“This is a well-written book that explores Anglo-Indian relations through the power of romance. Set in two distinct eras, colonial India of the nineteen twenties, during the time of the Raj, and the independent, freewheeling India of the seventies, during the time when India was a mecca for disenfranchised youth, it tells the story of two women.

One story is that of Olivia, the wife of a minor district official in colonial India, who in 1923 caused great scandal by running off with the Nawab, a local Indian prince. Divorced by her husband, Douglas, for this scandalous transgression, Olivia remains in India, while Douglas remarries. The second story is that of the narrator, a descendant of Douglas and his second wife. During the nineteen seventies, fascinated by the story of the now deceased Olivia, she goes to India, visiting those locations where Olivia had lived and those which would have been a part of her existence at the time. As did Olivia, she falls under India’s spell. As did Olivia, she, too, has an Anglo-Indian love affair, and picks up where Olivia left off, giving the reader a powerful sense of de-ja vu.

The book is a beguiling story of two women from two different generations who come under the spell of India. The book is evocative of British colonial India, as well as of India of the nineteen seventies. During both eras, Anglo-Indian relations are pivotal to the budding romances. The book is evocative of the rhythms of Indian life in all its richness and tumultuousness, as well as its lingering poverty and superstitions. It is redolent of a time gone by and hopeful of what is to come. It is also an interesting dichotomy of the good and bad in both cultures, Anglo and Indian, and the influence that both cultures have on these two women, who are so different, yet so alike.

This is a book that whets the appetite, leaving the reader wanting more than the author is prepared to give. It is, nonetheless, a book well worth reading. The book was also made into a Merchant Ivory film starring Julie Christie and Greta Scacchi. ” source

On the amazon page I found the following two reviews that I want to oppose.

The first review is shortly written and refers more on the narrative structure whereas the second one reports the plot. Nevertheless I can agree with both of them although I think that the first reviewer judged it to rash. Yes, I do think as well, that it is a little bit too detailed in some parts but that does not involve that the whole book is bad. Because after having read the whole two storys, it strikes out that the narrator worked intensively on the narrative structure and the linguistic style which makes the story even more worth reading. That is why in my opinion the second review applies to it, too as it mentions the historical backgrund and the cultural surrounding.

In my eyes the book is very well written because it contains a lot of connections that combine different aspects. First of all there is the historial background of the British Raj that points out the cultural difference between the Indian and the British lifestyle and religion. Furthermore there are mentioned problems of integration and it demonstrates the further developpment of India and the change of the women’s role in the course of a half century based on the differnt plots of Olivia and the narrator.  Surely it does not correspond to everybody’s taste but all in all it seems to be an extensive story for those who are interested in other cultures and countries.

What do we know about Olivia’s life after her elopement?

The Nawab buys her that little hut up in the mountains but does not accompany her very often. Her relationship does not seem to be as it has been before the misscarriage. He mostly spends time with Harry, his mother or even with his wife Sandy. Furthermore the Nawab gets bigger and changes entirely. Not just his appearance is not attractive anymore but although his character which might by because he is not satisfied and suffers from financial problems. As well her relatinship to Douglas is finished and as she goes directly to the Palace after the misscarriage she never sees him again nor does she travel back to England.

The lonely area leads to a way of living that has a lot of similarities with the way she lived with Douglas. She is alone all day and has no exact and important tasks to fulfill. She can spend her time with her paino and other hobbies but does not reach the life she had imagined.

Finally she dies 6 years after the Nawab and is burried on a buddhist graveyard.

Explain the narrator’s state of mind as it develops in Maji’s hut.

As Maji offers her to try the massage that serves as abortion, the narrator acts naive by agreeing without having any considerations. This behaviour indicates her insecurity about whether to have the baby or not but it shows additionally that she does not have thought about it at all before. Again she feels Maji’s kind of supernatural power which makes her feel comfortable. The contrast of the darkness inside the hut and bright light outside may be a parallel to her contradicting thoughts.  This moment is probably the first time she focusses on her baby and suddenly notices that she does not want to run the risk of losing her baby.

Find out more about amoebic dysentery and its effects on people in developping countries.

Amoebuc dysentery is a parasatic infection of the digestive system caused by dirty water and food supplies. As there are just few possibilities to clear water in less developed countries it is there where peolpe fear dysentery most. The less developed infrastructure includes very low hygienic conditions and there is neither a real sewage system nor a wastemanagement. That’s why a lot peolpe suffer it although most of the local people are already restitant or even just used to have it always. So a lot of tourists traveling to Africa or even to some european islands have to brush their teeth with mineral water because tap water is to dirty. Passing through the city you see all the little children washing themselves with the water of the canals that consist mostly of faeces, dirt and rubbish. It’s evident that those children don’t suffer as bad as we euopeans do but consequently their bodies are already very weak.

What is Major Minnie’s attitude towards India?

In my eyes Major Minnies does like India and saying that he is going to far sometimes demonstrates that he respects their culture and way of living. He seems very fascinated not only by the Nawab but by the whole country. This feeling makes it more difficult for him to act the way his profession requires. To do his best he is not allowed to evaluate the people as most of the englishmen do but he has to see the situation from a distanced perspective. Nevertheless he admires this region full of conflicts and contrasts and does not judge the people because of what they do.

Describe the narrators feelings about being pregnant.

The narrator does not realise at all what it means to be pregnant. When she is told the news by Maji she doesn’t know whether to trust but considering her further knowledge about this Indian woman she finally agrees. Nevertheless the reader gets the first impression of her not being interested in that topic. Listening to Maji she forgets about it although this fact can and probably will change her future life. It seems as well as if she has never thought about this situation in the past so that she is neither physically nor psychically prepared for it. At least this is shown by her behaviour as she does not spend any thoughts at the baby and the consequences while taking to Maji. When she offers an abortion she is entirely surprised just cause
hadn’t thought any further.
Anyway she does feel happy and lucky about it in the end but still no important questions appear.

In these two plots there can be seen a lot of similarities concerning British peolpe in an Indian surrounding.

Both storys take place in the 1920s and mainly tell the story of women that travel to India to get to know it better.

Whereas Olivia ins’t interested at all in Indian culture, the narrator in Heat and Dust, and Mrs. Quested and Mrs. Moore look forward to make new experiences although all of them have some difficulties arriving there.

In the book as well as in the film, the British society lives completely distanced from Indian peolpe and customs except from having some Indian servants. They are not willing to fit into Indian society and create a societey of their own by having some clubs and avoiding every contact that is not necessary at all. In the film it seems as if the British peolpe even live outside town where there are far away from all Indian influence. But in Heat and Dust the British do live near the local peolpe in the city and their houses are similiar to those in the film that are almost totally furnished as it is usual in Britian.

In both plots, there are only a few local peolpe that want to have contact to the British and the other way round. In the film it is Mr. Fielding that frequently talks to Dr. Aziz and finally they become friends. These two persons represent the only contact between Inidan and British people before Mrs. Moore and her company arrive. The two women start meeting with Dr. Aziz because they, in contrast to Mr Heaslop (Mrs. Quested’s fiancé), are very much interested in learning more about their customs. So these people don’t see any difference between Indians and British whereas the rest of the British society sees themselves as superior and treats the indians in a very disrespectful and mad way. This behaviour is almost the same in our novel but those British just associate with an royal Indian, the Nawab. There is not much mentioned about other Indian acquaintances in the 1920s story. There is just the narrator that behaves similar to Mrs. Quested cause of wanting to learn more about India and so she becomes friends with some Indian people, as for example with Maji or Inder Lal.

The role of British women is shown almost equally. The Nawab and Dr. Aziz endavour after the appreciation of Mrs. Quested and Olivia. Both do ervery possible effort to impress and in both situation there can be seen a kind of affection towards the British ladies.

Another aspect that is important, I guess is that Mr Fielding is even against his own people concerning Dr. Aziz being accused. He is totally inegrated in Indian life and respects them as people as precious as himself and therefore gains their complete appreciation, too.

In generall, all the British live seperately from the Indian, but it seems as if the British in “A passage to India” have more problems with living in India.

Compare and contrast Chid’s and Olivia’s letters.

The two letters completely contrast with each other. The well written and designed letters Olivia wrote to Marcia don’t just represent British attitude but as well the relationship among them. As Olivia focusses predominantly on heremotions a deep connection is indicated. For her it seems to be a relief being able to communicate with her sister comparing notes she couldn’t talk about in Indian society.

In contrast to that it becomes clear that Chid sees writing lettes more as a duty than as an act of polite and friendly behaviour. By not mentioning barely any personal things we can deduce that there has never been a closer relationship between the narrator and him. He exploited her before and now just informs shortly about having arrived safely.

Whereas Olivia’s letters in their beauty show that they are important and fully respected documents Chid’s letters seem to be written in a hurry and don’t reflect any kind of emotion towards the narrator

Explain how the two plots are linked here?

When the narrator and Inder Lal find the weak Chid at the shrine they take him home where the narrator takes care of him till he feels better. But Chid doesn’t see that as a reason to leave but instead he starts exploiting the narrator by taking her possesions, her money and by wanting sex with her.

With reference to her help, there is a parallel to Olivia’s story cause Olivia and Douglas host Harry for some days. Whereas the narrator is exploited, Harry appreciates  Olivia’s kindness.

We get to know as well that the narrator learns about The Husband’s Wedding Day  which provides another connection to Olivia’ s story so that the diary entries fit completely into Olivia’s plot.