That protagonist, Raju, is mistaken for a sadhu and is trapped into fasting in order to end a drought.
In one of this man's novels, an unnamed journalist meets a man who claims to be a native of "Timbuctoo", asserts that he is a "futurologist" writing a book on the "Cannibal Plant", and goes by the name "Dr. Rann". Another of his protagonists puts his daughter Leela in preschool on the advice of a psychic who also teaches him to contact his dead wife Susila, after having earlier quit his job at Albert Mission College. This author of Talkative Man wrote a novel in which Mali runs away to America and marries Grace, disappointing his candy-vendor father Jagan, as well as a novel whose protagonist helps Daisy set up a number of family-planning clinics using his artistic skills. In addition to The English Teacher, The Vendor of Sweets, and The Painter of Signs, this author's works include a novel about a man who convinces Rosie to walk out on her husband, who he nicknames "Marco Polo", to become a dancer. That protagonist, Raju, is mistaken for a sadhu and is trapped into fasting in order to end a drought. For 10 points, identify this Indian author of such novels as The Guide and Swami and Friends, which like many of his other works are set in the town of Malgudi.
In one of this man's novels, an unnamed journalist meets a man who claims to be a native of "Timbuctoo", asserts that he is a "futurologist" writing a book on the "Cannibal Plant", and goes by the name "Dr. Rann".
{R.K. Narayan} [or {Rasipuram Krishnaswami Iyer Narayanaswami}]