The Novel is written by Quratulain Haider. She was born in 1927 and died in 2007.

She is considered as
one of the most influential modern Urdu writer. Her Novel AAG KA DARYA was published in Urdu in
1959.

The Novel covers a period of about 25000 years. The novel fcouses on Cultural, Traditional, Historical,
Social, and Economical conditions of Hindustan during different time periods. The Novel pauses in a
certain time period and traces these elements through different characters. Another most interesting
and important thing about the novel is that some of the main characters of the Novel (GAUTAM,
CHAMPA, NIRMALA, KAMAL, CYRIL, HARI, SUJATA and some others too) keep reappearing throughout
different time periods.

The Novel is divided into different phases/epochs/eras/time periods. Each time period has its own
particular plot and characters. There is a clue in the later chapters of the novel when it is revealed to the
reader that the characters appearing in post partition era (1956) are great-grand-children of those
characters who appeared in colonial era (1800s). It can therefore be argued that probably the characters
belong to the same family who appear within different periods discussed in the novel. The early
chapters are concerned with the traditional roots, cultural values, religious values, and social issues of
Hindustan. But lets first, for our convenience name these periods.

The Novel is divided into four phases/eras/time periods:

1. CLASSICAL (4 BC)
2. MEDIEVAL (13TH CENTURY-16TH CENTURY)
3. COLONIAL (18TH-19TH)
4. PRE PARTITION & POST PARITION (20TH CENTURY)

We will now discuss each phase in the form of a short summary:

Classical (chapter 1-10)

Gautam Nilambar is the son of a high priest belonging to the Brahmin Caste. Hindu caste system
requires that the Brahmins should seek knowledge. The exercise of seeking knowledge is called Ashram
Routine which requires that a student belonging to Brahmin caste should exercise Brahmacharia (severe
self discipline). The person who follows Ashram Routine says No to all worldly pleasures and lives purely
for the sake of seeking knowledge and advancing it. He cannot look at any woman. Cannot marry. He
cannot cook his own food i.e. he has to beg from others to eat, he cannot do any job to earn money, he
has to travel out of his home and live on the streets and go in search of great men who live in far flung
areas to seek knowledge from them and the list of their troublesome journey goes on and on. In short
their journey to seek knowledge is very arduous. It is a life of trials. Many students spend long years in
this routine until they have complete knowledge and then they return home. It is believed that the
students return home in ‘rain season’. They wore white robes which shows that these are students who
are on their path to seek knowledge and everyone who sees them recognizes them and most of the
people offer them food as charity.

So our boy Gautam is on his belongs to the village of Shravasti and now he is coming back from Saket
after taking lectures from a teacher in Cosmology. He happens to glance a look at two beautiful girls
who are bathing by the side of a small stream. These beauties are Champa and Nirmala. Nirmala’s father
is a King. Champa’s father is a minister. Gautam remembers that he should not look at women. But O
Boy, he had seen these beauties and their image has stuck in his youthful mind. He meets another guy
named Hari Shanker. Hari is also on a journey to seek knowledge. We are told that Hari is the brother of
Nirmala. So, Hari is a prince! Hari has changed his identity as a wandering Greek traveller. Hari wears a
diamond ring which is a momento from Champa whom he is supposed to marry after he comes home.
Now, our Gautam reaches Shravasti, but he is not supposed to meet his family till he graduated. Hari is
also the prince of Shravasti but he too cannot see his family till he graduated. Both these beauties,
Champa and Nirmala are also present in the hometown of Mr Gautam who has fallen in love with
Champa. Somehow Gautam meets Champa and Nirmala. Nirmala tells him that her brother is on a
religious journey and hasn’t come back. They are all worried about him. Lo and Behold, Champa and
Gautam have ‘fallen in love’ with each other. Although Champa is engaged to Hari. Now, Gautam used
to visit them often. Fast forward. One day Gautam visits the King’s court and tells him that he has seen
his son Hari. Badluck for GAUTAM, he is drunk while he says this. Gautam is drunk because he has tasted
Love and now like a stupid ass he drinks a lot. Kings is enraged and throws him out of his house. Before
being thrown out Nirmala gives Gautam a myna in a cage as a souvenir. Now Gautam has given up
Philosophy and has become involved in a life of beauty ie aesthetics. Philosophy gone Aesthetics in. He
starts to draw paintings of Champa and shows them to myna. One day Gautam learns that a war has
been waged and everyone has escaped, KING too. Gautam stops believing in God and Becomes a
worshipper of Champa. 😲 . After a few pages, he becomes a beggar. He avoids the company of
thinkers.

One day Gautam meets a dancer called Ambika and becomes a degenerate. He drinks and revels on the
money of this dancer. She hires Gautam as an actor and GAUTAM performs dramas in Greek Theaters.
One day while performing a drama Gautam happens to see in the first row of the audience a lady whom
he had remembered as Champa. Alas! She is not alone. There is a child besides her. Champa sends
Gautam a message through her maid that after the war they were all captured and made prisoners and
sent to Greek by their captivators. She says my lady wants to meet you. Gautam refuses to see Champa.
Gautam is crestfallen and leaves Ambika’s theatre. He starts travelling again and gives up all life of
pleasures and enjoyment. By the end of this Classical period Gautam is an old man and Champa has lost
all her beauty and charms. Champa is now an old lady with creases her cheeks. Gautam finally ends up
being a Jogi.

Medieval period:

This period is pretty stupid and we will just go over the necessary details.

This period is about a man called ABUL MANSUR KAMALUDIN OF NISHAPUR. He is a Muslim who has
written a travelogue (search google for travelogue). All the details in this phase of the novel are told in a
second hand manner. We are basically reading the travelogue of Kamal. The name of his travelogue is
‘The Marvels and the Strange tales of Hindustan’.

So, a man is sitting in Hindustan beside what he says is the grave of prophet Noah. Kamal asks him if he
is sure this 9 feet long grave is that of Prophet Noah because he is in doubt about it. Prophet Noah did
not ever come to hindustant. But the man insists that it is Noah’s grave and Kamal moves on. He then
writes in his diary

‘Al-Hind is rife with myths, legends, folklore and old wive’s tales’
Kamal meets Champavati (see the central name remains the same but middle or first name changes a
little bit). Kamal falls in love with Champa and offers to marry her. Champa says

‘if I were married to you in my previous Janam, I will marry you in this too” – page 78

Kamal goes to sleep. Dream about the rulers who had ruled Hindustan in the past and he is frightened
when a war begins while he is dreaming. Scared, he wakes up and says that maybe ‘sheikh Moheyudin
Ibn Ul Arabi’ will come to his rescue and guide him to the right path.

Kamal basically had once before fallen in love too. The name of the beauty was Ruqqaiya Bano Begum.
Kamal was basically sent by King Hussain Shah Nayek on an educational mission. The purpose of King’s
sending Kamal on this journey was to go to Ayodha and meet a certain man who is a musician. This
musician, the King tells Kamal, has a text on music. Kamal had to go to Ayodha, take that text and
translate it for the King Hussain Shah Nayek. Hussain Shah Nayek was a great lover of Music.

When Kamal is in the middle of his journey he meets a Jogi who tells him to ‘go back to town at once’.
Kamal is bewildered. When he comes back to his King’s hometown he sees that everything is destroyed.
The war has forced the King into exile. King is now at Behraich after being defeated and is waiting for
Kamal. The name of the wife of the King is Khonza. The year is 1484. The man who defeated Hussain
Shah Nayek was BEHLOL LODHI. Hussain Shah Nayek was the King of Jaunpur. (yes lots of detail 😉).
Now, these stupid details are of no use, you will later find out. Still, I shall write for thou so that thou
may be content. Now Behlol captures another city called Barbak and made his son the king of Barbak.
Hussain Shah launches an attack on Barbak but loses. Behlol dies in 1489. His Son Sikander takes over
and becomes King of entire territory. Hussain Shah launches another attack but loses. This time the
attack was launched by one of the Generals of Hussain Shah’s Army called Joga. Kamal is now sick of all
these killings and leaves the king’s company. Hussain Shah dies in 1505…yes he never regains control of
his lost territory. We are at chapter 15. And if we continue with this pace we shall never get
anywhere…so it is better to skip these silly details and come to the point. Kamal becomes a SUIFI and
Joins the KHANQAH of a Sufi. Kamal joins Chischti’s Sufi order and is ordered by his Peer to go to Kashi
and meet Mian Kabir. MEETS Mian Kabeer. Kabeer tells him to go to Chitagong. Kamal becomes a
wandering Dervish. In the end he marries SUJATA DEVI. They had two sons, JALAL AND JAMAL and a
daughter AMINA BIBI who dies at a young age. HIS sons become architects. On the political front
Sikandar is defeated by Zhir ud Din Babar and Rana Sanga’s combine armies. Pg 100. Kamal’s son join
the army of Zahir Ud Din babar fought in the battle against Sher Shah Suri. The soldiers of Sher Shah Suri
come and tell Kamal to come out of his house because King has ordered his arrest. You can read the sad
story on page number 102 first paragraph if you have time. Kamal is too old to understand anything he
slips from his door and falls on the ground. KAMAL DIED! STORY OVER

Colonial Period:

Cyril Ashley is the main character. He lives in Sydney Sussex. Son of a village parson. An Englishman, yes.
Cyril’s friend Peter Jackson tells him to go to India because there he can make good fortune. Cyril goes
to INDIA. Makes a good fortune. All people fear him. English people start to gain control of India.The
only part that is a problem for Englishmen is Bengal. If Bengal falls to East India Company (englsih
trading company which took control of entire india and colonized it) they can take control of all of India.
Indians defeat Bengali armies and take control of most parts of the India. Tipu sultan and Hyder ali
defetad by English men.
Cyril falls in love with Maria Teresa. Had physical relation with her and leaves her without marrying her.
A man comes to ask Cyril’s help his name is Parafulla Kumar son of Radhey Charan Mazumdar. The
daughter of Charan is going to be burnt alive (satti) because her husband has died. Cyril goes to the
rescue and helps the poor girl. The girl is saved from being burnt alive. The family of Charan is happy.
They become servants of Cyril. Sister of Parafulla and daughter of Radhey Charan, Sujata is also a
servant. Cyril happens to see SUJATA one day and falls in love with her beauty. Marries her…the
marriage is ‘common-law marriage’. We are at chapter 22. According to common-law marriage’s rules
the children born through this marriage cannot get any share from the father’s property. Sujata serves
Cyril for 25 years but Cyril has fulfilled his desires and lost interest in Sujata. Sujata is unhappy. Cyril has
become high ranking official and is being transferred to Lucknow. His secretary Gautam will go to
Lucknow to set up CYRIL’s office in Lucknow. Sujata learns that Cyril has many affairs. One of the ladies
in Lucknow is called Champa. Champa JAN. She is a prostitute/dancing girl. Before Gautam leaves for
Lucknow Sujata meets Gautam and tells him

“Tell Champa Bai: You have hundred of admirers. Saheb could mean nothing to you but a wealthy old
fool. I have no body else in this whole world. I have served him hand and foot for 25 years. He knows it.
The fancy Miss Sahebs he dances with in the balls- if he had married one of them she wouldn’t have put
up with his temper and his eccentricities for a day. I di. Now he csts me off like an old shoe. I lvie in his
bungalow merely as a housekeeper. Champa has bewitched him. She has got black magic done against
me’ (this is the first mention of how Indians themselves divided against each other. The Englishmen took
benefit of this rift and ruled over them) you can read this story on page number 129.

Gautam sees Champa in Lucknow. Champa has lots of admirers and lots of money. All the Nawabs and
Wealthy people come to her Dera and watch her dance. Gautam tells Champa

‘Keep Sujata’s plight in mind when you see Mr Cyril Ashley next time’. Champa says ‘who keeps my
plight in mind when they see me’.

Cyril receives a letter from Maria Teresa who says he had a daughter form him and now her daughter
has become a Nun. She says I told her about her father and she prays for her father’s salvation. Cyril is
worried about his past affair with Maria but one of his servants Joseph Laurence tells Cyril that he know
Maria and will make sure that she does not ruin Cyril’s name. Fast forward. Cyril Marries an English lady.
They had a son ‘Cyril Edward Derek’. Gautam resigns from Cyril’s office and becomes a teacher. Cyril
dies at the age of 65, DATED SEP 14 1825.

The novel tells the details about the mutiny of 1857 and how Englishmen took control of all of the India
and last King of India Bahadur Shah Zafar was captured and sent into exile. General Clyde defeats the
king of Province of Oudh and the mother of the King goes to England. The name of the King of Oudh is
Vajid Ali. Her Mother is Malika Kishwar (Queen Mother of King of Oudh). Kishwar goes to Queen
Victoria. When she meets Queen Victoria and tells that her son’s territory was taken by her subject
people in India, she avoids the topic. Kishwar didn’t get justice and she remains in exile from India.
Bahadur Shah Zafar and Vajid Ali write sad Ghazal while in Exile and Englishman strengthen their hold
over India. Fast forward. English are ruling all over India. A woman called Champa Jan has become
Chowdhrain which means dealer of dancing girls or a head twaif. She is in ruins. Yes she is the same
dancing girl who had many admirers in past and who used to meet Nawabs and Kings. Now, when the
English people have taken over everyone’s business is over. Champa now drinks wine, smokes opium
and begs at a Railway station. Gautam is also an old man. Gautam has a son named Manoranjan Dutt.
Gautam is financially stable and one day sees Champa Jan begging at a railway station. Gautam is
heartbroken to see how everyone’s glory has ended with the rule of English people over India. Gautam
goes and meets his family and son. Now this is the main themes of the novel. The effect of English rule
and how English people used the divisions between Indians to take control of India.

Pre-Post Partition Era: Chapter 30 onwards

From here till the end of the Novel we will be talking about the story of majorly two families. One family
is called Gulfishan family which included KAMAL, TEHMINA AND TALAT (they are all brothers and
sisters). Their mother has died and their father is not discussed much in the novel. A boy called Amir is
cousin of KAMAL, TEHMINA AND TALAT. Amir is their father’s brother’s son. Which means he is their
paternal first cousin. The other family is a Hindu family. The head of the Family is Musnhi Mehtab
Chand. He has three great grandchildren. HARI SHANKAR, NIRMALA, & LAJWAT. There is Gautam,
Champa and other minor characters in this last part of the Novel which consists of more than half the
length of of the Novel. You are also provided with a rough page on which this relationship of family tree
is drawn for reference in case you forget their relationships.

Amir RAZA is known as Shezada Gulfam of Badshah Bagh. He is engaged to Tehmina. His father had died.
He has Joined Indian Naval Army. He was engaged to Tehmina in 1944. Hari Shankar, Nirmala and Lajwat
live in SINGHAREWALI KOTHI. Lajwati was married in 1943. (from this point onward we will be oscillating
between different time periods from 1943-1956. Sometimes we will be in the past, sometimes we will
jump into the present. So keep hold of the plot). Hari and Kamal are childhood friends and they all
brothers and sisters are like family friends. They attended Chand Bagh College. Champa too attended
the same college in 1941 and they also know her. The family driver of Gulfishan family (KAMAL,
TEHMINA, TALAT) is Gunga din.

Amir’s engagement is settled with Tehmina when he was a child. Amir’s mother passed away when he
was a child. Amir started living in Gulfishan family with KAMAL, TEHMINA AND TALAT. From early
childhood he remained with them and that’s why his engagement was settled with Tehmina. HE was
raised by them and on their expense so he couldn’t refuse to marry Tehmina. Amir’s father is Zaki Raza.
Amir is also referred to as Bhaiya Jan. His father is referred to as Uncle Zaki. After the death of Amir’s
mother his father Mr Zaki married a Russian woman and Amir was sent to Europe for higher studies.
Amir’s father died in Switzerland in 1935. The Russian girl with whom Amir’s daddy had married couldn’t
be traced after his father’s death the novel tells us.

In 1936 Amir came back to India from Switzerland. He was a Babu and in start didn’t know much about
Indian culture.

Kamal’s grandfather is Kamman or KAMAL-UD-DIN ALI RAZA BAHADUR (in previous chapters we had
learnt that Kamaludin Ali Raza Bahadur was a boatman who first brought Cyril to India on a boat from
another city when he came form England).

Hindu Muslims lived like friends. They used to attend each other’s marriages and funerals and no one
could tell the difference between them. Kamal goes to Calcutta to see a boy whom they are going to
marry their sister Nirmala with. The boy’s name is Gautam. Gautam is the son of a high court judge.
Gautam is the great grand son of the same Gautam who was a teacher and assistant of Cyril. HARI
SHANKAR AND KAMAL ARE CHILDHOOD FRIENDS.
Novel starts to get real confusing here but stay alert for main details.

Before 1857 there were no fights between Hindus and Muslims. Kamal and Nirmala are university
students and we are told that they performed drama in their university. Gautam is more like a
philosopher. Gautam actually refuses to Marry Nirmala. NOW, GAUTAM, Kamal, Amir and Hari are all in
love with Champa. Amir is also dating Champa. Oops. Yes. Amir doesn’t want to marry Tehmina because
Champa is so Hot maybe. Champa’s roommate Sita knows Amir BECAUSE her brother is also in navy and
we know Amir is also in navy.Now Gauatm starts flirting with Champa and one day goes to see her in her
hostel. Gautam doesn’t like Champa’s relationship with Amir.OOPS. When Gautam goes to see Champa
or Date champa in her hostel Sita’ is like OOhhoOO. This Champa is killing two birds with one stone. But
dear reader she is killing all the Lucknow with one atom bomb.. For your information Novelist tells us
that Amir has already broken engagement with Tehmina because he had fallen in love with Champa. On
the other hand, Champa is so progressive, educated and speaks like Englishmen so Gautam doesn’t want
to marry Nirmala, he too wants to marry Champa. Yeah the so called Indian Culture is being discussed by
the novelist to give us an idea that ‘log us dour main chand py jany ki tyari kr rhy thy aur yaha py ye
kissay kahania start huy huy thy’. Amir is now a high ranking officer in Indian Navy. Actually he is a
lieutenant commander which means he has a HIGH RANK!

Now go back to past. Amir offers Champa to live with him in Bombay. Champa understands what going
to Bombay means. It means Amir wants to marry her. Champa says a flat NO. AMIR is quite angry
because Champa actually says this

‘It was a passing phase, a mere infatuation’ (you can read it on page number 259 in the middle of the
page)

Now Tehmina has done her Law degree. Now Amir wants to marry Tehmina. Tehmina refused because
they all think Amir had done ‘s..’ with Champa. Which is not correct. You can read about this on page
260. The story is about how come Champa’s Sari is found from Amir’s cabinet.

Now Kamal too is flirting with Champa. They all are very angry at Champa. They means Talat, Tehmina,
Nirmala etc. One day Talat openly asks Champa ‘did you….or not’. OH!

Champa says ‘NO’. yes you can read it on page 262.

Now We are in after partition time. Nirmala is going to get a scholarship to study in England. Gautam is
going to America. Amir is now in PAKISTAN. After partition the soldiers in the Army were given an option
to either chose between Pakistan or India. Amir had chosen to go to Pakistan. So now he is in PAKISTAN
NAVY. Hari Shankar Joined Indian Civil Service (indian civil service is equal to CSS in Pakistan CENTRAL
SUPERIOR SERVICES IN PAKISTAN). Which means Hari Shankar is a Bureaucrat which means he is
Commissioner of a district which means he is a senior officer in India. Champa has become a lecturer
and will soon get a scholarship to England. Novelist tells us that the ‘great exodus from India has begun’.
Which means she is telling us that people are leaving India after partition for more prosperity.

Now we are introduced to CYRIL DEREK EDWIN HOWARD ASHLEY. He is an editor and writes magazines
and Journals. Champa has come to England. Cyril Invites Champa to write a book on indian history and
CHAMPA agrees. If you are wondering if Cyril too has fallen in Love with Champa then the answer is YES.
Champa is a hottie and everyone is fallin’ in love with her. Cyril is the great grandson of that old Cyril
Ashley.
Cyril meets Nirmala and Kamal Raza who are also in England now. He meets them in university where
Nirmala was giving a speech. Hari Shankar is posted on duty assignments to America. Gautam is in
England. Gautam and Nirmala also write columns for newspapers. In ONE of the columns Gautam
blames Muslim League for the partition of India. Cyril didn’t agree with what GAUTAM says about
Muslim League’s role in Partition. Gautam meets Nirmala. Gautam is now a changed man and proposes
to marry Nirmala. Remember? Gautam had refused to marry Nirmala before. This time Nirmala
REFUSES! On the other hand Amir has now again fallen in love with Roshan Ara Kazmi. Amir is now very
senior officer in PAKISTAN NAVY.

Then novelist goes into long details about how all of them remember their past and how they used to
live in India. Novelist writes on page 305

‘they were addicted to their past because it was safe and intact, more so…because there was no
partition in it’

Gautam owns expensive cars and is very rich. Champa is working for Cyril in Cambridge. Champa tells
Cyril about the beauty of India. Kamal too remembers the beauty of india. He is very sad about the
partition and one day when he meets Cyril he reads some poetry which makes him sad. He is sad that
partition divided us. Then he tells Cyril that he cannot imagine their pain He says

‘can I translate this classical melody and the emtions they convey to me, into English?’

They are all nostalgic about their memories of India and their childhood. But kamal says

‘it is an exercise in futility’

Champa says

‘we spent the days of our youth in the shades of intellectual hide and seek…One day we discovered that
our own hands were drenched in blood and we saw all those fine people…intellectuals and authors and
leaders many of them had blood stained hands too’…page 310

Lets get little fast because it will be useless to keep discussing minor details.

Cyril proposes Champa Champa refuses, ‘you may divorce me as soon as your fascination for the East is
over’

Gautam and Champa start meeting in England, again!

Three new characters

Nargis..rich heiress and a fashion designer

Amala…diplomat

Atiya..author

Surekha…dancer

Full name of Amir is revealed. Syed Amir Reza Abidi married Miss Alema Khatoon over telephone
because Amir is in Europe and his bride is in India. Tehmina tells everyone about the details of Amir’s
marriage.
Nirmala…dies in hospital in 1954. Gautam is sad about it and starts drinking in her love.

Hari Shankar will be taking the ashes of Nirmala to India. While searching her room he finds a
photograph of Gautam in Nirmala’s locker. HE is very sad about why Gautam didn’t marry his sister.

Gautam now starts writing poetry and stops meeting people. He travels back to America and Leaves
England.

Kamal also comes back to lucknow. Now THAT’S THE PART OF THE NOVEL WHICH IS MOST IMPORTANT
because from here on the novelist will draw a comparison of India before partition with that of India
after partition. Pg 370 onward (you can read these rest of the 50 pages if you like)

He has to get a Visa and Passport to visit the country where he spent his childhood because Kamal had
opted to live in Pakistan after partition. !!!!

When he comes back to India he sees that their Driver Gunga Din is no more in their house. Qadeer and
Qamrun, the family servants are also not there. Ram Diya the maid has also left. Ram Autar the
Gardener has also left.

Kamal’s father is poor now because Zamindari is abolished in India after partition. The Muslims in India
are not given jobs. They were very rich but now they have become poor. They don’t even have money to
sustain life. Lucknow as well as Gulfishan family is in ruins.

Kamal is very sad to look at the state of his house and he says

‘long live the Revolution’

Tehmina is now a married woman. They have sold all their jewelry.

Kamal’s father had joined Muslim League before partition but he says

‘I HAD JOINED MUSLIM LEAGUE BUT THAT DOESN’T MEAN I LEAVE MY COUNTRY INDIA’

Amir is in Karachi.

Amir was a cousin of Kamal so after partition when AMIR went to KARACHI the Indian Government had
confiscated the entire property of Kamal’s family because Government said if one member of the family
had moved to Pakistan the entire property of the family will be taken by the Indian Government.
Basically Kamal has come to Lucknow to fight for his family’s property case in the court. Okay?

Now Kamal is in ruins and he is forced to find a job. Kamal couldn’t find a job because he is a Muslim.
And the Police had locked their Bungalow.

‘Kamal was a nationalist Muslim but due to circumstances left India where there was no employment for
Muslims…& reached Karachi….Promised by Amir Reza he will be employed in Pakistan as a scientist’

KARACHI

People in Karachi were getting wealthy. Novelist writes

‘never before had the Muslim middle classes acquired such prosperity’…

‘People of KARACHI still regarded India as their home’…page 374

Purdah culture was disappearing, females of Muslim families were now finding jobs.

There is an important letter written by Kamal on page number 375…try to read it too it will be helpful
for exam’s reference.

An old American wrote in his book of history

‘The subcontinent would have been one of the great powers if you hadn’t split’.

Dr Kamal now sets up a scientific laboratory in Karcahi. He takes loan and through corruption buys free
land in Karachi and builds a luxury house.

Cyril arrives in BENGAL. (AT that time Bengal was a part of Pakistan…we are in 1956) He sees poverty.
People seem to be ignorant about what had happened to them.

Cyril actually owns a Tea Garden in india which his great grandfather had bought. He has come to visit it.
Kamal is also now visiting Bengal. He meets Cyril. Champa has become a barrister and arrives in
India..we will meet her in a moment.

Then we are told about the Luxuries and Protocol enjoyed by President of Paksitan Governor General
ISKANDER MIRZA. Kamal is sad about the partition business and comments on the sorry condition of
Muslims.

He says that the new Muslim aristocrats replaced the Britishers and the poor people still rot in poverty.
REVOLUTION has failed to help the poor people of Pakistan.

Muslims from India went to Pakistan to earn money and it was all an economic plot which ended with a
social tragedy.

So, Cryil visits Tea Plantings in Srimangal….he is welcomed by a storm of servants…there he meets a lady
working in his farm.

‘CYRIL drove out of his estate in search of Kamal…walked down to the shrubs..parked his car under a
flame of the forest…he heard the tinkling of bangles. A Purbi girl was dexterously plucking tea-leaves,
but as soon as she saw him she pulled the anchal of her sari over her dusky face. The Bara Saheb stood
right in front, and smiled. Drifting on a slow current of thought he came ashore and asked her in kitchen
Bengali, “what is your name?”... “My name? Champa…” “Champa,” he repeated, as though he had
heard the name for the first time. “Champa”, he mumbled again. “Nice name… “Champa”, and made off
rapidly towards the car. (She is not that champa who is barrister…just another girl working at her
farm)…this was just to give you an idea that the same characters reappear and the same things happens
again and again…200 years ago it was his great grandfather who had relationship with Champa which
resulted badly for Champa…now its his great grandson…who has seen a CHAMPA and has felt
attraction…)

Then,

Kamal goes to Muradabad to see ‘our old Champa, the barrister’. He meets her. the house in which she
lives is a very shabby house. Naked Children are wandering in the house and crying. There is a creaking
gate at the house…all the details of the shabbiness can be read on page no 400-401
Champa welcomes Kamal. SHE says she was not herself in Europe. SHE felt lonely in Europe, but she is
happy here

‘perhaps today she was not alone, she was part of the crowd. She had at last, and unconditionally
accepted the comradeship of her fellow beings’

Kamal sees one Red kite adrift in the blue sky…yeah baby that’s symbolism…which means a part of India
has left

NOW, There are two types of properties: moveable and non moveable. Moveable property includes
things such as bed, sofa fridge and everything. Non moveable means land.

Kamal has come to take his ‘moveable’ property which is locked in a store. He goes into a house where
his moveable property is kept. The house is owned by a Sikh. He, for a moment feels that someone
might kill him for being a Pakistani but then feels okay’. The same home which was where he spent his
childhood has now become alien to him. The same Lucknow where he spent his childhood now
threatens him. READ from page 406-7-8 if you want to have an emotional moment.

SO, he goes into the store. To collect moveable property. Nothing is in a condition which can be taken.
Everything is in ruins. But there is a book of history he opens it the title of the Book is ‘History of Oudh’.
He reads some passages from the book which was written in 1800’s by some Indian historian and which
talks about the glory and beauty of India. He feels very sad after reading the book…if you want to know
what was written in the book read page from page number 409.

Tehmina is married to a deputy commissioner. The place where English Viceroy used to sit and rule India
is now turned into a museum. He visits the museum and yes again gets very very sad. Then a drop of
rain falls on his nose (symbolic….rain means the student is coming home…but here it is just a drop…not
rain).

Gautam is a diplomat. He is also in India on a visit. He is now in a forest where he meets Hari Shankar.
GAUTAM syas

‘can these westerners visiting Shravasti understand the pain in our soul: In india’s in, in Kamal’s, in Mine’

“Kamal is an oversensitive incorringible fanatic idealist and he was let down by a relentless world”

The novel starts to end with the same details from where it started. A jungle, Gautam and Hari meet
each other…Hari goes to attend a conference in Taxila and sees a woman resembling Nirmala…and
that’s the end of LONG NOVEL. Best of Luck