 R. K. Narayan was born in Madras ( now Chennai ) , British India . His father was a school headmaster , and Narayan did some of his studies at his father 's school . As his father 's job entailed frequent transfers , Narayan spent part of his childhood under the care of his maternal grandmother , Parvati . During this time his best friends and playmates were a peacock and a mischievous monkey . 
