• R.K.Narayan's short stories are noted for realism. Humour and Pathos.

Govind Singh, an ex-serviceman was appointed as a gatekeeper in an

English company. He liked the job and was smart in his khaki uniform.
Whenever the Sahib's car stopped at the gate, he would give him a
military salute.
• He sincerely served the company for twenty five (25) years. Then he
begged to be pensioned off. The company commended his service
and gave him a pension of rupees twelve (12) a month for life. He
lived peacefully; his wife also earned little money as a servant. Every
month Singh went to the company and got the pension from the
clerk.
• One day Singh made a new discovery about himself. A child brought
him a doll for repair. He repaired it and started making dolls out of
clay. This skill with which he made beautiful dolls made many people
admire him. His models made a miniature reflection of the world. He
showed his loyalty to the Sahib of the company by making a present
of his handwork to him.
• One fine day Singh received a registered letter. He was afraid that this
might be the news of stoppage of his pension. The letter worried him
and drove him mad. One day the police arrested him for breaking
streetlights. Even at that time he had not opened the letter.
• On the way to police station the accountant of the company met him
by chance. He told Singh about the content of the letter. It was Sahib's
commendation of his artistic models with a reward of rupees
hundred. The accountant tore to open the letter and gave him the
cheque. The accountant secured the release of Singh. There after
Singh never made toys again.
• This story reveals the gateman as an unforgettable character. His
simplicity and loyalty, his pride, his blameless career, his gift of making
toys, his misfortune and his deliverance are brought out in this short
story.
THEME
• Theme of fear, paralysis, insecurity, suffering, social opinion, pride and
identity.
• So crippling is Singh’s fear that he believes himself to be going mad.
• It is also interesting that Singh loses interest in his clay-modelling
because of the fear he feels over the letter.
• Narayan is exploring the theme of pride. Singh is proud of his job as a
Gateman.
• He is happy to be able to be part of something. To have some
responsibility and to get paid for it too
• The village that Singh makes that reminds him of his father’s village
also appears to be the one clay model that Singh is most proud of. It is
as though the model of the village is part of Singh’s identity
Is Singh really mad?
• Yet he destroys it in a moment of madness all because of his fear to
open the letter. Though it is clear that Singh is not really mad he does
through stress do things that would be deemed inappropriate.
• What does the ex-compounder suggests to Govind Singh?
• The ex- compounder suggests that when Govind Singh receives any
registered mail, it is better to open by him but if he cannot, then go to
X-Ray institute.
• What did he get when he enrolled in the job of the gatekeeper?
• He got khaki uniform and short stick when he enrolled in the job of
the gatekeeper
• What did he think of the letter’s content?
• He thought of the letter’s content that it was something which he did
wrong in his work, so that letter was sent to him.
• Why did he go to city x-ray institute at race course?
• He went to city x-ray at race course because he thought he could get
the answer of the letter without opening it.
• What was there in the letter that Govind Singh received?
• There was Rs.100 in that letter which Govind Singh received.
• When Govind Singh wanted to fly, what did he do?
• When Govind returned back from the city X-ray institute without
knowing the answer of what was inside the letter and behaving him by
all people as mad, then he wanted to fly. He swung his arms up and
down and ran away. He ran through the market road. When people
watched him, he cried not to look him since he was mad and they
would also become mad like him.
• What was the final art that Govind Singh constructed in the story?
• A clay doll was the final art that Govind Singh constructed in the story.
• Justify the title of the story.
• Govind Singh the main character of the story is the ex-gateman
working for 25 years. He makes the clay doll and givers it to the
general manager. In response, he is sent the registered mail which he
could not open because he thinks something wrong in his work. He
goes everywhere and asks people what is inside it without opening.
Then, he is called as mad and he himself realizes his madness. Finally,
his accountant comes and tells him that in inside the letter, he is sent
100 rupees as the gift by general manager. Thus, the title “Gateman’s
gift” is justified.