The Indian are very confuse as what to except and what not to. The British rule had created many loyal citizens from the India even after its independence. May be its a natural phenomena to show respect to our previous rulers. The charming character of Nehru jee and we all know that most of the great leaders of the India had studied in the west and in fact this is the reason they think or speak about the freedom , press , poetry etc that they saw while studying and want to have them in our country also. Never the less I do respect all of them.
The Kavi ji the great self proclaimed poet in the novel is also suffering from the same syndrome. Of course his mother has a great role in creating inclination towards the English literature and specially the poetry. I think poetry writing is difficult and most of the Indian who although claim to understand the literature doesn’t have the deep feeling for it. Not their fault it is not their mother tongue. Although they don’t even have the respect for their mother tongue either, please don’t ask the reason. I don’t know either.
The “grass of the other court always look green” , Kavi had a very strange view about England, what he read and was told about by his mother were very different . The story began with the description of Delhi in eighties. Their house was near Mento bridge and the flat had neighbour from different place of India. Kamala his wife, Feroze his son and Amma were the others in his flat. The story begins with the death of his father and the vivid description of the reaction shown by different people. This was to show the characters and their nature indeed.
Amma, the mother is the strong character. She is running the NAPs (Nehru appreciation society). Because of this if you see carefully, She chose her bahu and the grand son’s name in a same manner. Obsessed by Nehru and his history, love, character and the oxford, Amma wanted her family to be same as her role model were. In fact while selecting her bahu, she trusted the Munim jee of the NAPs and her name was the major contributor. Unfortunately the Kamala had no interest in Literature and the Nehru. But she was very obedient and give goat milks to Amma very day without failing and also manages the house very well. Except all, only Kavi’s father had accepted and gave regards to the nature and role of Kamala.
Kavi jee got his first break while he was in first year at Kishori Mal. His mater was impressed by his writing and gave him a break by helping him to meet the Illustrated week magazine editor, who happens to be his close relative. Without the proper connection nothings work. The job he got was also on mercy of his dad’s gulli danda friend. Mr Gupta was section one officer in the Education Ministry and help Kavi to get into LDC( Lower division clerk). The writer gave the indication on how the babus helping their lads in filling vacant SC/ST seats in the various departments.
In the south delhi suburb, Billo Ram’s chaat house was surrounded by many cultural institutes and Kavi jee’s favourite time pass spot. Here he met Sharmila and her friends who eventually became his also. Sharmila was the character of the modern girl, living alone in the congested basti near JNU. She was enjoying her life both physically and mentally in this pseudo west culture of Delhi. Kavi was the witness of her lusty life which turnout to be his meeting with Mr Seth, who was awarded for writing various poetry. Mr Seth happened to be Kavi jee archrival.
Kavi jee tried to publish his poetry but none of the publishers were interested in the genuine act and finally he published his poetry by paying money to the publishing house. Though Amma and rest of neighbour supported him but Sharmila and group make fun of his action.
Finally he got the chance to get into most prestige award “common wealth poetry prize”. He was nominated from India along with Mr Seth. He had all his dream come true situation but the picture of England was not as rosy as he thought of. His encounter with the Naina sexual urge had made him confuse and discourage. He was confused between the love and the only sex. Naina was the wife of the High commissioner of the Indian Embassy. Her Husband was a very decent guy but his lustrous wife had made the initial stay of kavi very depressing. Her sexual encounter with priest and the other had put the kavi jee in dilemma.
In all the meetings and the party offered by the various dignitaries, Kavi jee always tried to come heavily on Mr Seth, But he was week in both his poetry and emotion to counter him. Although he defeated all in the shooting game at one of the lords castle and finally impressed all. Naina helped Kavi jee to get his dream come true by connecting him with the many people in the media and tried to influence the judgement for him. Kavi jee was in love with her and was not willing to return home.
Finally the prize went to the African woman, which shed the dream and the hope of the kavi jee but the Amma reacted very maturely as she was and at that point of time he came to know that his docile wife was attaining ”Krishna movement Samiti” influenced by the western people and now she was changed and started talking about her freedom, may be self realized. Kavi was lost all battles, career, love and home. Seeing the need of his son Amma went to England to get his son back. Seeing the society of the England made her also changed about the value system of India and she started cursing herself for not understanding the importance of the Kamala’s role in her home.
After the eye opening on the value system of India the real twist came in. One of the lovers of Lewd Mr Seth disclosed to Kavi jee about the faux pass made by Mr Seth in copying the writings of someone from the Darjeeling and finally the Mr Seth was exposed. This ultimately proved the superiority of Kavi jee over Mr Seth. This gave the great relief to both Kavi and Amma. As we always say “Truth always win ”.
Eigth years passed since their visit to England and finally the Amma died. At the same moment the Kavi was all alone and then came the Kamala, whose need was most necessary for the Kavi. May be the kamala also seen the world and realized the importance of her home.
This novel gives the glimpse of what happing in the most of the Indian family who are caught between the West and the East. The common wealth nations are mostly suffering from this pseudo superiority complex about their knowledge about the west and often make most of their decision in these kinds of biases.
