Jagan Is Attached to Money (Situational Irony)
Despite being a follower of Mahatma Gandhi, who famously championed charity, Jagan is very attached to money and financial gain. This is surprising because he claims to be a devout believer in Gandhi's teaching, but is very preoccupied with making his business profitable. He even refuses, initially, to give some local boys his sweetmeats, because they cannot afford them. Likewise, he tells a beggar that he is also poor and, as such, cannot spare any change that day. In this instance of situational irony, Jagan enjoys his wealth despite being devoted to the beliefs of Mahatma Gandhi.
Mali Wants to Make a Story-Writing Machine (Dramatic Irony)
Mali initially sets out to be a writer and asks to quit his studies. Then he says that he must travel to America to become a real writer. Finally, when he returns to India, he is no longer interested in actually writing stories or novels, but rather wants to make a machine that writes stories on its own. This is an instance of dramatic irony, in that he wants to make something that can create a product that he himself appears to be incapable of making.
Mali Becomes Known as a Business Man (Situational Irony)
Jagan's cousin notes that Mali has become known around town as a businessman. People in Malgudi take an interest in his machine. He scouts locations for a factory. He even makes flyers for the business. However, he does all of this without a confirmed investment from Jagan, or any concrete plan to make his machine. In this instance of situational irony, Mali is able to secure a reputation as a successful on the empty basis of an impossible idea.
Jagan Brags About Mali's Time Abroad (Dramatic Irony)
Jagan brags a great deal about Mali's time in America to the people in the village. Initially unbeknownst to him, Mali spends his time abroad eating beef, getting together with an American woman, and generally criticizing India. In this instance of dramatic irony, Jagan has been inadvertently celebrating his son's total rejection of everything he values and cares about.
