E.

M FORSTER: (1879 – 1970)

BRIEF INTRO:
● Edward Morgan Forster was an English author, best known for his novels,
particularly A Room with a View (1908), Howards End (1910) and A Passage
to India (1924)
● He also wrote numerous short stories, essays, speeches etc. Today, he is
considered one of the most successful novelists of his time period
● Many of his novels examine class differences and hypocrisy. He was
nominated for the Nobel Prize in Literature in 17 separate years.

RELATIONSHIP WITH INDIA:

● Syed Ross Masood, the grandchild of Sir Syed Ahmed Khan, was tutored by
E. M. Forster when he went to England for his studies in preparation of his
Oxford’s degree
● Forster fell in love with Masood and though his feelings were not reciprocated,
the two became close friends
● Through Masood, Forster met other Indians studying in Britain
● When Masood completed his degree, Forster followed him to India and stayed
for 6 months
○ (1912-1913) - first stay
● He visited India again after 9 years
○ 1921 for a whole year - second stay
● He finally finished his book in 1924
● Forster began “A Passage to India” in 1912, but he did not finish it until 1924
● His inspiration for the novel stems from
○ 1. Unrequited love for Syed Masood (to whom the novel is dedicated)
○ 2. Forster's experiences travelling in India

"To Syed Ross Masood

And to the seventeen years

Of our friendship"
PASSAGE TO INDIA:
In a fictional city of colonial India the relationship between the British elite and Indian
underclass is tested when a British woman accuses an Indian doctor of attempted
right

● Examines racism and colonialism

● Poses the question "Can Indians and British be friends despite their coloniser
and colonised status?"
THE MOSQUE: (PART ONE)

CHAP 1:
Description of the setting which is the city of Chandrapore. Contrast is made
between the British civil station and the rest of the city

● Chandrapore:
○ Small, dirty, ugly city next to river Ganges
○ Everything in it including the habitats seem to be made of mud
○ The only thing worthwhile are the Marabar Caves but they are present
20 miles away
○ “…the city of Chandrapore presents nothing extraordinary”
○ “…seems made of mud…”

● Civil Station:
○ Present on higher ground compared to the rest of the city
○ It is a beautiful place full of greenery
○ “Chandrapore appears to be a totally different place. It is a city of
gardens.”
○ The trees hide the view of the ugly city beneath them
○ “As for the civil station itself, it provokes no emotion. It charms
not, neither does it repel.”

● These two places have nothing in common except one thing: the sky (that
determines the rain/weather which is something that affects both equally)
CHAP 2:
● Doctor Aziz goes to his friend Hamidullah’s house for dinner.
● They get interrupted by a summon from Major Callendar who is Aziz’s boss
but when Aziz gets to his house he is out and has left no message
● Mrs. Moore and Aziz meet at the mosque, both looking for peace
● They find they have much in common

The Gathering:
● Characters:
○ Dr Aziz arrives late on his bicycle
○ Hamidullah is the host
○ Mahmood Ali is another guest

● Topic discussed: Is it possible for Indians and British to be friends?

● Mehmood Ali says it's impossible
● Hamidullah says it's possible but only in England (he studied in Cambridge
many years ago)
○ Mr and Mrs Bannister had been like mother and father to him in
England
○ Their son (Hugh) is now in India (Cawnpore) for work but Hamidullah
doesn’t dare approach him because: “He will probably think that I
want something, and I cannot face that from the son of my old
friends.”
● According to Hamidullah the English are friendly in England but in India they
become influenced by other Anglo Indians and turn very racist
● Time period for this change is:
● “I give any Englishman two years, be he Turton or Burton”
● “And I give any Englishwoman six months”
● Eg. Ronnie (red nose boy) used to be friendly with the Mahmood Ali until
recently
● Even Mr Turton was nice when he first arrived

● Topic of discussion: Bribes:

● A Rajah bribed Mrs Turton (with a solid gold sewing machine) when she and
her husband were put in charge of a canal scheme to ensure water ran
through his state
● Mrs Turton took the bribe but didn’t do as the Rajah asked
● “When we poor blacks take bribes, we perform what we are bribed to
perform, and the law discovers us in consequence. The English take and
do nothing. I admire them.”

● Topic discussed: Exceptions among the English women:

● Not all British women are cruel - a minority of them are nice
 ● When Aziz says, “Queen Victoria and Mrs. Bannister were the only
exceptions, and they’re dead.” his friends contradict him and recall all the
times English women have been kind to them
● “But of course all this is exceptional. The exception does not prove the
rule. The average woman is like Mrs. Turton.”

Hamidullah’s Wife:
“Hamidullah Begum was a distant aunt of Aziz, and the only female relative he
had in Chandrapore.”
● Aziz talked to her behind the purdah
● They talked about a recent family function
● Until the men ate Mrs Hamidullah couldn’t eat her own dinner so she chatted
a lot so they wouldn’t think she was ending the discussion early for her own
food
● She urged Aziz to marry again and that annoys him as he doesn’t want to
● Aziz’s wife is dead and he has three children that live with his mother in law
● He sends all his salary to them and lives like a poor man in Chandrapore

Major Callendar’s Interruption:

● Major Callendar is the Civil surgeon and the supervisor of Aziz
● He sends a message through his servant to summon Aziz
● Aziz is annoyed at the interruption thinking the major does this sort of thing on
purpose “in order to show his power”

The Civil Station:

● On his way to the station his bike gets a flat tire and he has to find a tonga
● That along with putting his bike away at a friends house causes him to be late
● Aziz thinks the Civil station is "symbolic of the net Great Britain had
thrown over India" and being in it depresses him

● The civil surgeon is out and he has left no message

● Aziz bribes/tips the servant but still gets no message
● Mrs Callendar and her friend Mrs. Lesley steal Aziz’s tonga and ignore his
bow
● All other tongas are busy at the club so he decides to walk home

The Mosque:
● Aziz enters a mosque at the edge of the civil station to rest
● He feels religion and love in the mosque and is overcome by emotion

● Mrs Moore enters:

● At first Aziz thinks she's a ghost
● He yells at her to take off her shoes as this is a holy place for Muslims
● She humbly replies that she already has
● “She was older than Hamidullah Begum, with a red face and white hair”
● Aziz can tell Mrs. Moore hasn’t been in India long because she talks to him
with kindness and respect
● She is visiting her son, Ronny Heaslop, the city magistrate.

● She got away from the club because it was too hot and she had already seen
the play that was being performed which was “Cousin Kate”
● Aziz and Mrs. Moore discover that they each have two sons and a daughter.
● Aziz ke bachay
○ Ahmed
○ Karim
○ Jamila
● Mrs. Moore ke bachay
○ Ronny
○ Ralph
○ Stella

● Aziz first compliments Mrs Callendar “Ah! A very charming lady.” but when
he realises Mrs. Moore is not found of her he starts complaining about her
and her husband
○ Mr Callendar interrupted his dinner
○ Mrs Callendar stole his tonga
● Mrs. Moore shows sympathy which causes Aziz to get excited. He starts
exaggerating and contradicting himself
● He escorts her back to the whites only club because it's dangerous at night
○ Snakes come out at night
○ Bad characters are about
CHAP 3:
● Back at the club Adela Quested talks about wanting to see the real India
● Fielding tells her she should meet real Indians
● The other ladies at the club are disgusted by such an idea
● Mr Turton promises a bridge party so Adela can meet real Indians
● Back home Ronny interrogates his mother about Aziz, convinced everything
he said was part of a scheme

Characters:
● Mr Turton is the collector of Chandrapore: a British administrative officer
responsible for revenue collection and administration of the district.
● Ronny Heaslop is the city magistrate: a position of authority responsible for
maintaining law and order in the city.
● Cyril Fielding is the principal of a government college:
● Adela Quested is a queer young girl: she came to India to see Ronny at
work so she can decide whether she wants to marry him or not

Billiard Room: (during last act of cousin Kate)

● Mrs. Moore and Adela were there as they didn’t want to see the play
● Adela: “I want to see the real India,”
● Adela doesn’t want to do stereotypical tourist things like riding elephants
● Both women had romanticised their trip and were now disappointed by it’s
dullness
● Mr Turton describes Ronny as a dignified man. “Heaslop’s a sahib; he’s the
type we want, he’s one of us.” (conformity)

Billiard Room: (after play ended)

● The others come out into the room
● Adela tells Ronny she wants to see the real India
● Ronnie asks Fielding how one is to see real India
● Feeling replies: “Try seeing Indians,”
● The other ladies are shocked and disgusted by such an idea as they try their
best to avoid Indians whenever they can
● Mrs Callendar: “Why, the kindest thing one can do to a native is to let him
die,” “They give me the creeps”
● Mr Turton says they can assemble all sorts of Indians to entertain Adela
○ Mr Turton - Government people and the landowners
○ Ronny - barrister crew
○ Fielding - education walay
● Mr Turton will give a bridge party - to bridge the gap between the east and the
west
● Adela says he wants to see their Indian friends and Mr Turton says they don’t
have any
The Turtons car as they drove away:
● Mrs Turton didn’t like Adela
● “Mr. Fielding wasn’t pukka, and had better marry Miss Quested, for she
wasn’t pukka.”
● The term "pukka" is of Hindi origin and means sturdy, permanent or authentic
● Neither of belong in India as they do not act as English people in India should

Back at the Party:

● Ronny says he couldn't throw a party like the bridge party himself because he
was new to India and so could be easily fooled by the Indians
● “No one can even begin to think of knowing this country until he has
been in it twenty years.”
● Ronny smoked with an Indian lawyer (Mahmood Ali) once and then found out
he was using his name to get work
● He insulted him in court and learn not to trust any Indians
● Adela didn't understand but Ronny had been as naive as her once and so was
patient with her

On the Way Home:

● Mrs. Moore points out the mosque to Ronny and Adela and speaks of the nice
young man she met there
● Ronny assumes that she is referring to an Englishman, and becomes angry
when he realizes she is speaking of an Indian
● Ronny says she should’ve refused to remove her shoes at the mosque

Ghar pe:
● Adela went to bed
● Ronny interrogated Mrs. Moore about Aziz
● Mrs. Moore tells him Aziz doesn’t like the Callendars
● Ronny says he’ll tell Callendar about these remarks. “Nothing’s private in
India.”
● “Whether the native swaggers or cringes, there’s always something
behind every remark he makes
● Mrs. Moore remarks Ronny didn’t use to judge people like this back home.
“India isn’t home,”
● Ronny wasn’t thinking for himself and was only using talking points of the
more experienced Anglo Indians
● Ronny agrees not to tell Mr Callendar what was said about him if Mrs. Moore
didn’t tell Adela about Aziz
○ She would think they are treating the natives poorly and that’s why Aziz
was complaining
CHAP 4:
Invitations of the Bridge Party are handed out to the Indians and they speculate
amongst themselves the intentions behind it

Mahmood Ali (a lawyer): suspicious, says Turton is only giving party because
Lieutenant-Governor has ordered him
Nawab Bahadur (a wealthy landowner): British ki intentions ko acha samaj raha hai,
is willing to postpone other business out of city to travel back to Chandrapore in
order to attend this party
Other public: they think Nawab Bahadur is making himself too available, thora
ignore kr ke attitude deykana chahiey inhe. Still they will follow the Nawab’s lead and
attend the party because they respect him and support him.
CHAP 5:
● The Indians arrive early for the party but they are treated poorly by their
British hosts
● The English think these Indians are only here because they want favours
● The Indians had mixed reviews about the party, some were pleased and
others were cynical
● Mr Fielding, Adela and Mrs. Moore were the only people that didn’t
discriminate between the English and the Indians
● Adela and Mrs Moore get invited to the home of a hindu couple and to a tea
party hosted by Fielding.

The Bridging Party:

● The Guests arrive:
● The party is in the garden of Mr Turton’s home
● The Indians arrive before time and wait outside the lawn
● Ronny says “No one who’s here matters; those who matter don’t come.”
● Mrs. Moore notices her son has turned into a conformist, he doesn’t think for
himself and just agrees with whatever the other Anglo Indians are saying
○ Eg in England he had hated the play Cousin Kate but in India he
praised it
● In India the white folk have fragile egos and cannot stand any criticism or
disagreement

● Mrs Turton’s behaviour:

● Mrs Turton doesn't want to attend her guests “Oh, those purdah women! I
never thought any would come.”
● She doesn’t want to approach the purda ladies “I consider they ought to
come over to me.” or shake hands with anyone “I refuse to shake hands
with any of the men, unless it has to be the Nawab Bahadur.”
● The Indians only came to please the British but their efforts are not
appreciated. “Why they come at all I don’t know. They hate it as much as
we do.”
● Mrs Turton is classist and very racist “You’re superior to them, anyway.
Don’t forget that. You’re superior to everyone in India except one or two
of the Ranis, and they’re on an equality.”
● She only knew imperative (giving commands) urdu from speaking to her
servants so that’s what she used her guests

● Adela and Mrs. Moore’s experience:

● To Adela and Mrs. Moore’s delight some of the ladies can speak English and
they are able to communicate
● Adela wants to have a genuine, meaningful conversation with the ladies but
their politeness and civility acts as a barrier and prevents her from doing so
 ● They ask Mrs. Bhattacharya if they can visit her in her home
● “A shapeless discussion occurred” in which the Bhattacharyas were too
accommodating and even postponed their trip to Calcutta
● Adela and Mrs Moore’s kindness pleased all Indians

● Mr Turton/ the Collector’s behaviour:

● He knew dirt on all this guests and so was he didn’t feel uneasy or threatened
by their presence
● Even though the atmosphere was informal he was the one with the power
● “When they had not cheated, it was bhang, women, or worse”
● But he did show politeness and common decency by talking and joking with
the Indians

● Mr Fielding’s Behaviour:
● The lawn was divided into an Indian and a British side when refreshments
came because both parties ate different food
● This caused a divide in the people
● Mr Fielding did not discriminate between people or food. “He talked to
anyone and he ate anything.”
● He met Adela and invited her and Mrs Moore to tea
● Adela complained about the behaviour of the British “I think my countrymen
out here must be mad. Fancy inviting guests and not treating them
properly! You and Mr. Turton and perhaps Mr. McBryde are the only
people who showed any common politeness. The rest make me
perfectly ashamed, and it’s got worse and worse.”

● Indians reaction to the party:

● The humble Indians were grateful someone like Mr Turton paid attention to
them and talked to them
● Nawab Bahadur was moved by their kindness
● Hamdullah also appreciated the efforts of the Collector
● Other Indinans were still suspicious and cynical thinking higher ups had
forced Mr Turton to throw this party

After the Party:

● Adela thinks about life if she marries Ronny:
● She would have a meaningless existence socialising with the pretentious
British and not being able to see the real India despite being so close
● She would have British guests and would eat imported English food
● She goes to bed

● Ronny and Mrs. Moore have a conversation:

● Ronny asks his mother about Adela, he wants to know how she’s doing
● Ronny doesn’t spend more time with Adela himself because he’s scared of
gossip “They notice everything, until they’re perfectly sure you’re their
sort.”
● Mrs Moore tell shim Adela doesn’t like the way these people treat Indians
● “India isn’t a drawing-room.”
● According to Ronny the English are not here to treat the Indians well “We’re
not out here for the purpose of behaving pleasantly!”
● “We’re out here to do justice and keep the peace.”
● Ronny worked hard at his job to and he wanted some understanding from his
family
● Mrs Moore brings up religion and how God wants them to treat everyone with
kindness
● Ronny doesn’t agree but also doesn’t argue
CHAP 6:
● Aziz doesn’t attend the Bridge Party because it is the death anniversary of his
wife
● Instead he ditches Dr Lal, whom he promised to go the party with, and taking
Hamidullah’s horse plays polo with a British soldier
● Dr Lal returns from the party and fight with Aziz
● When Aziz returns home he receives an invitation from Mr Fielding to the tea
party, where Adela and Mrs. Moore are also invited

Mr Callender and Aziz:

● Mr Callendar scolds Aziz for not coming when he was summoned the night he
met Mrs Moore
● Aziz tells him he got a flat tire outside the cow hospital and Mr Callendar
doesn’t believe him, arguing the cow hospital does not come in the way
between his and Aziz’s house
● Aziz has an explanation but Mr Callendar doesn’t listen to him convinced all
Indians are always lying to him
● Aziz was a good surgeon. “He was competent and indispensable, and he
knew it.”

Aziz and his wife:

● Aziz loved his wife a lot
● She died giving birth to his 3rd child
● Without her Aziz feels so lonely he sometimes contemplates suicide
● He takes out his wife’s photograph and cries

➔ Takes Hamidullah’s horse

➔ Plays Pollo with British soldier
➔ Fights with and further lies to Dr Pana Lal
➔ Dr Lal says his absence at the party was noticed
➔ Goes home
➔ He’s worried he’ll get punished for not attending the party
➔ Sees a letter and is scared but it’s only an invite from Mr Fielding to his tea
party
CHAP 7:
● Mr Fielding did not conform to the racist beliefs of his fellow Anglo Indians so
he was rejected by them especially the women
● Aziz arrives and immediately becomes friends with Mr Fielding because he is
not a conventional British man
● Mrs Moore and Adela arrive - they have been ghosted by the Bhattacharyas
jinke ghar subah jana tha
● Professor NarayanGodbole also comes over (he is Fieldings assistant)
● Aziz entertains everyone by talking about India (he is misinformed most of the
time but the ladies don’t know that and Fielding doesn’t correct him)
● Aziz invites them to their house to appear hospitable and then is horrified
when they accept
● To change the topic he talks about the Marabar Caves
● Ronny comes to pick the ladies up for polo and ruins the mood

Fielding’s Experience in India:

● He came to India when he was 40+
● He had travelled a lot in his past and these past experiences affected his
views on India and Indians
● He had taught all sorts of people over his career so wasn’t racist or biassed
against Indians
● “He did succeed with his pupils, but the gulf between himself and his
countrymen widened distressingly.”
○ He was new to India so he couldn’t relate to other British newcomers
because he had past experience
○ He couldn’t relate to the Anglo Indians that were his age because they
had spent a lot of time in India
● “He had no racial feeling.”
● The British men tolerated him but the women really disliked him
● “He who would keep in with Englishwomen must drop the Indians.”
● It was impossible to get along with both Indians and British women in India
● Fielding had invited Adela and Mrs Moore because they were new and didn’t
judge him so harshly

Aziz Arrives:
● Fielding tells him to “Please make yourself at home.”
● This really pleases Aziz who takes it literally and is very touched
● Aziz gives Fielding his imported and expensive collar stud when his breaks,
pretending it’s a spare
● Topic discussed: Biassed police
● Police deal with Indians who are dressed up in British clothes more leniently
than Indians dressed in traditional clothes
Adela and Mrs Moore Arrive:
● Aziz is not happy because he wanted his new friend all to himself
● He is able to deal with the ladies because he is not physically attracted to
either of them and so he treats them like men
● Aziz insults the Bhattacharayas learning about how they never picked up the
ladies and took them to their house like they were supposed to “Slack
Hindus —they have no idea of society!”
● Aziz invites them to his house and then is horrified when they accept
● He changes the subject by talking about Indian architecture, fruit, lenient
dealing of criminals, a stream nearby
● His information was incorrect but Fielding didn’t say anything
● The ladies took him as a representative of India and they were wrong to do so
as one man cannot represent a whole country

Professor Godbole Arrives:

● His arrival quietened Aziz somewhat
● He didn’t add to the conversation but only ate and drank
● Adela unintentionally blurts out she won’t be settling in India - she has
subconsciously made up her mind not to marry Ronny
● Fielding takes Mrs. Moore for a tour of the college leaving Aziz, Adela and
Godbole alone
● Adela talks about going to Aziz’s house and he changes the conversation by
taking about the Marabar Caves

Ronny Arrives:
● He talks only to Adela and ignores the Indian men
● Since neither Aziz nor Godbole were his subordinates, Ronny didn’t know
how to talk to them so he didn’t
● He did not see them individuals
● Godbole doesn’t say anything but Aziz did not appreciate being ignored
● He provokes Ronny “Aziz was provocative”

Fielding and Mrs Moore come back:

● Ronny tells Fielding he shouldn’t have left Adela alone with two Indian men
● Fielding is apologetic but doesn’t see the issue
● To provoke Ronny further, Aziz comments on how Adela won’t be staying in
India and what a shame that is
● Godbole sings for the company
● It’s a song about a milkmaid who asks for Krishnas to come to her over and
over again but he refuses
CHAP 8:
● Mrs Moore is dropped home
● At the polo grounds Ronny and Adela talk
● Adela rejects his proposal for marriage and though Ronny is hurt he takes it
graciously
● Adela wants more of an emotional response/ more discussion but Ronny does
not oblige
● Nawab Bahadur gives them a ride in his car
● They get into an accident and the the three of them are given a ride by Miss
Derrick
● They realise they have much in common and get engaged again

Change in Ronny:
● Ronny was not the same as he was in England. “India had developed sides
of his character that she had never admired.”
○ He was more arrogant/overconfident
○ More critical and fault finding
○ Lacked empathy (towards Indians)
○ Lacked humility when proven wrong
● Ronny had behaved badly at Fielding’s house
● They talk about: Marabar Caves
● Ronny forbids from going to without British protection
● Ronny makes fun of Aziz’s missing collar stud “there you have the Indian all
over: inattention to detail”
● Mrs Moore is tired of their quarrelling
● Both Adela and Ronny are ashamed of their quarrelling
● They drop her home and go to the polo ground to talk

At the Polo Ground:

● Adela rejects the proposal and hurts Ronny a lot
● He accepts it decently making Adela ashamed about the negative way she
was thinking about him
● They decide to stay friends
● Nawab Bahadur sees them and offers them a ride in his new car

On the Way Home:

● In Nawabs car: Nawab Bahadur and driver sit at the front while Adela and
Ronny sit at the back
● The car hits an animal (a hyena) and breaks down
● Mr Harris is half English and half Indian. In the presence of both Indians and
English he doesn’t know how to act
● In Miss Derek’s car: Nawab Bahadur, Adela and Ronny leave with her
 ● Miss Derek boasts about all the Ranis and Rajahs she has stolen from
● Ronny was not impressed. “He did not approve of English people taking
service under the Native States.”
● Miss Derek always leaves before she gets caught and then gets a new job
● The dislike of Miss Derek unites Ronny and Adela and they feel closer
● Nawab Bahadur left
● Outside their bungalow Adela re-engages herself to Ronny once more
● Again there’s a lack of emotion that disappoints Adela
● They tell Mrs. Moore about the accident who gets scared

Superstition:
● Nine years ago Nawab Bahadur had run over a drunken man and killed him
● He was innocent before God and the law but still he felt guilty and was sure
karma was coming to him in the form of a car accident that would take his life
● Aziz doesn’t believe in such superstitions and advices the grandson of Nawab
Bahadur to not do so either
CHAP 9:
● Aziz is a little sick but greatly exaggerates his illness
● Hamidullah and his friends come to see him
● Dr Pana Lal comes as well on behalf of Mr Callendar to check whether or Aziz
is really sick
● Fielding also comes to check up on his friend
● The characters have a discussion and then leave

Aziz is ill:
● Three days after the tea party, Aziz falls slightly ill but greatly exaggerates his
sickness
● Lies in bed, hears church bells and thinks about missionaries
● The christian missionaries are able to convert the locals during famines by
giving out food but when times improve the locals convert back to their
previous religions
● “No Englishman understands us except Mr. Fielding,”
● Aziz thinks about going to Calcutta to hire a prostitute - shows his hypocrisy
he loves Islam and wants to build a mosque someday but at the same time
he’s okay with this

Hamidullah and his other friends come to see him:

● Characters: (All muslims)
○ Hamidullah
○ Syed Mohammad, an assistant Engineer
○ Mr Haq, police inspector
○ Rafi, Syed Mohammad’s nephew
● They all inquire about Aziz’s health
● Godbole is also sick
● Rafi tries to spread rumours, saying maybe Fielding poisoned them at the tea
party
○ The others insult him and do not believe him
● Dr Pana Lal is attending to Godbole and Aziz was angry because he was not
told about this sickness “Oh yes, both Hindus; there we have it; they hang
together like flies and keep everything dark.”
● The group started out sympathetic but turns against Hindus quickly “All
illness proceeds from Hindus,”
● They dissed hindu festivals and recited poetry
● Hamidullah’s committee of notables:
● Made up of Hindus, Muslims, two Sikhs, two Parsis, a Jain, and a Native
Christian
● The only thing that united them was their hate for British rule, other than that
they had nothing in common and could do nothing productive
Dr Pana Lal Arrives: (he is hindu)
● He came with a hindu driver
● He is there on behalf of Mr Callendar
● He can tell Aziz is faking his illness but does not expose him even though he
hates Aziz for ditching him at the Bridge Party
○ Mr Callender would not believe him if he spoke against Aziz, “...though
Major Callendar always believed the worst of natives, he never
believed them when they carried tales about one another”
○ Dr Lal might want to fake being sick himself one day and Aziz would
return the favour
● The hindus and muslims have a silly quarrell

Fielding Arrives:
● Everyone is too busy fighting so no one notices his arrival
● He announces his presence by saying “I say! Is he ill or isn’t he ill?”
● Aziz is embarrassed of his shabby, dirty and cheap house and the uncivilised
way his guests were fighting
● Topic discussed: God, atheism and whether British rule can be justified
● Fielding doesn’t believe in God and “the West doesn’t bother much over
belief and disbelief in these days.”
● Since lack of religion leads to a lack of morality the Indians ask Fielding “how
is England justified in holding India?”
● Fielding says he’s not sure if it is, personally he’s only here because he needs
a job
● The Indians ask Fiedling if him being here is fair since he’s taking a position a
qualified Indian would’ve gotten otherwise
● Fielding says maybe him being alive isn’t fair because he’s taking someone
else’s oxygen so he won't comment on the fairness of things, however his
only justification for being in India is that delighted to be here
● They all prepare to leave and Fielding is disappointed he didn’t get to bond
with Aziz more
CHAP 10:
Shokha chapter hain philosopher jhaar raha EM Forster. Chota sa hai you can check
it out agar curiosity hori hai
CHAP 11:
● Fielding can’t leave because Aziz’s servant won't bring his horse to him
● Aziz calls him back and shows him a picture of his wife - calling him his
brother
● Fielding is the first English to see his wife and he is very touched
● Fielding is sad he has nothing to offer back
● The two friends talk and then Fielding leaves

Fielding Stays Behind:

● Everyone else leaves but Fielding cannot because Aziz’s servant didn’t bring
his horse
● The photograph:
● Aziz shows him a picture of his wife “You are the first Englishman she has
ever come before.”
● Fielding is very pleased “Really, I don’t know why you pay me this great
compliment, Aziz, but I do appreciate it.”
● Fielding is flattered but also sad because he has no secrets to share with Aziz
● Like Hamidullah and his other friends, Aziz considers Feilding his brother
● If his wife would’ve been alive she and Fielding would’ve met
● Kindness:
● Aziz says India needs kindness to build itself up, not reforms or rules and
regulations. “Mr. Fielding, no one can ever realise how much kindness we
Indians need.”
● Fielding’s purpose in life was to help people, if they objected to this help he
moved on, otherwise he stayed and served them happily

They talk about Women and Marriage:

● English women are much nicer in England than in India
● Fielding tells about wanting to get married 15 years ago, but he didn’t
because the woman he was in love with rejected him
● He has no children, not even illegitimate ones
● The fact that his name will die with him disturbs Aziz but Fielding doesn’t
mind. “I’d far rather leave a thought behind me than a child.”
● Fielding tells Aziz Adela is engaged to Ronny and he’s pleased because now
he won’t have to take her to the Marabar Caves
● Aziz thinks Adela is sweet and sincere but physically unattractive while
Fieldings dislikes her because she’s a prig (someone who is excessively
concerned with moral behaviour, often to the point of being self-righteous or
judgmental)
Aziz tells Fielding to be more careful:
● Fielding had talked against his country’s actions in front of the other Indians
● Aziz warns him not to do so again since they could report him and he may
lose his job
● Fielding is not worried, his job is education and he can do that anytime,
anywhere (he can’t get fired)
● He travels light so it won’t bother him to move (he’s not tied down to anything
unlike Aziz who has a family, religion and society)
● Aziz makes him promise to come to him and Hamidullah if he ever runs into
any trouble
● His reply is “I never can be in trouble.”
CAVES: (PART TWO)

CHAP 12:
Caves hills ki description ajeeb acha tou hum kia karayn
Intellectuals ke liey this is a copy paste from Sparknotes

● The hills containing the Marabar Caves are older than anything else on earth.
The rocky hills thrust up abruptly from the soil and resemble nothing else in
the surrounding landscape.
● Each cave has a narrow entrance tunnel that leads to a large, dark, circular
chamber.
● If a match is lit inside the caves, its reflection appears clearly in the polished
stone of the cave walls.
● The caves seem to embody nothingness; their reputation spreads not just by
word of mouth, but seemingly through the earth itself or through the animals.
● On the highest hill of the rock formations precariously rests a large boulder,
which is thought to be hollow.
● The hill is called Kawa Dol.
CHAP 13:
● Adela tells Miss Derek about Aziz’s forgotten plan to take them to Marabar
Caves
● Her servant over hears it and through Chinese whisper an exaggerated story
makes its way to Aziz
● Aziz immediately starts preparing for the trip
● To replicate Fieldings tea party he invites the same guests
● Aziz works had to ensure all parties (hindus and christians) will be satisfied
with the food
● Aziz spends the night at the train station as the train will leave very early
(before dawn)
● Adela Quested and Mrs Moore arrive on time
● Godbole and Mr Fielding miss the train

Gossip and exaggeration:

● Adela told Miss Derek conversationally she would've liked to have gone to the
Marabar Caves and that Aziz had arranged something for them but he had
forgotten “Indians seem rather forgetful.”
● He servant overheard her and told Mahmood Ali’s servants
● By the time Aziz got to know about it the information had been greatly
distorted and exaggerated. He heard “the ladies were deeply offended with
him, and had expected an invitation daily”

The invitation:
● Attempted to replicate the success of Fielding’s tea party Aziz invited Mr
Fielding and Godbole as well
● Aziz asked Fielding to invite the ladies and though he wasn’t very enthusiastic
about this get together he did so anyway because “he would not refuse the
first favour his friend had asked from him”
● The ladies were also not enthusiastic
● They consulted Ronny who gave them permission to go as long as
1. Fielding takes full responsibility for their comfort
2. They take their servant Antony with them
● No one wanted this picnic to take place “No one was enthusiastic, yet it
took place”

The preparation:
● Aziz asked Callendar for a day off but he refused as he taken time off when
he pretended to be sick
● His leave gets accepted through Fielding
● He couldn’t decide what food/drinks they should take
● Did the christians want wine? Did they eat ham?
 ● Godbole didn’t eat beef but would the others want it?
● Godbole also didn’t eat cake incase it had eggs
● “Trouble after trouble encountered him, because he had challenged the
spirit of the Indian earth, which tries to keep men in compartments.”
● Aziz stayed at the station overnight since the train from Chandrapore to the
caves would head out before dawn and he didn’t want to be late

The ladies arrive:

● Aziz hoped Fielding would arrive first and exaggerates his happiness upon
seeing them “This is the happiest moment in all my life.”
● The ladies are polite to him
● Their servant Antony thinks Indians are inferior and so is rude and
condescending towards Aziz and his servants
● Aziz asks Adela to send him back so that they could “all be Muslims
together.”
● Antony refuses at first because Ronny had ordered him not to leave the
ladies’ side but agrees after being bribed by Mohammad Latif (cousin of Aziz)

Godbole and Fielding miss the train:

● Fielding and Godbole arrive as the train is leaving
● They got late because Godbole’s praying took too long
● Fielding tries to jump on the train but misses and falls
● Aziz is miserable thinking their expedition is ruined but Mrs Moore consoles
him, “We shall be all Muslims together now, as you promised.”
● Aziz is so pleased “He would die to make her happy.”
CHAP 14:
● Over the train ride Adela and Mrs Moore sit in purdah carriage and talk
● After the train ride Aziz arranges for a elephant to take them to the caves
● They have a picnic before entering
● The echoes and darkness of the first cave upsets Mrs Moore so much that
she decides no to visit anymore
● Mrs Moore tries to write a letter to her other children but the echoes have
disturbed her too much and she can’t concentrate

The train ride:

● Adela and Mrs. Moore have been feeling apathetic for a while
● Mrs Moore accepts this while Adela is greatly disturbed by it and exaggerates
her excitement and happiness to compensate for her lack of emotions
● Adela is getting married and she is in a foreign country - every second of her
life should be amazing but it’s not (she’s not happy and she’s not sad)
● Future plans discussed:
● Ronny and Adela will get married in Simla, Mrs Moore will stay the summer in
the Himalayas and then will leave for England while Adela will stay in India
with Ronny
● Adela doesn’t want to be like the other Anglo Indian wives who leave their
husbands for half the year when the weather gets hot and spend it in the
mountains
○ Eg Mrs McBryde does this and is then confused why she’s so out of
touch with her husband
● Mrs Moore goes to sleep while Adela plans about them going to see the Taj
Mahal before Mrs Moore leaves for England
● Mrs Moore is not feeling well but she came anyway so to not upset anyone

The elephant ride:

● An elephant ride is nothing new for the ladies but they act polite and excited to
save Aziz’s feelings
● Aziz went through a lot of trouble to arrange this elephant ride
● Through friends of his friends he was able to contact Nawab Bahadur who
made it all possible
● “...filled Aziz with…appreciation of the East, where the friends of friends
are a reality, where everything gets done sometime, and sooner or later
everyone gets his share of happiness.”
● The servants and Aziz don’t know much about this place and give
contradictory explanations to the questions Adela asks
● Adela mistakens a tree branch for a snake and Aziz and the villagers agree
with her
● When she realises her mistake upon further inspection but the people allow
her don’t let her change her opinion, insisting it was a snake
The picnic:
● They have a picnic outside the caves because Aziz had been told by his
friends that the English never stop eating and will need food every two hours
● “Aziz overrated hospitality, mistaking it for intimacy”
● The servants lay out a lot of food
● Topic discussed: The Mughal Emperors
● Topic shifts from hospitality to Babur because he was famous for his
hospitality
● They talk about other emperors too, Aurengzeb, Alamgir and Akbar
● Aziz actually had knowledge about this topic so the ladies enjoyed this
discussion a lot
● Aziz doesn’t like Akbar because he wasn’t a true muslim and he tried to unite
India with his new religion “Nothing embraces the whole of India, nothing,
nothing, and that was Akbar’s mistake.”
● Adela talks about her fears of becoming like other Anglo Indian women
● She doesn’t like Aziz’s mindset which claims India is divided between
extremes and there’s no middle ground
● She tells Aziz about her engagement to Ronny and asks for advice on how to
not change into a racist like all other Anglo Indian women
● Aziz changes the topic and doesn’t answer her question

The first cave entered:

● Mrs Moore hates it
● The dark, suffocation and ominous echoes nearly make her faint
● The child of a servant (who was placed on the hip of his mother) accidentally
touches her face and she hits her head trying to get away
● Mrs. Moore exits the cave and everyone follows her outside
● She stays at the picnic area while Aziz and Adela go ahead to Kawa Dol
● Aziz is glad Mrs Moore was frank enough to tell him she didn’t want to go
“but you are treating me with true frankness, as a friend.”
● She advices them not to take so many servants with them
● Aziz orders only one guide to accompany them

Mrs Moore is disturbed:

● She tries to write a letter to her children Stella and Ralph but she can still hear
the echoes of the cave and is unable to do so
CHAP 15:
● Adela, Aziz and a guide walk towards the caves
● Aziz is thinking about breakfast preparations
● Adela is thinking about marriage
● She realises she doesn’t love Ronny
● She asks Aziz if he’s married, he pretends his wife is alive and invites Adela
to meet her
● Adela asks how many if he has more than one wife and this upsets Aziz
greatly
● He goes into a cave to recover his composure while Adela enters another
cave

The initial silence:

● Aziz and Adela had nothing to say to each other
● They were both lost in their own thoughts
1. Aziz was thinking about breakfast arrangements and going through his menu
2. Adela was thinking about the future / married life / Ronny
○ If she could learn to co-exist peacefully with the other Anglo indians
without turning into them then she and Ronny would have a happy
marriage
○ All of a sudden she starts thinking about love: “What about love?”
○ She realises she and Ronny don’t love each other
○ It’s too late to call off the wedding but can two people who don’t love
each other be married? She is confused and agitated

Adela asks two questions:

● 1. Adela asks “Are you married, Dr. Aziz?”
● Aziz lies pretending his wife is still alive “Yes, indeed, do come and see my
wife”
● Aziz says his wife is not in Chandrapore at the moment
● They talk about his kids
● Adela had been told by Mr Turton that all muslim men have 4 wives
● 2. She asks Aziz “Have you one wife or more than one?”

Aziz gets offended:

● Aziz doesn’t think it’s appropriate to ask an educated muslim how many wives
he has
● He answers he only has one, let’s go of Adela’s hand and goes into a cave to
regain his composure
● He’s very disappointed and thinks “Damn the English even at their best,”
CHAP 16:
● When Aziz returns from the cave Adela is missing
● He sees Adela get into a car
● It is Miss Derek’s car. She had come to drop Mr Fielding off
● Adela gets in her car to go back to Chandrapore with her
● Aziz is disappointed but understanding
● Fielding is disturbed - either Adela got sick or she was very rude to have
suddenly left
● Mrs Moore, Fielding and Aziz return to Chandrapore and Aziz gets arrested
by Mr Haq
● He tries to escape and Fielding stops him ensuring him he’ll do whatever he
can to help get out of this misunderstanding
● Aziz is sent to prison without explanation

Adela goes missing :

● After regaining his composure Aziz comes out of his cave
● Adela is missing, all the caves look the same and it’s impossible to tell where
she is “Merciful heavens Miss Quested is lost” (Aziz)
● The guide tells Aziz there’s no point shouting “because a Marabar cave can
hear no sound but its own.”
● Aziz is alarmed, thinking this will ruin his reputation
● He blames the guide and slaps his across the face (guide leaves)
● Aziz heard a car approach and got a glimpse of Adela entering it. He is “so
relieved he did not think her conduct odd”
● Previously Aziz had given his guests permission to alter this trip however they
liked. He assumes Adela saw a friend and wanted to take a spin in their car
before returning
● He sees her field glasses outside a cave and puts them inside his pocket (the
strap is broken)
● When he tries to find this cave again to check if Adela accidentally left
something else behind he is unable to locate it

Fielding arrives:
● Fielding comes in the car that took Adela away
● Aziz is so pleased he forgets all about her and why she left
● The car belongs to Miss Derek. She ran into Fielding at the post office, asked
him why he wasn’t at the Marabar caves as she knew about their plan and
then offered to give him a lift
● Mrs Moore and Fielding meet:
● Fielding has a drink
● He and Mrs Moore ask about Adela’s whereabouts
● Aziz tells them she got into Miss Derek’s car
 ● Miss Derek’s chauffeur comes to tell them Adela is being taken back to
Chandrapore
● Aziz “was disappointed but made light of it.”
● According to Aziz “Guests must do as they wish, or they become
prisoners.”
● Mrs Moore and Fielding do not like each other “They knew one another very
little, and felt rather awkward”
● Aziz expected them to get along “Loving them both, he expected them to
love each other. They didn’t want to.”
● Fielding blamed her and Adela for messing up the picnic and Mrs Moore
blamed him for missing the train
● Fielding sees the caves and is not impressed but he’s worried why Adela
would suddenly leave
○ Either she suddenly got sick
○ Or she left without saying anything because she’s very rude

Way back to Chandrapore:

● Fielding rides the elephant back to station with them
● He talks to Aziz about the cost of the picnic
● Aziz spent a lot on it, the elephant especially was very expensive “she
apparently eats gold”
● They go back by train

Aziz gets arrested:

● Mr Haq, the police investigator, arrests Aziz from the train carriage
● He is upset and unwilling because Aziz is his friend (he went to see him when
he was ill before)
● Fielding’s reaction: tries to ask why/take charge of the situation but Haq is
not allowed to say anything
● He’s sure there’s been some misunderstanding
● Aziz’s reaction: he cries, tries and tries to escape
● He’s concerned about his reputation “My children and my name!”
● Fielding stops him from escaping, shakes him and scolds him “Never, never
act the criminal.”

➔ Mrs Moore is taken away by Ronny

➔ Fielding is called over by Mr Turton
➔ Aziz is taken to prison alone without any explanation
CHAP 17:
● Turton was in the waiting room of the station
● He called over Fielding to him and tells him what Aziz is being accused of
(sexual assault)
● Fielding is not carried away by emotions and stays rational which angers
Turton
● There will be an informal meeting at the club in the evening to discuss this
incident
● Ronny sent a chaprassi to collect Mrs Moore and Adela’s stuff and he begins
looting Aziz’s belongings as well
● Turton stops him

Response of Mr Turton:
● His expressions: He has a very brave and emotional expression on his face
“the expression that all English faces were to wear at Chandrapore for
many days. Always brave and unselfish.”
● The charge: Tells Fielding Aziz is guilty of attempting to sexually assault
Adela
● Fielding does not become emotional like him at the mention of such a tragedy
and tries to make sense of everything
● He thinks Aziz is innocent “I know him to be incapable of infamy.”
● This greatly annoys and angers Turton
● His racism: Turton says this only happened because Indians and English
were mixing “I have never known anything but disaster result when
English people and Indians attempt to be intimate socially. Intercourse,
yes. Courtesy, by all means. Intimacy —never, never.”
● The collector has had 25 years experience in India and 6 years experience in
Chandrapore so he speaks with authority
● The informal meeting: this will take place in the club that evening and Fielding
is invited

Response of Anglo Indians:

● They let their emotions take over and didn’t use their brains
● “All over Chandrapore that day the Europeans were putting aside their
normal personalities and sinking themselves in their community. Pity,
wrath, heroism, filled them, but the power of putting two and two
together was annihilated.”
CHAP 18:
● Fielding goes to see Mr McBryde
● McBryde thinks all Indians are criminals but it’s because of their climate
● McBryde tells Fielding the details of the “crime”
● Mahmood Ali comes to see Aziz (legal council)
● McBryde asks Fielding why he’s getting involved in this mess, regardless of
who’s innocent and guilty
○ Aziz’s letter to brothel is found
○ Picture of his wife found
○ (evidence of his “loose character”)
● Hamidullah comes to see Aziz as well
● Fielding is not allowed to see Aziz he’ll need Ronny’s permission for that
● He’s not allowed to speak to Adela either because she’s too upset

McBryde’s intro:
● He is the “best educated of the Chandrapore officials.”
● He’s not a bully and never loses his temper
● He’s very courteous to Aziz
○ Tells him he’s allowed visitors
○ And that he’ll have to detain him till his bail is posted
● McBryde has a theory about climate zones “All unfortunate natives are
criminals at heart, for the simple reason that they live south of latitude
30.”
● He doesn’t blame the Indians just their hot environment

Fielding goes to see him:

● McBryde honestly tells Fielding all details of the crimes that were told to him
● Miss Derek and Miss Adela came straight to his bungalow, he heard their
complaint, took charge of the situation and then ordered the arrest of Aziz
● Aziz was guilty of making “insulting advances” towards Adela
● “She hit him with her field-glasses; he pulled at them and the strap
broke, and that is how she got away.”
● “Evidence”:
● 1. These field glasses were in Aziz’s pocket
● 2. There was a letter he wrote to a brothel owner in Calcutta. He was planning
to meet prostitutes there
○ Fielding doesn’t want to hear about Aziz’s private letters which
confuses McBryde who doesn’t think Indians should have privacy
○ Fielding says it’s wrong to hold this against Aziz as they all visited
brothels at his age
● 3. There’s a picture of his wife. McBryde doesn’t believe it’s his wife and that
he keeps pictures of random women
● Adela was in a terrible state when Miss Derek found her, she had cuts all over
her body and was hysterical, she was also scared of the Indian driver
● Fieldings arguments:
○ Why would Aziz keep the evidence in his pocket?
○ Did Adela get confused by the echo of the caves and make a mistake?
○ He wants to see and talk to both of them
○ He’ll have to ask Ronny for permission to see Aziz (uski intended ko
assault kia hai so that’s gonna be awkward)
● McBryde’s response:
○ Indian criminals don’t make sense “when an Indian goes bad, he
goes not only very bad, but very queer.” He says Fielding is
comparing Indian criminals to British criminals that’s why he’s confused
○ Fielding teaches them as children that’s why he has sympathy for them
“You come across these people at their best….They can be
charming as boys.”
○ McBryde doesn’t understand why Fielding would want to be involved
“Innocence or guilt, why mix yourself up? What’s the good?”
Fielding is so disturbed by this thinking ke usko chakar aa jatay hain
● Aziz’s visitors:
● Mahmood Ali comes to see him as his legal council
● Hamidullah bhi aa jata hai after a while
● “The opposite army was gathering.”
● Fielding is not allowed to see Adela as she’s too ill
● McBryde says his wife will ask the questions Fielding wants to ask but he
refuses because she’s biassed against Indians “She is among people who
disbelieve in Indians.”
● McBryde warns him against his sympathies towards the Indians. “The
● man who doesn’t toe the line is lost.”
● If Fielding supports Aziz then there will be a weakness in the British line of
defence “He not only loses himself, he weakens his
● friends. If you leave the line, you leave a gap in the line. These jackals”
—he pointed at the lawyers’ cards —“are looking with all their eyes for a
gap.”
CHAP 19:
● Fielding and Hamidullah talk outside the police station
● Hamidullah has no faith in the justice system
● He plans to involve all Indians to defend Aziz
● Fielding doesn’t think it’s a good idea - they should resolve the matter with as
little friction as possible
● Fielding talks with Godbole who knows about Aziz’s situation but is not very
concerned
● He manages to see Aziz
● Starts writing a letter to Adela

Hamidullah and Fieldings talk:

● Fielding has faith in the justice system while Hamidullah does not
● Fielding is sure evidence will clear up Aziz’s name
● Hamidullah is scared his visit will annoy McBryde and will make Aziz’s
situation worse
● Fielding assures him this is not the case
● Hamidullah’s plans:
○ He will ask Nawab Bahadur for bail
○ He will get an anti-british hindu lawyer from calcutta (he won’t be
intimidated by local conditions)
○ “the defence would then make a wider appeal.”
○ Hamildullah wants to get all Indians involved as this will increase Aziz’s
chances of winning at court.
● Fielding’s thoughts:
● He doesn’t think it’s necessary to involve all these people
● “Aziz must be cleared, but with a minimum of racial hatred.
● Since he is supporting Indians, Fielding knows he will now be labelled
“Anti-British”
● He doesn’t want to take sides or have labels
● Hamidullah is very glad he is on their side

Fielding and Godbole talk:

● Godbole knows about Aziz’s situation but he doesn’t care
● He wants to ask Fielding what he should name his new school
● Fielding ko yeh sunke phir se chakar atay hain
● He can’t believe these people are not concerned about an innocent man
being accused of such a horrible crime
● Fielding asks Godbole if he thinks Aziz is guilty or not and he doesn’t give a
straight answer

Fielding sees Aziz:

● Aziz is so upset he can’t talk
 ● The only thing he manages to say is “You deserted me,”

Writes letter to Adela:

● He knows it will probably be intercepted by the McBrydes
● He still writes it in case she is able to read it
● In his opinion Adela is “the last person in Chandrapore wrongfully to
accuse an Indian.”
CHAP 20:
● Fielding and Hamidullah talk outside the police station
● Hamidullah has no faith in the justice system
● He plans to involve all Indians to defend Aziz
● Fielding doesn’t think it’s a good idea - they should resolve the matter with as
little friction as possible
● Fielding talks with Godbole who knows about Aziz’s situation but is not very
concerned
● He manages to see Aziz
● Starts writing a letter to Adela

Hamidullah and Fieldings talk:

● Fielding has faith in the justice system while Hamidullah does not
● Fielding is sure evidence will clear up Aziz’s name
● Hamidullah is scared his visit will annoy McBryde and will make Aziz’s
situation worse
● Fielding assures him this is not the case
● Hamidullah’s plans:
○ He will ask Nawab Bahadur for bail
○ He will get an anti-british hindu lawyer from calcutta (he won’t be
intimidated by local conditions)
○ “the defence would then make a wider appeal.”
○ Hamildullah wants to get all Indians involved as this will increase Aziz’s
chances of winning at court.
● Fielding’s thoughts:
● He doesn’t think it’s necessary to involve all these people
● “Aziz must be cleared, but with a minimum of racial hatred.
● Since he is supporting Indians, Fielding knows he will now be labelled
“Anti-British”
● He doesn’t want to take sides or have labels
● Hamidullah is very glad he is on their side

Fielding and Godbole talk:

● Godbole knows about Aziz’s situation but he doesn’t care
● He wants to ask Fielding what he should name his new school
● Fielding ko yeh sunke phir se chakar atay hain
● He can’t believe these people are not concerned about an innocent man
being accused of such a horrible crime
● Fielding asks Godbole if he thinks Aziz is guilty or not and he doesn’t give a
straight answer

Fielding sees Aziz:

● Aziz is so upset he can’t talk
 ● The only thing he manages to say is “You deserted me,”

Writes letter to Adela:

● He knows it will probably be intercepted by the McBrydes
● He still writes it in case she is able to read it
● In his opinion Adela is “the last person in Chandrapore wrongfully to
accuse an Indian.”

INCOMPLETE: Bus itna hi hai agay Allah ne toufeeq nai di

Haya 🙃