Novelist R K Narayan’s house comes tumbling down

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It's not just any house, but the home where novelist R K Narayan lived and wrote some of his stories that have enchanted millions of readers.

But this undeclared memorial which has so many tales of the man himself attached to it, is being demolished.

Narayan's heirs — grandson Srinivasan and grand daughter Bhuvaneshwari — who live in Chennai, have decided to demolish the old house and build a new one in its place, much to the shock and dismay of his fans.

Located in Yadavagiri on Vivekananda Road , the house, built by Narayan between 1948 and 1951, inspired him to write many of his best short stories, but has been lying vacant since he died at the age of 94 in Chennai in 2001.

Although he spent most of his last years in Chennai, he frequently visited Mysore and stayed at the house, which holds fond memories for his brother, legendary cartoonist R.K. Laxman, too who spent time with him here over the nearly 25 years that he lived in it.

Despite the house's obvious pilgrimage value to Narayan fans, his son-in-law Chandrasekhar applied for permission on August 6 to demolish it and received it as it is not classified as heritage property, says assistant commissioner (zone 6) Thimmappa.

But Mysore City Corporation (MCC) commissioner K.S. Raikar holds out hope, saying the demolition has been stayed and the family will be requested to reconsider its decision. "I will speak to the heritage department on Tuesday and preserve the building," he promised.