Swami and Friends: Chapter 13 Summary & Analysis

Six weeks pass, after which Rajam comes to Swami’s house to tell him that he forgives him for everything, from his political activities to his new status as a student at the Board School. The reader learns that Swami refused to return to the Mission School and that his father sent him instead to the Board School. Swami quickly found himself happily the center of attention at his new school, though he does not yet have close friends there. Back at the Mission School, Somu was left behind after failing an exam, Sankar moved away after his father was transferred, and the Pea began school months late due to mysterious causes. Swami still sees Mani every day but had not seen Rajam since leaving the Mission School.

Rajam finds Swami trying to build a camera, and Swami explains that a boy in his new class had done so. Rajam criticizes Swami for thinking that his new school is superior and Swami, wanting to win Rajam over, agrees that he does not like the Board School but says that he had no choice in leaving the Mission School. Rajam tells Swami that he should have stayed away from politics in the first place, and Swami agrees. Rajam is convinced by Swami’s consent and tells him that they should go back to being good friends.

Rajam suggests forming a cricket team, and although Swami initially feels that he’s not good enough to play, Rajam convinces him to try. Rajam says that the team will be called the M.C.C. but Swami worries that they could get into legal trouble, since there is already a professional cricket team using that name. Swami suggests some other names for the team and they make a list of all the possibilities, choosing Victory Union Eleven as an additional name. Swami brings up the idea that they might need to pay a tax to the government, concerned that their name will not be reserved unless they do so. Considering all of the Swami’s points, Rajam reflects that starting a cricket team is “the most complicated problem on earth” and feels sympathetic toward Gandhi’s opposition to the government.

Swami and Rajam go to Mani’s house to choose cricket equipment from a sporting goods catalogue. Mani insists that a certain kind of bat, the Junior Willard Bat, is the best kind and that their team must order them. The three friends choose the goods they need from the catalogue, arguing good-naturedly about how many bats they need, and then settle down to write a letter ordering the supplies. Swami at first agrees to write the letter but becomes overwhelmed by the task, at which point Rajam takes over, writing a letter from both M.C.C. and Victory Union Eleven. They complete the letter and agree to mail it.

The postman arrives with a card for Rajam, which turns out to be from Sankar, who says that he is also playing cricket now. The three friends are excited to hear from Sankar and immediately write letters in return, only to realize that they do not have an address to mail them to.

Soon thereafter, Rajam receives a reply from the sporting goods company addressed to the captain of the M.C.C. The friends are delighted to have their team recognized by the company and the postal service. The letter from the company asks for a 25% payment, which confuses them and leaves them unsure how to respond. Eventually, they conclude that the letter was sent to them by mistake, even though Swami points out that it is addressed to the captain of their team. They write back to the company returning the letter and asking that their cricket supplies be sent quickly.

Swami, Rajam, and Mani continue to believe that the cricket supplies will arrive soon, and that perhaps the company is even making them especially for their team. In the meantime, they make bats from a wooden box and get used tennis balls from Rajam’s father’s club and begin practicing without their complete supplies. The Pea joins their team, along with a few boys that Rajam chooses from his class.

The team assembles for its first practice. The Pea arrives late without the stumps he promised to bring, but says that he will bring them to the next practice. Rajam and the others are at first upset not to have the supplies they need to play a full game of cricket, but they manage to continue when someone suggests using the wall as a temporary wicket. As practice starts, Swami bowls very well and is immediately given the nickname Tate, after a famous bowler.