Characters

The main characters in the short story “The Mark of Vishnu” by Khushwant Singh are Gunga Ram and the four schoolboys. 

Gunga Ram is a servant in the household where the schoolboys live. The four brothers go to school and receive a formal education. Since Gunga Ram is a servant, the schoolboys make fun of him for his lack of education and strange habits. The conflict between them is at the center of the narrative. The clash between Gunga Ram and the schoolboys illustrates the clash between traditional and modern views. It is worth noting that all characters are wrong when it comes to the snake. While Gunga Ram makes a mistake when he relies only on his beliefs and places himself in front of the injured snake, the schoolboys are also responsible for his death.

You can read a full characterization of Gunga Ram and the schoolboys in the following pages.