Role of Education in the Development of Values

A Comparative Study of RK Narayan’s The Guide and Adiga’s The White Tiger

Abstract

“A man is but a product of his thoughts. What he thinks, he becomes”. This quote by Mahatma Gandhi emphasizes the power of thoughts and their impact on people’s actions and lives. It suggests that people can remake their lives and transform their circumstances by working on their thoughts and life attitudes. The proposed paper examines and argues that education plays a significant role in shaping individual’s values and morality, and offer critical reflections on pursuit of self-discovery through the exploration of the psychological and philosophical evolution of the protagonists in the two seminal Indian novels: R.K. Narayan’s The Guide (1958) and Aravind Adiga’s The White Tiger (2008). Written fifty years apart, both works depict characters embarking on journeys that transform their worldviews and self-perception resulting from their self- knowledge and individual philosophy of life, revealing deeper insights into India’s complex socio-political realities in contemporary India. The Guide is a narrative about Raju’s transformation from a simple tour guide to a revered spiritual figure which highlights the fluidity of identity and the role of fate in human existence. Therefore, Narayan’s novel is a study of human adaptability and redemption, examining existential themes such as self-deception, morality, and the search for meaning. The White Tiger is about Balram Halwai’s rise from impoverished servant to successful entrepreneur that embodies a psychological shift from submission to rebellion, reflecting the inner turmoil and moral compromises required to navigate India’s stark class divisions. Adiga’s novel critiques the darker side of capitalism and moral decay in the pursuit of success, offering a philosophical examination of freedom, exploitation, corruption, and individualism.