R. K. Narayan, well-known Indian author, died on May 13, 2001. He was 94 years old. Narayan was born in Madras, India in 1906. He was best known for his novels about Malgudi, a fictional town in South India. His works explored modern India and its culture, and were widely read both in India and abroad. He worked as a teacher and journalist throughout his life and published five volumes of short stories and fourteen novels. His works were translated into many languages, including numerous awards, and several of his novels were adapted into films. Narayan was highly respected in India and was awarded the Sahitya Akademi Fellowship, its highest literary honor, in 1987. His influence on literature and culture was profound, earning him the title of “the writer who made India accessible to the rest of the world.” He will be remembered for his wisdom, keen insight and warm humanism. May his soul rest in peace.