Study, or else

" 'Why are you so nervous about my examination?'
'Suppose you fail?'
'I won't'
'Of course you won't if you study hard and answer well... Suppose you fail and all your class-mates go up, leaving you behind? You can start doing just what you like on the very day your examination closes.'
Swaminathan reflected: suppose the Pea, Mani, Rajam, and Sankar deserted him and occupied Second A? His father was right. And then his father drove home the point. 'Suppose all your juniors in the Fifth Standard become your class-mates?'
Swaminathan sat at decimals for half and hour. " (Swami and Friends pg 42)


This section of the novel is not only amusing, but gives insight into Swami's character. Swami is afraid of being alone. When he originally invited Rajam over to his house, he is obsessed with appearing wealthy and successful and winning over his friend's affection and respect. This passage highlights Swami's need to feel accepted and have his friends. It certainly foreshadows the tense departure of Rajam at the end of the novel, and accentuates how big of a deal that departure actually is.

Here Swami is embracing colonial education simply because he wants to be with his friends. For Swami, and many kids today, school is a place of socialization. He is willing to accept the discrimination and forcefulness of the religious proctor simply for the chance to be with his buddies. He is even regretful at the beginning of the novel that his father wrote a letter to the principal. Swami seems willing to put up with crap for this opportunity.

He's also willing to fit that mold of a successful colonial man as we see through his attempts with Rajam. We see no real sense of pleasure radiating from Rajam due to his wealth or status except for the same one Swami seeks, popularity. Rajam delights in his social power, which is shown through his efforts to reunite his bickering friends and giving them some of his possessions in return. In this way, Rajam symbolizes colonialism which offers resources that people may need, and the social power and influence over people that comes along with it.

Swami, is trying to be like Rajam, but he is different because he appears to really want the emotional part of friendship rather than notability.