Lawley Road MCQ Quiz : R.K. Narayan’s Lawley Road is a humorous and insightful story narrated by the Talkative Man, showing how sudden patriotism after independence leads to confusion and irony in the town of Malgudi.
In the beginning, the Municipality of Malgudi remains inactive for years, and the town manages well without much official interference. However, after India gains independence on 15th August 1947, the Municipal Council becomes suddenly active. They clean the streets, decorate the town, and celebrate with great enthusiasm. The Chairman feels proud but soon becomes restless, thinking that they have not done anything truly memorable to mark the historic occasion.
To show their patriotic spirit, the Council decides to rename all streets and parks with national leaders’ names. This creates chaos, as many roads are given the same names like Mahatma Gandhi Road and Nehru Road. As a result, people cannot find addresses, letters get misplaced, and the town loses its identity.
Still unsatisfied, the Chairman turns his attention to a statue of Sir Frederick Lawley, a British officer. Believing him to be a cruel imperialist, the Council decides to remove the statue. However, the statue is huge and firmly fixed, making the task difficult. The narrator cleverly offers to remove it at his own cost, hoping to make a profit by selling the metal or gifting it abroad.
After great effort using labour and dynamite, he successfully brings the statue to his house. But soon, the truth comes out that Sir Frederick Lawley was actually a noble administrator who contributed greatly to the development of Malgudi. Public opinion changes immediately, and people demand the statue’s return. The narrator, who had invested money in the project, refuses to give it back without compensation.
The situation becomes tense, with public protests and legal notices. The narrator struggles as the statue occupies his house and disturbs his life. Finally, a clever solution is found. The Chairman personally buys the narrator’s house and donates it to the nation. The statue is installed there, and the street is renamed Lawley Road.
The story ends on a comic yet meaningful note. Narayan highlights how blind nationalism, lack of proper knowledge, and hasty decisions can lead to confusion. At the same time, he presents the human tendency to act impulsively and then adjust cleverly to the consequences.
Lawley Road MCQ Quiz with 20 Questions
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