A Passage to India

About a month and a half ago I was offered a really fun opportunity at work. Would I like to join the Culinary Roadtrip going to Surrey, BC to learn about Indian culture and Indian food and get paid to do so? Um... sure! We visited a variety of Indian businesses and sampled some delicious Indian food and sweets. Not surprisingly, this trip reinvigorated my interest in A Passage to India by E.M. Forster.

This is one of those books where you keep reading and turning pages, but not a lot is really happening. It is the story of a young British woman, Adela Quested, who travels to India to decided whether or not she'd like to marry a childhood friend, Ronny Heaslop. Heaslop is a civil servant deeply tangled in the British ruling society of Chandrapore. In a desire to see "the real India," it is arranged for Miss Quested to meet several local Indian figures, including Dr. Aziz.

The turning point in the book occurs when Dr. Aziz takes Miss Quested on an excursion to the Marabar Caves. It is interesting to note that even during the turning point of the novel (Miss Quested accuses Dr. Aziz of attacking her in a cave) nothing really happens as Forster cleverly leaves the encounter vague. When Dr. Aziz is put on trial, the tension between the ruling British and the oppressed Indians elevates beyond the British comfort level.

Forster examines the disdainful attitude of the British towards the Indians, and the complex attitude of the Indians towards the British. It is interesting to following the fluctuating emotions of Dr. Aziz as he feels frustration, an eagerness to please and feel valued, and finally an intense hatred of Brits and British rule.

This book took me longer than usual to finish. (Even my roommate noticed!) I think it must be due to the relatively subdued narration. I also noticed myself craving Indian food.

Recommendation: If you're not in a rush, A Passage to India is an insightful read, worthy of it's lasting reputation.