R. K. Narayan

• R. K. Narayan (10 October 1906 – 13 May 2001), was an Indian writer.

• His actual name was Rasipuram Krishnaswami Iyer Narayanaswami. 

• He was graduated from the University of Mysore.

• He became famous with the publication of "Swami and Friends".
• Nrayan's works of fiction include a series of books about people and their interactions in an imagined town in India called Malgudi. 

• He is one of three leading figures of early Indian literature in English. 

• He is credited with bringing Indian literature in English to the rest of the world, and is regarded as one of India's greatest English language novelists.
• "The Missing Mail" was one of the most interesting  short stories of R. K. Narayan. 

The Missing Mail: Summary

The story "The Missing Mail" centers round Thanappa, a conscientious postman. He holds personal relationships dearer than his duty. He feels personally involved in the lives of the people of Vinayak Mudali Street. Of these he is most attracted to Ramanujam and his family.

The Missing Mail: Analysis

The story belongs to the imaginary town of Malgudi where lives Ramanujam, a senior clerk in Revenue Department, and lives Thanappa , the postman of the town who is a very caring and compassionate person. He is the most awaited guy for everyone because he is the man, who brings them their letters with the news of various moods and reads them aloud if needed. Thanappa takes sincere and genuine interest in the welfare of every resident of Malgudi and always tends to deliver them their letters with the coating of his own views, comments and advice of which nobody seems to feel otherwise. Thanappa too is quite free and comfortable with everyone and spends substantial time while he stops at their doorstep to deliver the post and that is why he takes nearly six hours to finish the round of his small beat which covers Vinayak Mudali Street and its four parallel roads.