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3rd Q 2022- A Fine Balance by Rohinton Mistry
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Hi folks! Is everyone ready for a fun, light-hearted romp through the lovely, scenic world of India in the 1970s? The 1970s were difficult in India. Indira Gandhi became Prime Minister in 1966. India and Pakistan went to war with each other in 1971. In 1975 Indira Gandhi was found guilty of election fraud. in 1977 Gandhi lost her reelection campaign. The years between her being found guilty and her lost reelection were The Emergency, a rather unsettling time when many questionable programs and policies were enacted using the Emergency as an excuse.
"The Emergency was in effect from 25 June 1975 until its withdrawal on 21 March 1977. The order bestowed upon the Prime Minister the authority to rule by decree, allowing elections to be cancelled and civil liberties to be suspended. For much of the Emergency, most of Indira Gandhi's political opponents were imprisoned and the press was censored. Several other human rights violations were reported from the time, including a mass campaign for vasectomy spearheaded by Sanjay Gandhi, the Prime Minister's son."(wikipedia)
A Fine Balance takes place during The Emergency.
Questions to get you started:
1. What other books have you read set in India? Are you familiar with India at all?
2. The title turns up several times within the text of this novel, as the characters try to make sense of the chaos and challenges of their lives. Does it seem, in this book, as if the characters have much choice to try to improve their lives by finding balance of some sort? What choices do the characters make in the first 4 chapters?
3. Are there good and evil people in this book so far? Good and bad?
4. What challenges are the tailors, Maneck, and Dina faced with so far? What do they want or need?
5. The India in this book is pointedly overcrowded, poor, shabby, and rather disgustingly dirty. How do the characters deal with the crowding, poverty, filth, etc. of their world?
My copy of this book is ~600pgs long, so I'll break it up into roughly 200pg chunks for this quarterly reading of it. The first segment covers the first 4 chapters, ending with Dina preparing a room for Maneck.
Mod
1. What other books have you read set in India? Are you familiar with India at all?
India is one of my favorite settings for a book. I have read 9 books set in India.
The Shadow Lines
The God of Small Things
Rebel Queen by Michelle Moran (non-list book)
Animal's People (one of my favorite books)
The Guide
A Suitable Boy (My favorite book of all time, so far)
The White Tiger
The Namesake
Untouchable
I am really looking forward to this book.
I have traveled all over India but only as a visitor, never for an extended period of time. One thing you learn quickly about India is that it is large, very populated, very chaotic and very varied. There is a huge middle class in India that live not unlike Europeans or middle class anywhere. People tend to focus on the very poor and the very rich. There are a lot of very poor and very rich also, of course. Altogether there are a great many 'very's. That is what I remember most. How extreme everything was. I have read The White Tiger, Untouchable, The Siege of Krishnapur, The Moor's Last Sigh, Animal's People and The Great Indian Novel which is partially about the same events that this book is evidently about. I also recently read The Vice-Consul which takes place in Kolkata, which at the time of the book was called Calcutta although it is written by Duras, a French author who was born in French Indochina (now called Viet Nam).
Mod
Tagmash: India, kmh
The Great Indian Novel by Shashi Tharoor
Staying On by Paul Scott
The Association of Small Bombs by Karan Mahajan
Secret Daughter by Shilpi Somaya Gowda
The Siege of Krishnapur by J. G. Farrell
A Fine Balance by Rohinton Mistry
The Inheritance of Loss by Kiran Desai
Fury by Salman Rushdie
The Namesake by Jhumpa Lahiri
Midnight's Children by Salman Rushdie
The Great Railway Bazaar by Paul Theroux
The Jungle Books by Rudyard Kipling
The Vice Consul by Marguerite Duras
Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert
Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese
How To Get Filthy Rich In Rising Asia by Mohsin Hamid
I have finished the first 4 sections and am enjoying the book.2. The title turns up several times within the text of this novel, as the characters try to make sense of the chaos and challenges of their lives. Does it seem, in this book, as if the characters have much choice to try to improve their lives by finding balance of some sort? What choices do the characters make in the first 4 chapters?
The phrase " a fine balance" doesn't seem appropriate given the conditions that these characters find themselves in. Survival seems to be the primary driver, followed by survival with a touch of dignity. Dina appears to have made a decision to live a life where she makes the choices instead of leaving it to her brother or tradition. However, it does not appear at this stage in the book, that that has ultimately gone well for her. Similarly, Dukhi Mochi makes a seriously radical decision to break the caste rules and have his sons learn a different trade, which at first appears to be a brilliant decision and later when one of the sons asks for a touch of justice turns into a horrific situation.
3. Are there good and evil people in this book so far? Good and bad?
The Prime Minister lurks in the background as a not very good person but none of the characters really know enough about that world to consider or care about that.
There are 'not nice' people throughout the book such as Dina's brother but he is not evil. The only really evil one seems to be Thakur Dharamsi who represents his whole upper caste and in the name of keeping that caste at the zenith of power does truly evil deeds. Ashraf Muzzafar is a truly good person, often acting out of generosity toward his friends even though he is a Muslim in a Hindu village.
4. What challenges are the tailors, Maneck, and Dina faced with so far? What do they want or need?
Each of them needs economic survival. Beyond that they need to have some sense of dignity, self respect, independence and Om in particular needs to feel that there is some potential for something good to happen in his life.
5. The India in this book is pointedly overcrowded, poor, shabby, and rather disgustingly dirty. How do the characters deal with the crowding, poverty, filth, etc. of their world?
The conditions in the city are even worse than in their villages as people live in endless slums where they have to rent a piece of ground with a rotten tin roof over it. Yet, they elect to live and they have no choice but to do what they have to do to survive.
I just started this as my vacation read, and am only 50 pages in. But I’m looking forward to the journey, I am pretty sure it will be a fascinating one. Will come back and answer more questions when I’m back home. Happy reading!:)
Mod
It is very hard for the characters to improve their lives as they are dealing with centuries of tradition with the caste system. Each generation makes a few improvements but changing too quickly can have disastrous effects.
3. Are there good and evil people in this book so far? Good and bad?
At first I thought no, people were just trying to survive and decisions were made by their circumstances but in the instance of the voting rights those people were just bad. Killing and maiming a whole family is just wrong. I agree with Gail that Ashraf is truly a good person.
4. What challenges are the tailors, Maneck, and Dina faced with so far? What do they want or need?
The tailors and Dina do not get along but they have far more in common than they realize yet. Both groups are struggling from their past and circumstances.
5. The India in this book is pointedly overcrowded, poor, shabby, and rather disgustingly dirty. How do the characters deal with the crowding, poverty, filth, etc. of their world?
Some leave to better their circumstances, others lash out and rebel.
I am very much enjoying this book so far.
We've had a month to digest what we've been reading for this quarterly read, and to get into the second third of the book. Without knowing the outcomes of all the characters' stories, we can start to see some patterns. (In my book the second third of this book would end roughly at chapter 11, "The Bright Future Clouded".)
6. What does this book show us about the nature of the hatred between groups in India that fuels so much violence? Do the characters hate each other based on their group identification? If not, what do they hate? How do leaders and public figures affect these hatreds?
7. We see several parent/child relationships in this book. How and why do the parents enforce traditional attitudes and behaviors? What sorts of changes are they able or willing to accept in the younger generations?
8. How does Dina's position within her family reflect the position of women in her culture and social class? What sorts of comparisons can you make between the roles and functions of women in 1970s India and in America? How does her situation reflect changing social attitudes and expectations about women and families?
9. What does this book show us about trban and rural life in India? Can people who only lived in urban areas understand what rural life in India is like, and vice versa? In what ways do India's policies seem to favor rural or urban needs and interests? How do problems in urban areas affect rural areas, and vcie verse?
10. During the years in this novel, India's government structres are precarious. The Prime Minister was put on trial for election fraud, and she emposed stringent measures, the Emergency, aka martial law, to resist factions that wanted to remove her from power. Her government was riddled with corruption already, and during these unusual political events many people took advantage of the confusion. How much are the characters in this story aware of what is going on politically in their country? How is this national drama affecting their lives so far?
Mod
6. What does this book show us about the nature of the hatred between groups in India that fuels so much violence? Do the characters hate each other based on their group identification? If not, what do they hate? How do leaders and public figures affect these hatreds?
Even though the caste system was officially abolished, old traditions are hard to break. I think poverty, religion and resistance to change fuels the violence. Leaders and public figures do what ever they want to stay in power including promoting violence.
7. We see several parent/child relationships in this book. How and why do the parents enforce traditional attitudes and behaviors? What sorts of changes are they able or willing to accept in the younger generations?
8. How does Dina's position within her family reflect the position of women in her culture and social class? What sorts of comparisons can you make between the roles and functions of women in 1970s India and in America? How does her situation reflect changing social attitudes and expectations about women and families?
Dina is allowed to live alone and earn money although under the table to maintain her independence this was probably not available to the generation before. In America in the 1970s women were striving for independence and the feminist movement was in full swing.
9. What does this book show us about urban and rural life in India? Can people who only lived in urban areas understand what rural life in India is like, and vice versa? In what ways do India's policies seem to favor rural or urban needs and interests? How do problems in urban areas affect rural areas, and vice verse?
Those that lived in rural areas knew they were poor but there was more a sense of community. Leaving rural areas is usually for job prospects. Big cities attract lots of people, high competition, high poverty and high crime.
10. During the years in this novel, India's government structures are precarious. The Prime Minister was put on trial for election fraud, and she imposed stringent measures, the Emergency, aka martial law, to resist factions that wanted to remove her from power. Her government was riddled with corruption already, and during these unusual political events many people took advantage of the confusion. How much are the characters in this story aware of what is going on politically in their country? How is this national drama affecting their lives so far?
I am not sure how much the characters are aware of the political situation but the poor and disenfranchised are pawns in the game of those in power.
I have made it to "A Bright Future Clouded", which is ironic in that although the main characters are getting along in ways that they have not earlier in the book, it isn't as if I believed they were all headed to a "bright future". They are still just barely hanging on.6. What does this book show us about the nature of the hatred between groups in India that fuels so much violence? Do the characters hate each other based on their group identification? If not, what do they hate? How do leaders and public figures affect these hatreds?
On a grander scale, hate seems to be about group identification: The middle class views the poor as "other"; they are dirty and making a mess of their city. Those who have some ways and means are very fearful of losing their place in the world and therefore will gladly give up freedoms such as the free press to maintain the status quo. Certainly the hate between religious groups and castes is deeply engrained and all about group identification. The people with power will do anything to keep their power.
However, for our characters, hatred is much more personal. Dina dislikes her brother for making her feel like such an oddity and an outcast. Plus she hates her financial dependence on him. Om initially hates Dina for being his boss and not seeing him as a full human being. The people that lived in the slum, including Om and Ishvar, fear the Facilitator and the Sargent directly for their actions, not because they represent the ruling caste/class.
7. We see several parent/child relationships in this book. How and why do the parents enforce traditional attitudes and behaviors? What sorts of changes are they able or willing to accept in the younger generations?
Parents in this book, in general, are okay with change as long as either they or their children appear to benefit from this change. Moving their sons to a different craft gets them out from under the caste system. Letting their daughter or sister marry beneath her at least seems to give her stability and happiness even if the groom doesn't meet their approval. More importantly, it lessens her dependency on her brother's income. Ishvar, who clearly is able to deal with extreme change as he navigates moving from a rural village to the city, believes that mostly what he is doing is securing a future in which Om can afford a bride. This even though Om is not interested in marriage.
8. How does Dina's position within her family reflect the position of women in her culture and social class? What sorts of comparisons can you make between the roles and functions of women in 1970s India and in America? How does her situation reflect changing social attitudes and expectations about women and families?
As Diane mentioned above, Dina is exercising her independence in a way that was not traditionally acceptable. Also, we see her boss as a powerful woman although she is an extreme conversative. Plus, the Prime Minister is a powerful woman. She partially won that power through her last name but she would not have been able to keep that power if she didn't know how to exercise it. Unfortunately, none of these women are presented as being "good" or leading a good life.
9. What does this book show us about trban and rural life in India? Can people who only lived in urban areas understand what rural life in India is like, and vice versa? In what ways do India's policies seem to favor rural or urban needs and interests? How do problems in urban areas affect rural areas, and vcie verse?
The ruling class does not appear to have any understanding of a life lived in poverty in either urban areas or in rural areas. They can exercise their extreme misunderstanding in a harsher way in urban areas because they have a larger amount of control, through corruption, in urban areas. Ishvar and Om both view life in their village as being of a much better quality because they have a place in the social fabric of the village, and their needs are more easily met in the village as long as their expectations are small.
10. During the years in this novel, India's government structres are precarious. The Prime Minister was put on trial for election fraud, and she emposed stringent measures, the Emergency, aka martial law, to resist factions that wanted to remove her from power. Her government was riddled with corruption already, and during these unusual political events many people took advantage of the confusion. How much are the characters in this story aware of what is going on politically in their country? How is this national drama affecting their lives so far?
The main characters are aware that there has been a state of emergency called but they really do not have an in-depth understanding of exactly why. As usual, the very poor are made to suffer even more under these new restrictions, in essence losing everything and being used as pawns in the political machines. Even Maneck, who is attending college, wishes he understood more about the political situation, like his roommate does, when the restrictions impact his direct friends. Dina listens to both her boss and her brother spout out all sorts of extreme opinions such as "eliminating the poor" and is disgusted by it but she does not outwardly acknowledge that at all with her boss and only very lightly with her brother.
I just started the novel. So far, having read Part 1, I am really enjoying it. It is very readable. 1. What other books have you read set in India? Are you familiar with India at all?
Sadly, I've never traveled to India. I don't know if there is enough time left in my life to do so, but I would like to.
It seems to me that I have read quite a few books set in India, although my GR bookshelf is not being helpful in that regard! I have read:
The God of Small Things
The Namesake
The Siege of Krishnapur
Kim
Eat, Pray, Love
Siddhartha
Life of Pi
Ghachar Ghochar
and more.
I've passed the first third, and still enjoying the book a lot. 2. The title turns up several times within the text of this novel, as the characters try to make sense of the chaos and challenges of their lives. Does it seem, in this book, as if the characters have much choice to try to improve their lives by finding balance of some sort? What choices do the characters make in the first 4 chapters?
It doesn't seem as if the characters have much choice. The majority of their decisions are based on day to day survival (as has been mentioned above) - having something to eat and some type of shelter. Many of the choices they make are unenviable, but there are few options so they try to make the best one.
3. Are there good and evil people in this book so far? Good and bad?
Yes, although most are just average people in the sense that sometimes they can be good and sometimes bad. As mentioned above the master tailor, Ashraf, is a truly good person. I thought Dina's brother was a bad person, but not evil. I don't know that there are any truly evil characters in the novel as of yet.
4. What challenges are the tailors, Maneck, and Dina faced with so far? What do they want or need?
For all of them, survival is the biggest challenge. They need to figure out ways to get enough money to feed, clothe, and house themselves. It's interesting that Om sees Dina as being wealthy, whereas the reader sees her as hanging on by her fingernails.
5. The India in this book is pointedly overcrowded, poor, shabby, and rather disgustingly dirty. How do the characters deal with the crowding, poverty, filth, etc. of their world?
I think by mostly ignoring it, and making themselves and their little corner clean and homey.
Two thirds through. I am really enjoying this book, but it is one of those stories that I approach with a bit of dread each time because I care about the 4 main characters and I expect bad things to happen to them!6. What does this book show us about the nature of the hatred between groups in India that fuels so much violence? Do the characters hate each other based on their group identification? If not, what do they hate? How do leaders and public figures affect these hatreds?
I think it is a combination of things that cause the violence - the caste system, large and small scale corruption, the grinding poverty, lack of opportunities, the bad politics with bad policies encouraging bad behaviour (of people in authority). More than likely the corruption and political climate is a result of years of colonialism.
7. We see several parent/child relationships in this book. How and why do the parents enforce traditional attitudes and behaviors? What sorts of changes are they able or willing to accept in the younger generations?
I think the parents enforce tradition for a variety of reasons - they fear change, they lack education so they can't see how to change things, and as I said above they can't see any other opportunities for their children than the 'tried and true'.
8. How does Dina's position within her family reflect the position of women in her culture and social class? What sorts of comparisons can you make between the roles and functions of women in 1970s India and in America? How does her situation reflect changing social attitudes and expectations about women and families?
Dina is an unfortunate pioneer in the matter of roles and rights for women in India. She is somewhat independent, but still also reliant on her (old-school) brother. She is a strong person who probably would have made much more of herself if she had been allowed more education. As was mentioned above, in the West, women were fighting the feminist fight. However, they were much more privileged and further along the road to women's rights.
9. What does this book show us about urban and rural life in India? Can people who only lived in urban areas understand what rural life in India is like, and vice versa? In what ways do India's policies seem to favor rural or urban needs and interests? How do problems in urban areas affect rural areas, and vcie verse?
I think Gail answered this question well. The lack of understanding of urban vs rural is universal - ie. everyone is rich in "the City" and everything is bucolic in the country, no matter where you are in the world.
10. During the years in this novel, India's government structures are precarious. The Prime Minister was put on trial for election fraud, and she imposed stringent measures, the Emergency, aka martial law, to resist factions that wanted to remove her from power. Her government was riddled with corruption already, and during these unusual political events many people took advantage of the confusion. How much are the characters in this story aware of what is going on politically in their country? How is this national drama affecting their lives so far?
It almost seems that the Beggermaster is the most politically astute. The rest of the characters either don't understand or care to understand.
Just finished this evening. What a fantastic book.
I just finished also. So depressing and yet that little tiny dollop of hope….
I've just finished this novel and what a wonderful novel it was. 1. The only book I've read so far that is partly set in India is Life of Pi.
6. The main characters do not hate each other. Dina is reserved and controlling to start with but we see that is because she is nervous, she is a new business owner in a precarious situation with her landlord and income and doesn't want to be taken advantage of. Om resents her because he's like to cut out the middleman and make more money. Maneck doesn't seem to hate anyone but he has been hurt by what he sees as his Father pushing him away and he lets that hurt become a wall between them.
7. The pushing of family traditions onto the younger generation seems to have a lot to do with upholding the family honour and outside appearances, we see that community can have a big impact on the character's lives and to be ostracised and have no one to help in times of need, could be loss of homes and livelihoods.
9. There is overcrowding in the cities with jobs limited and homes already overcrowded. Their answer to this seems to be to force sterilization on the rural communities where they can get away with it.
10. The people in the book who do care about politics seem to be mostly the rich who are benefitting from the Emergency or if they are poor and try to stand against the horrors that are occurring they loose their lives as a result.
Reading 1001
Books mentioned in this topic
The White Tiger (other topics)Untouchable (other topics)
The Siege of Krishnapur (other topics)
The Moor's Last Sigh (other topics)
Animal's People (other topics)
More...
Moderator Jamie. Thank you Jamie.