Mapping Malgudi: Fictional Landscapes and the Construction of Cultural Heritage in R. K. Narayan's The Guide

In R.K. Narayan's The Guide, tourism themes are central to protagonist Raju's journey from a cunning tourist guide in Malgudi to a reluctant spiritual leader, exploring the clash between tradition/spirituality and modernity/materialism, deception vs. genuine self, and the evolving identity of post-colonial India, all through Raju's deceptive business and accidental spiritual role, highlighting how people project holiness onto ordinary individuals, making him a symbol of India's search for meaning. Through Raju's ironic journey from a worldly guide to a genuine, sacrificial holy man, Narayan critiques societal materialism while affirming the potential for spiritual redemption, even when born from flawed beginnings, making The Guide a commentary on the human condition in a changing India.