Watchman of the Lake

The play "Watchman of the Lake" by R. K. Narayan is a dramatized version of a local legend from Sakkrepatna, Karnataka. It centers on the character of Mara, a "rustic" man who is initially dismissed as a lunatic but ultimately becomes the savior of the land.

Scenes One & Two

Scene One introduces us to a village at the foot of a hill where road-menders are working for the King's arrival. The Village Headman is portrayed as a bully who is annoyed by Mara. He calls Mara a "lunatic" and orders him to be bound and locked in a cellar to prevent him from bothering the King. Mara claims that the "Goddess of the river" appeared in his dream, telling him that the King must build a tank to save the river Veda’s water. Despite the Headman’s threats, Mara escapes with the help of his jailer, Bhima, a giant with a "baby soul."

Scene Two shows the King's arrival. Mara dramatically jumps down from a tree to gain the King's attention. He describes the sacred spot where Hanuman once found the "Sanjeevini" herb. He tells the King about the Veda river, which the Goddess calls her "plaything." The Goddess is described as having flying tresses, a crown of stars, and a ruby mark. She commanded Mara to tell the King to build a tank so the water wouldn't perish in "foul marshes" while the people died of drought in summer. Impressed by Mara's sincerity, the King invites him to the Capital.

Scene Three

Scene Three occurs many years later. A vast lake has been built, and Mara is its official watchman. We see Mara’s deep commitment to his duty. He reprimands a fisherman for catching fish, reminding him that the place is sacred and that "nothing that flies or swims or walks" should be killed. He also helps a visitor from a distant village, promising him water according to the law. Mara is teaching his son, Ganga, the duties of a watchman, emphasizing that the lake belongs to the Goddess and the King.

Scene Four – The climax

Scene Four is the climax, set during a night of "torrential downpour" and a shrieking storm. Mara arrives at the King’s palace, battered by rain and mud. He tells the King that the Goddess has returned in a "reckless mood of destruction." She wants to kick away the stones and destroy the tank because she is in a "mood" to play with Veda's waters. Mara pleaded with her, pointing out that the flood would destroy hundreds of villages and the Capital. The Goddess finally granted him a condition: she would wait for him to go to the King and return before carrying out the devastation.

Knowing that the lake will be destroyed the moment he returns, Mara proposes a "horrible" but noble suggestion. He asks the King to execute him or send for the executioner so that he never returns to the lake. As long as he doesn't return, the Goddess is bound by her word to stay her hand. His last request is that his son, Ganga, and his descendants should become the watchmen of the lake.

Scene Five – The legacy

Scene Five shows the legacy of Mara. A shrine has been built on the lake's bank. Two figures are worshipped: the Guardian Goddess on top and Mara on the pedestal below. Ganga is now the watchman, teaching his own son the importance of Tuesday and Friday worship. The sacrifice of Mara has ensured that the lake, and the kingdom, lives on for generations.