Thinking Activity: Crime and Punishment by R.K. Narayan

 This blog is part of a Thinking Activity on the short story Crime and Punishment by R.K. Narayan. It explores Dynamic roles of teacher and student.

Crime and Punishment by R k Narayan 

Summary:-

The Story begins with The teacher asks his student, "What is sixteen multiplied by three?" The boy deliberately answers incorrectly with "twenty-four," despite knowing the right answer, while giving his teacher a challenging smile.

Frustrated after repeated corrections, the teacher momentarily loses control and slaps the boy. Immediately filled with regret, he pleads with the crying child not to tell his parents. This moment reveals the teacher's vulnerable position - though he believes in discipline, he must conform to the parents' progressive educational theories that reject any form of punishment.

The clever boy quickly recognizes his advantage. He blackmails the teacher by threatening to report the slap unless lessons end early. Their relationship undergoes a complete reversal - the pupil becomes the commander, ordering his teacher to play station master to his toy train. The exhausted educator complies, performing childish games while worrying about the impending arithmetic test.

When the boy's train breaks, he demands the teacher fix it. Unable to handle mechanical toys, the humiliated tutor fails at this task too. The child then forces him to tell endless stories, knowing the teacher fears parental disapproval more than his student's poor academic progress.

The situation escalates when the boy suddenly runs toward the house, forcing his teacher to chase him through the garden in a desperate attempt to prevent him from telling his parents about the slap. This comical yet pathetic pursuit ends with the breathless tutor collapsing just as the parents appear.

In a final ironic twist, when questioned about the boy's progress, the teacher lies to protect himself, saying the student only needs slight improvement. The boy, equally complicit in this deception, remains silent. Both recognize their mutual dependence - the teacher needs to keep his job, while the boy wants to avoid studying.

Narayan masterfully portrays how modern parenting theories can backfire when taken to extremes. The progressive parents' complete rejection of discipline has created a manipulative child who controls adults rather than learning from them. Meanwhile, the teacher's momentary loss of temper leads to his complete loss of authority, showing how fragile an educator's position can be in such environments.

The story's title becomes deeply ironic - the real "crime" may be the parents' excessive permissiveness, while the "punishment" falls not on the misbehaving child but on the trapped teacher. This brief but powerful narrative explores themes of authority, education, and the unintended consequences of well-meaning theories when applied without balance or wisdom.

Role of Teacher and student in Crime and Punishment 

In R.K. Narayan’s Crime and Punishment, the roles of teacher and student are portrayed with irony and complexity, highlighting the reversal of traditional authority in a modern educational setting. The teacher, initially attempting to uphold discipline, loses control and slaps the student, only to be consumed by guilt and fear of the progressive parents who reject any form of punishment. This fear renders him powerless, forcing him to beg for the child's silence and comply with his every demand. The student, clever and manipulative, seizes control of the situation, using the teacher’s vulnerability to dominate him—turning lessons into play and exploiting the imbalance of power. Instead of learning, the student becomes the one in charge, while the teacher, stripped of authority, becomes a servant to the child’s whims. Through this comical yet critical portrayal, Narayan exposes the unintended consequences of permissive parenting and educational theories that ignore the need for balance between freedom and discipline, ultimately showing how both teacher and student are trapped in a dysfunctional system.

Examples of Dynamic role of Teacher and Student 

The shifting roles of teacher and student, as depicted in R.K. Narayan’s Crime and Punishment, find echoes in various forms of literature, cinema, and real-life narratives. These examples emphasize that the relationship between a teacher and a student is not static but evolves through emotional, intellectual, and situational exchanges. Below are select examples that align with the core themes of this story

1) Film: Taare Zameen Par 

Taare Zameen Par, directed by Aamir Khan, is a profound exploration of the dynamic between teacher and student. The film centers on Ishaan Awasthi, an eight-year-old boy who battles with dyslexia, a condition neither recognized nor understood by his parents or teachers. Misinterpreting his struggles as laziness and disobedience, the adults in his life subject him to punishment and shame. The narrative shifts when Ram Shankar Nikumbh, a perceptive and empathetic art teacher, enters Ishaan’s life. Rather than adhering to rigid academic expectations, Nikumbh takes the time to understand Ishaan’s emotional world and learning challenges. Through patience, encouragement, and alternative teaching methods, he unlocks the boy’s artistic talents and restores his self-confidence. This transformation not only impacts Ishaan but also redefines Nikumbh’s role as a teacher—from a disciplinarian to a nurturing mentor. Much like the teacher in R.K. Narayan’s Crime and Punishment, Nikumbh learns that true education begins with empathy and that teaching is as much about listening as it is about guiding.

2) Dead Poets Society 

Peter Weir’s acclaimed film Dead Poets Society vividly portrays the evolving roles between teacher and student through the character of Mr. John Keating, an English teacher at a conservative boarding school. Keating employs unconventional teaching methods, urging his students to "seize the day" (carpe diem) and think independently. Rather than simply transferring knowledge, he inspires them to challenge societal expectations, express themselves freely, and find their own voices. As the story progresses, the students—particularly Neil Perry and Todd Anderson—undergo significant personal transformation, driven by Keating's mentorship. However, their emotional and intellectual awakening also leads to conflict with rigid institutional norms, resulting in tragedy. Importantly, Keating himself learns from his students' courage and convictions. This mutual influence demonstrates that teaching is not a one-way act of instruction but a shared journey of discovery. The film ultimately highlights how a passionate educator can awaken dormant potential in students, and how students, in turn, can challenge, inspire, and shape their teachers.

3) The Karate Kid 

The Karate Kid presents a powerful example of the evolving relationship between a teacher and a student. The story follows a young boy—Daniel LaRusso in the 1984 version and Dre Parker in the 2010 remake—who faces bullying and low self-esteem after moving to a new place. He encounters Mr. Miyagi (or Mr. Han in the remake), an unassuming mentor who agrees to teach him martial arts. What begins as a physical discipline gradually turns into a journey of emotional and moral development. Mr. Miyagi doesn’t just train Daniel to fight but helps him discover patience, respect, and inner strength. At the same time, the mentor also gains renewed purpose and emotional healing through his bond with the student. This transformation of roles—from teacher to friend, and from student to self-reliant individual—mirrors the lesson in R.K. Narayan’s Crime and Punishment, where both teacher and student grow through shared experiences. It highlights how true learning is reciprocal, rooted in empathy, patience, and trust.

4) Web Series: Kota Factory (2019)

The Kota Factory, created by Saurabh Khanna, offers a realistic and emotionally resonant portrayal of the teacher-student relationship in the context of India’s competitive education system. Set in Kota, a city known for its IIT coaching centers, the series follows Vaibhav, a determined teenager who moves there to prepare for the prestigious IIT entrance exam. Amid academic pressure and emotional struggle, he finds guidance in Jeetu Bhaiya, a beloved teacher who balances strict discipline with deep empathy. Jeetu Bhaiya does not merely teach formulas or exam techniques; he becomes a mentor, life coach, and emotional anchor for his students. His role constantly evolves—sometimes a motivator, sometimes a critic, and often a silent supporter. Vaibhav and his peers, in turn, grow not just as students but as individuals with dreams, fears, and moral questions. Much like R.K. Narayan’s Crime and Punishment, the series highlights that a meaningful teacher-student relationship involves mutual growth, emotional intelligence, and a shared journey toward self-realization and resilience.

Conclusion 

The dynamic roles of teacher and student, as portrayed in R.K. Narayan’s Crime and Punishment and echoed in other narratives, reveal how authority, empathy, and learning constantly shift in response to personal, cultural, and institutional contexts. Whether through manipulation, mentorship, or mutual transformation, these relationships are never one-dimensional. Narayan’s story critiques extreme parenting and educational trends while inviting reflection on the fragile balance between discipline and compassion. The examples discussed—from cinema to web series—affirm that teaching is a deeply human interaction, where both student and teacher can grow, falter, and evolve through honest engagement and emotional intelligence.