and Githa Hariharan, list of works and awards, and the story of the building being converted into a museum. There are stills from the TV series Malgudi Days, directed by the late Shankar Nag, that made R.K. Narayan a household name.
Furniture, medals, books, and personal belongings have been donated by the Narayan family, especially his granddaughter Bhuvaneshwari.
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A view from the outside
The writer’s quotes are on display on the walls. Seen here is his chair as well as honours he received.
Display of photographs and awards.
Cabinet with photographs from Malgudi Days, the TV series directed by Shankar Nag. It also has his shirts and embroidered shawls.
A cabinet with R.K. Narayan’s medals, cufflinks, watch and spectacles. Above this hangs a photograph of the writer reading Graham Greene’s Reflections. Narayan shared a strong friendship with Greene, who was responsible for introducing his work to the world.
The dining space with red oxide floors and a four-seater dining table made of teak.
R.K. Narayan’s sweaters and suits on display in the room upstairs. The panel exhibits an article titled 'I Am Giving You Trouble' written by N. Ram, editor of Frontline. The article recounts Ram's friendship with the writer.
R.K. Narayan described this study in his work My Days as a 'bay room with eight windows affording me a view in every direction.'
On the opposite side of the bay windows are bookshelves with books written by the author. On a panel on the left lies the story of the construction of this museum, from the time it was acquired and declared a heritage site by Himanshu Bhagat. On the right is a panel with an article by Githa Hariharan titled ‘The Man Who Invented Malgudi’.
A commemorative stamp released on his 103rd birth anniversary by the Indian Postal Service bearing the sketches and painting of his brother R.K. Laxman. On either side of the stamp are panels with an article by C.V. Narasimhan titled ‘Remembering RK Narayan’ that offers us a glimpse into the life of the author.