Character Sketch of Margayya, Balu, Dr. Pal, Brinda, Meenakshi, Margayya’s Brother, Guru Raj, Police Inspector, Madan Lal and Shastri | The Financial Expert

by | May 14, 2025 | General | 0 comments

Cl 12 English Fiction - Finacial expert CharacterSketch

 

 Character Sketch of Margayya, Balu, Dr. Pal, Brinda, Meenakshi, Margayya’s Brother, Guru Raj, Police Inspector, Madan Lal and Shastri from Class 12 English (Elective) Fiction – The Financial Expert

 

A character sketch defines what the character is like and how he/she evolves or develops throughout the story. In this post you can find the Character Sketch of Margayya, Balu, Dr. Pal, Brinda, Meenakshi, Margayya’s Brother, Guru Raj, Police Inspector, Madan Lal and Shastri from Class 12 English (Elective) Fiction -The Financial Expert 

 

 
 

Related: 

 

Character Sketch of Margayya

Margayya, the main character in The Financial Expert, is a complicated and tragic figure. His life shows the novel’s key themes of ambition, irony, and the dangerous nature of wealth. He starts out as a small money lender under a banyan tree in front of the Cooperative Bank, which is fitting because his name means “one who shows the way.” At first, he helps illiterate villagers understand loan applications, building a reputation as a modest financial guide. This early stage reveals his sharp mind and basic understanding of finance, along with a desire for better social status and economic success. However, Margayya’s ambition soon grows beyond his modest achievements. A key moment happens when he clashes with the bank secretary and gets expelled. This humiliation ignites his desire to prove himself and achieve great wealth on his own. This marks a turning point in his character, moving him from a community helper to a driven person focused on personal gain. His later ventures, fueled by a mix of naivety and greed, shape his development. His blind trust in the temple priest’s complex rituals shows his vulnerability to superstition and his wish for quick riches. When Dr. Pal and the controversial manuscript “Domestic Harmony” come into play, Margayya unexpectedly gains wealth and social status. As a publisher, he quickly transforms, his ego swelling with his financial success. He becomes more materialistic, and his relationships, especially with his wife and son, turn increasingly transactional. His parenting of Balu shifts between indulgence and strictness, leading to Balu’s irresponsibility. This period highlights how sudden wealth can corrupt one’s values and distort relationships. The final, most devastating phase of Margayya’s story is his failed attempt in the fertilizer business with Dr. Pal. Blinded by the promise of wealth, he ignores good advice and invests poorly, leading to his complete financial ruin. He loses his money, social status, and respect. The novel ends with him returning to his original place under the banyan tree, symbolizing the cycle of fortune. But he is no longer the confident man he once was; instead, he has become a seemingly humbled, though perhaps not completely changed, individual. Margayya’s journey illustrates the risks of unrestrained ambition and the fragility of wealth gained through questionable means, leaving readers to think about the true cost of his obsession.

 

Questions related to the character of Margayya

Q1. What character traits lead to Margayya’s downfall?
Q2. Why does Margayya fail as a father?

Character Sketch of Balu

Balu, Margayya’s son, plays a key role in The Financial Expert. He does not directly cause his father’s downfall, but he greatly influences Margayya’s choices and reflects the consequences of his parenting. From a young age, Balu is shown as a spoiled and often neglected child. Margayya’s focus on making money and his inconsistent parenting, switching between being indulgent and trying to be strict, help Balu grow into a reckless and somewhat rebellious young man. Balu’s lack of ambition and disinterest in education frustrates Margayya. He represents a generational clash, seeming unwilling or unable to follow his father’s traditional values. His tantrums and demands show the outcome of a privileged upbringing without proper guidance or responsibility. A key incident in their relationship occurs when Balu loses the bank passbook that holds Margayya’s savings. This careless mistake causes Margayya’s first major financial setback and propels him to seek unconventional and risky ways to make money, like the temple priest’s rituals and teaming up with Dr. Pal. In this way, Balu’s irresponsibility indirectly sets the stage for his father’s subsequent downfall. As Balu grows older, his defiance of Margayya’s authority becomes clearer. His marriage to Brinda, a modern and strong-willed woman, intensifies the generational conflict within the family. Brinda’s refusal to meet Margayya’s traditional expectations and her eventual departure from Balu show a break from the family’s patriarchal structure and shifting social dynamics. Balu’s character acts as a catalyst for change in the family and reflects the evolving societal norms that Margayya struggles to understand. While Balu is not intentionally harmful, his spoiled upbringing and careless actions greatly contribute to Margayya’s worries and eventual downturn.

 

Questions related to the character of Balu

Q1. Describe Balu’s childhood.
Q2. How does Balu’s mother contribute to the development of his character?

Character Sketch of Dr. Pal

Dr. Pal plays a crucial, morally complex role in The Financial Expert. He both helps Margayya grow wealthy and leads him to his eventual downfall. Dr. Pal is opportunistic and often ignores ethical concerns, contrasting with Margayya’s initial attempts at honest finance. He enters the story with a controversial manuscript called “Domestic Harmony.” Seeing that Margayya has a small publishing business, Dr. Pal skillfully presents the book, appealing to Margayya’s ambition for quick money. Dr. Pal shows intellectual cunning and understands society’s weaknesses. He knows how to find profitable opportunities, regardless of their ethics. His marketing of “Domestic Harmony” succeeds because he taps into societal curiosity and prurience. In their first partnership, Dr. Pal seems valuable to Margayya, bringing innovative ideas that elevate Margayya’s publishing business. This situation highlights how very different people can reach success together, even if their values clash. However, Dr. Pal’s opportunism and lack of integrity lead to Margayya’s ruin. His plan for a fertilizer business focuses on his personal gain, ignoring its practicality and ethics. He takes advantage of Margayya’s inflated ego and greed, creating a harmful dynamic that leads to financial disaster. After the fertilizer scheme collapses, Dr. Pal disappears, leaving Margayya to deal with the consequences. He exemplifies those who profit from the ambitions and naivety of others while leaving chaos behind. His actions show the risks of associating with unethical people and how such relationships can result in severe problems. Dr. Pal reminds us that seeking wealth without integrity can have serious consequences for both the greedy person and those caught in their plans. He is the “nightmare” that Lakshmi Holmstrom describes, as his initially positive influence ultimately results in Margayya’s downfall.

 

Questions related to the character of Dr. Pal

Q1. How does Dr Pal contribute to Margayya’s downfall?
Q2. Describe Dr Pal’s character.

Character Sketch of Brinda

Brinda, Balu’s wife, represents a significant change in society in ‘The Financial Expert’. She embodies a more modern, independent, and assertive woman, contrasting with the traditional norms in Margayya’s household. Her character highlights generational differences and the evolving roles of women in Indian society. From the start, Brinda shows a strong will and does not conform to Margayya’s traditional expectations for a daughter-in-law. She speaks her mind and challenges Margayya’s authority and conservative views. Brinda’s decision to leave Margayya’s household with Balu is a key moment in the story. It shows her independence and rejection of life dictated by traditional norms. Her departure highlights generational conflict and the younger generation’s desire for freedom and self-determination. Brinda becomes a symbol of change, representing women who no longer accept outdated social norms. While her interactions with Margayya are often tense, her actions come from a desire for a fairer and more fulfilling life for herself and her husband. Brinda also influences Balu, helping him break from his father’s control and choose a more independent path. Her character adds social commentary to The Financial Expert, showing the significant shifts happening in Indian society at the time. Her presence challenges traditional family structures and emphasizes the importance of individual agency and women’s empowerment. While Brinda does not directly cause Margayya’s financial downfall, her defiance and departure contribute to the family’s overall sense of change, reflecting broader societal transformations that Margayya encounters.

 

Questions related to the character of Brinda

Q1. Can we say that Brinda is a dutiful wife? Discuss.
Q2. How does Brinda act as a representative of women empowerment?

Character Sketch of Meenakshi

Meenakshi is a devoted wife to Margayya. She is a loving mother to Balu, who they welcomed after twelve years of marriage. Like her husband, she spoils Balu with love and attention, causing him to grow up as a spoiled child. Meenakshi cares for Margayya in her own way, never interfering in his efforts to make money. She focuses on her family’s happiness and welfare. She occasionally complains to Margayya about Balu’s naughty behaviour but does so gently to avoid upsetting him. Even when Margayya starts to neglect her, she listens to him when he talks about his problems. For example, when he shares how the Secretary insulted him, she reminds him that it is normal for someone who earns 500/- a month to act that way. She knows that Balu is heading down the wrong path but chooses not to tell Margayya to prevent conflict between father and son. She believes that time will resolve their issues. Her love for Balu makes it hard for her to share these concerns with Margayya. Meenakshi feels shattered when Balu disappears after Margayya scolds him for failing his Matriculation exam. After this, she goes about her daily tasks mechanically, and there is a sombre silence in the house. When she hears about Balu’s death in Madras, she starts to wail and blame Margayya for their son’s death. She pressures Margayya to go to Madras to find out what happened to Balu. She is overjoyed when Margayya brings Balu back from Madras. Her spirits lift, and she begins to take more care of her appearance, competing with Margayya in looking after Balu. After Balu marries, she does not want him to live separately from them. Margayya explains that Balu must become independent. However, Balu remains irresponsible throughout the story, but that does not stop them from loving him. One flaw in her character is her difficulty in getting along with Margayya’s family, especially his brother’s wife. They are both suspicious of each other and dislike each other, even during difficult times, like when they learn about Balu’s death. This kind of tension is common in many joint families.

 

Questions related to the character of Meenakshi

Q1. Describe Meenakshi’s sufferings at the hands of her husband.
Q2. How does Meenakshi fail as a mother?

Character Sketch of Margayya’s Brother

Margayya’s brother plays an important role in his life, but the writer doesn’t mention his name in the novel. We only know him as Margayya’s brother. Before the story begins, they are separated because their wives refuse to live together due to constant fights. They tolerate each other until their father’s death, after which they go their separate ways. Everything that could be divided was divided between the two brothers, except for the well, which both families used. A wall separated their houses, but they were aware of what was happening in each other’s homes. There were also comments about each other whenever something happened. Margayya became rich after his book “Domestic Harmony” was published with Madan Lal. When he enrolls his son Balu in school with a grand ceremony, he invites his brother and family to the event. His brother comes with all his children, but his sister-in-law does not attend. Margayya often remembers how good his brother was to him during his school days and at his marriage. However, the women in their families rarely get along, and they end up living separately after their father’s death. When Margayya hears from Madras that Balu has died, it is his brother who offers help. Margayya feels lost and unsure of what to do, but his brother urges him to go to Madras to find out more. Although Margayya is reluctant, his brother is willing to accompany him, but Margayya decides to go alone. On the train, he meets a Police Inspector who helps him find Balu in a movie theatre. Whenever Margayya faces trouble, his brother comes to his aid without being asked, showing his love for him. However, due to the constant fighting between the women in the family, they often do not speak to each other in most parts of the novel.

 

Questions related to the character of Margayya’s Brother

Q1. How can we say that Margayya’s brother is concerned for him?
Q2. What is the cause of the strained relations between Margayya and his brother?

Character Sketch of Guru Raj

Guru Raj is a blanket dealer who rents one of his shops to Margayya on Market Road. Dr. Pal suggests that Guru Raj start a financial business. Guru Raj is also the first person to deposit money with Margayya. His shop is located behind a jaggery godown in the city, and many flies often gather there. Because of this, Guru Raj constantly chases the flies out of his shop. His shop does not have electricity. Although he is a farmer and a municipal councillor, he does not want to spend money on getting an electricity connection. Like Margayya, he is very cautious with his money and justifies his decision with reasons. He believes that one should not work after 6 PM; the best working hours are from 8 AM to 6 PM. As a result, Margayya has to finish all his transactions before sunset and go home early. Guru Raj has another reason for not installing electric lights in his shop. The materials needed for this work are very expensive, so he has ordered them from the General Electric Company in America. He mentions this, but it is unclear if he has actually placed the order. Whenever Margayya complains about the lack of light in his shop, Guru Raj assures him that the items will arrive soon, and they will have electricity shortly. He is the first person to deposit money with Margayya.

Later, Balu gets influenced by Dr. Pal and begins gambling, drinking, and neglecting his wife and child. Dr. Pal also encourages him to demand his share of the property from Margayya. This angers Margayya, and he confronts Dr. Pal in the street. To get back at Margayya, Dr Pal spreads rumours that Margayya’s financial condition is poor. As a result, Guru Raj becomes the first person to ask for his money back, which ultimately leads to Margayya’s bankruptcy.

 

Questions related to the character of Guru Raj

Q1. Describe the character of Guru raj.
Q2. What is Guru Raj’s profession? 

Character Sketch of Police Inspector 

Margayya meets a kind and sincere police officer while travelling to Madras in a third-class train compartment. Although the inspector lives in Madras, he moves around to catch criminals and wrongdoers, including political leaders like Mahatma Gandhi. When Margayya tells him about the unsigned postcard he received about his son’s death, the officer helps him find Balu. After they get off the train in Madras, the inspector tells Margayya to wait at the platform restaurant while he investigates. He spends a day tracing the postcard and takes Margayya to an old man who writes letters to world leaders about death. Then, he takes Margayya to Central Talkies, run by the old man’s son-in-law. There, they find Balu working as a poster boy. The thin and emaciated Balu is unwilling to go back with Margayya and seems happy in the theatre. Margayya feels dark and weary from searching in the sun but is very happy to find his son alive. Balu has no choice but to return to Malgudi with Margayya. The inspector sees Margayya and Balu at Egmore Platform. Margayya is grateful to the officer for helping him find Balu in Madras when he really needed assistance. The inspector advises Balu to be a good son and not to worry about his parents again. The officer is glad to have helped someone in need. He restores faith in human nature and the police force by helping Margayya without wanting anything in return. If he had not assisted Margayya, Margayya would have suffered greatly in Madras. The inspector reunites the wayward son and his loving parents after they have lost all hope.

 

Questions related to the character of Police Inspector

Q1. How does the inspector help Margayya find Balu?
Q2. What advice does the inspector give Balu?

Character Sketch of Madan Lal

Madan Lal owns the Gordon Printery in Malgudi, which is well-known for its printing services. When Margayya wants to print his book, originally titled Bed Life, he meets Lal, who becomes a partner in publishing the book. On the advice of a lawyer, the title was changed to Domestic Harmony. Lal is a smart businessman; he isn’t just a printer but also shares in the publishing profits. 

Margayya tries to outsmart Lal by pretending to understand printing better than he does. When Lal asks for time to read the manuscript before deciding to print it, Margayya refuses to leave the manuscript behind. As a result, Lal has to read it quickly in one sitting, skipping lunch. He orders lunch for both himself and Margayya to stay focused. Lal decides to consult his lawyer before printing the book because he wants to avoid any legal issues later. He emphasizes that while profits will be shared, any legal troubles will fall only on Margayya. Later, Margayya wants to end the partnership because he feels embarrassed to be associated with such a book. He tries to do this without going to a lawyer. However, Lal prolongs the negotiations for over two days and ends up giving Margayya a large sum of money. Lal acts comically as he rushes through Dr Pal’s book on typography, published under the new title, neglecting important edits and proofreading to finish quickly. He is pleased to secure a better deal from Margayya when their partnership ends. When they part ways, both say they are still friends, but we don’t hear from Madan Lal again in the novel.

 

Questions related to the character of Madan Lal

Q1. What is Madan Lal’s opinion about the book written by Dr Pal?
Q2. Describe Madan Lal’s character.

 

Character Sketch of Shastri

Shastri is a retired revenue clerk who works for Margayya, and he plays an important role in showing how Margayya’s status changes and his need for approval. Shastri is Margayya’s only employee, reflecting Margayya’s preference for a small office instead of a large staff like the banks have. Shastri is an older man with a thin appearance, always busy with his work, and has a silver beard that’s about fifteen days old. He focuses on the ledger and works diligently. Margayya instructs Shastri not to look up or salute when he arrives, as it might disturb his calculations. Yet, Shastri is always ready to listen when Margayya wants to share his thoughts. Shastri’s main trait is his sycophancy. He earns a small salary of fifty rupees a month and tries hard to stay in Margayya’s good books by flattering him. As Margayya rises in wealth, Shastri praises him and boosts his ego. When Margayya looks for a bride for Balu, Shastri uses his connections to find a match—the daughter of a tea estate owner in the Mempi hills, where Shastri wishes he owned land. Even with Margayya’s wealth, his lifestyle doesn’t change much, except for a new room on the terrace. Shastri praises Margayya’s daily walk to the office on Market Road as an example of his simplicity, though it hints more at Margayya’s frugality. Shastri plays on Margayya’s pride, telling him he could be the richest man in Malgudi. Shastri remains a loyal but subservient employee. He brings many marriage proposals for Balu and even helps Margayya change horoscopes when initial matches are not suitable. He speaks little but works hard until Margayya faces financial ruin. Shastri’s presence during Margayya’s wealthier days shows how much Margayya needs validation. Shastri’s constant loyalty, despite his flattering nature, highlights a strange dependence that lasts until Margayya’s fortunes completely collapse.

Questions related to the character of Shastri

Q1. How does the Shastri befool Margayya?
Q2. What rituals does the Shastri prescribe to Margayya?

on

Submit a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *