Plot summary The Great Indian Novel

1 plot summary

1.1 first book: twice-born tale
1.2 second book: duel crown
1.3 third book: rains came
1.4 fourth book: raj quartet
1.5 fifth book: powers of silence
1.6 sixth book: forbidden fruit
1.7 seventh book: son rises
1.8 eighth book: midnight s parents
1.9 ninth book: him — or, far power-villain
1.10 tenth book: darkness @ dawn
1.11 eleventh book: renunciation — or, bed of arrows
1.12 twelfth book: man not king
1.13 thirteenth book: passages through india
1.14 fourteenth book: rigged veda
1.15 fifteenth book: act of free choice
1.16 sixteenth book: bungle book — or, reign of error
1.17 seventeenth book: drop of honey — parable
1.18 eighteenth book: path salvation

plot summary

the organisation of sections , chapters of novel mirrors organisation of mahabharata , themes , events addressed in each allude themes , events of mirrored sections of epic. novel has 18 books, mahabharata has 18 books , battle of kurukshetra lasted 18 days.

the first book: twice-born tale

up extent counterpart mahabharata s book of beginning.

in section, ved vyas ( v.v. ), narrator, recounts personal history; seduction of satyavati brahmin parashar , own birth; origin of ganga datta union of shantanu , absent maharanee (whom met on banks of ganga (ganges) , had had 7 suspicious miscarriages); marriage of shantanu , satyavati , ganga datta s vow of chastity; birth of chitrangada , vichitravirya , latter s marriage; ved vyas s insemination of ambika , ambalika; vow of revenge against ganga datta taken amba; birth of dhritarashtra , pandu; , assignment of ganapathi brahm s apsara agency transcribe ved vyas s memoir, v.v. describes song of modern india.

the second book: duel crown

counterpart mahabharata s book of assembly hall. title of section alludes paul scott s jewel in crown. ved vyas compares memoir autobiography of unknown indian nirad chaudhuri. british resident s equerry named heaslop, allusion character in passage india.

introduced character of sir richard, british resident @ hastinapur, complaining increasing radicalisation of ganga datta, still serving regent of hastinapur. ved vyas discusses upbringing of dhritarashtra, pandu, , vidur dharmaputra under care of regent, ganga datta.

discovering suffering of people of motihari, ganga datta embarks on first protest campaign. gangaji arrested , pleads guilty defying police order, action results in victory peasants of motihari.

the third book: rains came

counterpart mahabharata s book of forest. title of section alludes louis bromfield s rains came.

sir richard furious events of motihari , heaslop notes gangaji had never formally resigned regency of hastinapur. regent having committed sedition, hastinapur can annexed british india.

dhritarashtra , gandhari’s marriage off start. devoted young bride has resolved forever covering eyes blindfold deprived of whatever husband deprived of. pandu enjoying 2 sexually expert wives. while enjoying sexual congress both @ once, suffers massive coronary thrombosis , prohibited ever again engaging in sexual intercourse. pandu joins gangaji’s movement , instructs wives seek other sexual partners may still bear him heirs. kunti reveals in youth bore hyperion helios’s child sent baby boy down river in basket.

gandhari grim gives birth not hundred sons, 1 daughter, priya duryodhani, equivalent of thousand sons.

the fourth book: raj quartet

counterpart mahabharata s book of virata. title of section alludes paul scott s raj quartet.

hastinapur annexed british presidency of marabar (an allusion marabar hills, figure prominently in passage india). people of hastinapur milling in streets, threatening revolt. there rumour gangaji address rally @ bibighar gardens (an allusion bibighar, figures prominently in jewel in crown). heaslop counsels sir richard let passions dissipate on own, sir richard instead calls in colonel rudyard , fifth baluch, starts firing on unarmed gathering in bibighar gardens. 400 people killed , more thousand injured.

after bibighar gardens massacre, colonel rudyard retired half-million pound pension. unnamed nobel prize-winning poet (an allusion rabindranath tagore) returns knighthood. gangaji kicks off quit india movement (an allusion quit india movement started mahatma gandhi). bungling assassins kill professor kipling instead of colonel rudyard. professor kipling racist teacher whom young pandu had struck, resulting in end of pandu’s formal education.

vidur resigns civil service gangaji , dhritarashtra order him rescind resignation. dhritarashtra becomes head of kaurava party , pandu becomes party’s chief organiser.

kunti bears sons of dharma (a young magistrate), major vayu of palace guard, , devendra yogi: yudhistir, bhim brave, , arjun. exhausted, kunti calls halt cuckolding , madri begs permitted take torch. has affair twins ashvin , ashwin , bears twin sons nakul , sahadev.

the fifth book: powers of silence

counterpart mahabharata s book of war preparations. title of section alludes paul scott s towers of silence.

during epidemic, sarah moore persuades brother, manager of jute mill in budge budge, near calcutta, offer mill workers bonus. after epidemic, workers refuse give bonus , locked out. sarahbehn enlists gangaji s aid , gangaji embarks on first protest fast. british raj directs mill owners association give in.

the sixth book: forbidden fruit

counterpart mahabharata s book of bhishma.

a rift begins develop between dhritarashtra , pandu, both working within kaurava party further cause of indian independence, pandu advocating harder line pursued gangaji , dhritarashtra. gangaji attends round table conference hosted british government. mahadeva menon, kaurava party official palghat, persuades gangaji tax on mangoes. gangaji kicks off great mango march, prompts pandu leave kaurava party.

in chaurasta, kaurava protest turns violent , gangaji calls off mango agitation. gangaji called meeting viceroy , entertains uncomfortable sir richard tale of why drinks goat s milk instead of cow s milk.

the seventh book: son rises

counterpart mahabharata s book of drona. title of section alludes ernest hemingway s sun rises.

ved vyas describes divisions in indian society engendered british policy , formation of muslim group under figurehead leadership of gaga shah, overweight sybarite. arrogant , (literally) brilliant mohammed ali karna, son of kunti , hyperion helios, educated generosity of indra deva, employer of karna s adoptive father, rises prominence lawyer , member of kaurava party. dhritarashtra insults karna upon discovering (adoptive) father chauffeur. kunti sees karna , realises firstborn son. story told of how indra deva gave him surname karna, hacker-off, after karna circumcised himself knife. karna leaves movement , goes england, gaga shah invites karna india lead muslim group.

the eighth book: midnight s parents

counterpart mahabharata s book of karna. title of section alludes salman rushdie s midnight s children.

the 5 pandavas , priya duryodhani grow up, each revealing characters. priya tries , fails poison , drown cousin bhim. while playing cricket, pandavas meet sage jayaprakash drona tells tale of son, ashwathaman, , insult @ hands of ronald heaslop, led him mission of educating young indians facilitate overthrow of british. pandavas choose drona tutor.

pandu decides seek presidency of kaurava party , dhritarashtra fears there chance lose election pandu. gangaji persuades dhritarashtra step down in favour of less prominent figure, , untouchable. thus, if pandu wins election, gangaji , dhritarashtra not seen having suffered defeat.

the ninth book: him — or, far power-villain

counterpart mahabharata s book of shalya. title of section alludes rudyard kipling s kim , m. m. kaye s far pavilions.

pandu elected president of kaurava party , struggle begins between him , gangaji control on direction of party. gangaji outmanoeuvres pandu, loses vote of confidence , resigns.

ved vyas switches verse tell pandu s story. pandu forms onward organisation (an allusion india forward bloc), oo. pandu allies himself nazis , japanese against british , forms swatantra sena (an allusion indian national army formed subhas chandra bose) fight against british forces on burmese front. pandu sends madri join him , sight of wearing military uniform begins break down control on carnal desires. while fleeing defeat in singapore air, pandu , madri succumb passion. pandu dies of heart attack , plane shot down, killing madri well.

the tenth book: darkness @ dawn

counterpart mahabharata s book of sleeping warriors. - title may allusion arthur koestler s darkness @ noon

ashwathaman joins pandavas students of drona in military, terroristic, , nationalistic arts. when arjun has share academic prize ekalavya, son of maidservant, ekalavya admits has been sharing in pandavas lessons while standing outside door. in exchange payment tuition, drona demands ekalavya cut off own right thumb , give drona. unlike in original mahabharata, tharoor s ekalavya refuses , flees in horror. drona has laugh.

karna considers options after muslim group s candidates bested muslim members of kaurava party in elections. karna proposes coalition government in legislative assembly of northern province. vidur urges dhritarashtra accept karna s proposal, though kaurava party controls enough seats in northern province rule without coalition. mohammed rafi, muslim kauravaman, urges rejection of karna s offer , dhritarashtra , gangaji concede. karna resolved find other means of gaining power.

the viceroy , sir richard consider in reaction initiation of second world war. sir richard relates story of sir francis younghusband, inadvertently annexed tibet. ( d intended see tourist spots , few pictures of potala palace, 1 of rifles went off accidentally , when saw notables on knees cowering couldn t disappoint them not conquering them. ) sir richard persuades viceroy declare war on germany without consulting elected governments of provinces.

kaurava party legislators react declaration of war resigning en masse. absence of kaurava party in administration benefits muslim group, takes on government in 3 provinces. gangaji initiates quit india movement , leaders of kaurava party imprisoned. emboldened muslim group begins calling separate muslim state, called karnistan (the hacked-off land ).

amba, planning revenge on gangaji, goes plastic surgeon sex-change operation.

following end of war, kaurava party in election, muslim group s strength not diminished. british government charges treason soldiers joined pandu s swatantra sena. viscount bertie drewpad appointed viceroy. wife, georgina, excited @ prospect of dallying lusty indian men.

while dhritarashtra plans meet new viceroy, wife, gandhari grim, lies dying, calling priya duryodhani son.

the eleventh book: renunciation — or, bed of arrows

counterpart mahabharata s book of women. lord drewpad announces british intent withdraw india on aug, 15, 1947, dhritarashtra, mohammed rafi, ved vyas, sardar khushkismat singh, , karna. dhritarashtra , kaurava party agree partition of india. mr. nichols assigned draw border between 2 new countries, derision of experienced administrator named basham. vidur assists viceroy in making decisions related transfer of power.

gangaji initiates experiment in eliminating sexual desire inviting sarah-behn sleep in bed. while violence tears india apart, dhritarashtra initiates affair lady drewpad. while india celebrates independence, amba, shikhandin godless, assassinates gangaji.

the twelfth book: man not king

counterpart mahabharata s book of peace. title of section alludes rudyard kipling s man king. ved vyas refers children being born @ inconvenient times of night go on label generation , rejuvenate literature, alludes rushdie s midnight s children. drona s secretary called sir beverley twitty, k.c.m.g.

jayaprakash drona, serving minister of state administrative reform, gets opportunity revenge against ronald heaslop, has lost in rioting. drona, instead of answering heaslop s long-ago refusal him co-ordinate cruelty, offers heaslop job.

georgina drewpad s affair dhritarashtra (now prime minister of india) continues. on 26 january 1950, day india becomes republic, gives birth daughter, given adoption , given name draupadi mokrasi.

vyabhichar singh ( mr. z ), maharaja of manimir, tries avoid acceding either india or karnistan. mohammed rafi urges dhritarashtra ensure manimir remains part of india. vidur, principal secretary integration, counsels patience, hoping sheikh azharuddin, kaurava ally, might able overthrow mr. z. dhritarashtra decides let karna, governor-general of karnistan, make first move, does, leaving indian government perfect excuse send in khushkismat singh, minister of defence, indian troops. vidur goes devpur vyabhichar singh sign instrument of accession, , persuades colonel bewakuf jan disturb maharaja sporting frenchwoman. vidur states case while maharaja fellated under enormous silk razai. maharaja persuaded sign companion, steatopygous blonde wearing nothing of panic. vidur helps maharaja flee marmu, winter capital.

the pathans invading manimir drunk , indian army parachutes devpur. dhritarashtra snatches defeat jaws of victory halting indian army s advance , calling in united nations.

professor jennings delivers critique of student, d. mokrasi.

the thirteenth book: passages through india

counterpart mahabharata s book of bhishma s final instructions. title of section alludes e. m. forster s passage india.

drona decides resign government , constructive work in rural areas, taking ashwathaman him. 5 pandavas want go along , break news kunti, chain-smoking , still glamorous mother. secure blessing, yudhishtir promises never disobey mother.

dhritarashtra consults kanika, regarding should increasing popularity of drona , pandavas. kanika counsels dhritarashtra not allow pandavas attain political power, dhritarashtra idealistic take advice. priya duryodhani, however, listening , takes kanika s advice seriously.

vidur, secretary of home ministry , head of central bureau of intelligence, goes drona land reform rally warn pandavas priya duryodhani plotting against them. vidur arranges pandavas hide out in varanavata kunti.

karna, has not been well, dies when tries pull car out of mud bare hands. kunti, hearing news, repeats firstborn son s final gesture—by shaking fist @ sun.

the fourteenth book: rigged veda

counterpart mahabharata s book of horse sacrifice. title of section alludes hindu sacred work rig veda.

purochan lal, owner of hotel kunti staying, agent of priya duryodhani. vidur intercepts cables , sends coded message explaining house coated lac , set fire. building burnt, vidur arranges escape while letting world believe have perished in fire.

vidur tells dhritarashtra joke winston churchill botched khushkismat singh. after discussing manimir situation, dhritarashtra appoints kanika replace singh minister of defence.

the pandavas wander india sticking rights of downtrodden. refuse take sides between 2 corrupt landlords, pinaka , saranga (whose men attacked man named hangari das).

dhritarashtra , kanika start non-aligned movement. decide annexe portuguese colony of comea.

bhim saves beautiful girl abusive brother, hidimba ( large man small goatee ), , weds.

the chairman of people s republic of chakra, watching annexation of comea india, orders chakar people s liberation army cross big mac line , annexe nation of tibia, on indian border. enter tibia province of drowniang, however, chakar troops must cross territory claimed india.

bhim has baby son, ghatotkach, born in town of ekachakra. sahadev challenges champion wrestler bakasura , trounced. kunti annoyed other sons allowing sahadev go through it.

the chakars annexe piece of indian territory , humiliation breaks dhritarashtra s heart , dies.

the fifteenth book: act of free choice

counterpart mahabharata s book of hermitage. dhritarashtra leaves nothing in draupadi mokrasi , adoptive father worries not able find suitable husband.

the kaurava party s working committee appoints honest limited shishu pal replace dhritarashtra prime minister.

ved vyas convenes training camp pandavas captivated draupadi. priya duryodhani annoyed draupadi drawing attention away lectures , orders ved vyas draupadi married. in ved vyas s mind, arjun enough draupadi, realises arjun not faithful her. priya duryodhani decides match ekalavya, of whom drona had demanded right thumb, and, apparently whom priya duryodhani had had youthful fling. draupadi chooses arjun, through misunderstanding, kunti instructs pandavas share equally surprise have brought home. 5 pandavas marry draupadi, ved vyas using father s magic ensure virgin each of 5 successive wedding nights. bhim s wife leaves him.

perceiving india weak following defeat @ hands of chakars, karnistan invades manimir again. shishu pal directs successful counterattack. shishu pal dies of heart attack after signing cease fire.

unable find successor universally unobjectionable, working committee persuaded ved vyas appoint priya duryodhani.

the pandavas work out strict schedule share draupadi s bed. arjun violates rule when goes retrieve manuscript of speech while yudhishtir , draupadi together. under rules, arjun banned conjugal rights year. arjun decides spend year roving correspondent newspaper and, in addition witnesses condition of people, finds new sexual companion in every locale visits.

arjun ends in gokarnam meets dwarakaveetile krishnankutty parthasarathi menon (known krishna ), local kaurava party secretary has unseated local political machine boss, kamsa. when arjun first sees krishna, using traditional dance form, ottamthullal, medium social satire. arjun , krishna become close friends , arjun falls krishna s sister, subhadra. krishna advises arjun woo through abduction. in dark, confused arjun mistakenly abducts kameswari. second attempt more successful , 2 married.

arjun cables draupadi, telling bringing home new maid, making eventual meeting rather uncomfortable. however, time draupadi , subhadra give birth sons, prativindhya , abhimanyu, close sisters.

the sixteenth book: bungle book — or, reign of error

counterpart mahabharata s book of maces. title of section alludes rudyard kipling s jungle book.

the kaurava party dealt blow in state , local elections, although still holding majority in national parliament. yudhishtir suggests new leadership needed. priya duryodhani agrees national election. yudhishtir named deputy prime minister, shut out of cabinet priya duryodhani , yudhishtir resigns.

ashwathaman, drona son , leader of socialist splinter party, invited priya duryodhani join kaurava party working committee. priya duryodhani takes ashwathaman s side in advocating elimination of privy purses of india s former princes. yudhishtir resigns working committee. priya duroydhani , ashwathaman champion bill nationalise banks.

dr. mehrban imandar, president of india, dies. kaurava old guard thwarts priya duryodhani nominating ved vyas kaurava party s candidate president. priya duryodhani backs ekalavya independent candidate. working committee expels ekalavya kaurava party opposing party s official candidate. before working committee can act expel priya duryodhani, ekalavya narrowly wins election.

priya duryodhani splits kaurava party, forming kaurava party (r) ( r real ) oppose kaurava party (o) ( o official or old guard ). priya duryodhani wins support of left.

jarasandha khan, military dictator ruling karnistan, decides call elections. gelabin people s party, representing gelabi people of east karnistan, wins majority in karnistani parliament. zaleel shah jhoota persuades jarashanda khan declare election results null , void , declare martial law in east karnistan. priya duryodhani enters conflict on side of gelabins , gelabi desh war results in creation of new nation-state. success against karnistan boosts priya duryodhani s popularity, rule grows increasingly oppressive.

the seventeenth book: drop of honey — parable

counterpart mahabharata s book of great journey.

drona leads opposition mohammed ijas s rule. priya duryodhani convicted of electoral misconduct. shakuni shankar dey, bengali lawyer , president of kaurava (r) party, counsels declare siege , seize dictatorial powers. president ekalavya concedes seizure of emergency powers. priya duryodhani orders arrest of political opponents.

the eighteenth book: path salvation

counterpart mahabharata s book of ascent heaven. ved vyas refers kama sutra great indian novelty.

priya duryodhani calls elections. ved vyas chooses krishna lead opposition campaign. priya duryodhani gets krishna s experienced kaurava party grassroots electoral machine. @ critical moment, krishna persuades arjun should criticise priya duryodhani s administration instead of remaining disinterested reporter. bhim, nakul, , sahadev stay out of campaign, refaining endorsing either party. people s front defeats kaurava (r) party.

drona , ved vyas consult parties of people s front coalition choose new prime minister. erroneous choice yudhishtir. ashwathaman appointed head of party organisation. people s front leadership gathers @ taj mahal ceremonial oath.

the return of krishna local politics marks beginning of failure of people s front. yudhishtir proves stiff , straight-backed , humourless critics had portrayed him, , colossal self-righteousness not helped inability judge impression made on others. yudhishtir becomes target of fun in national , international press when admits drinking own urine. strongmen of yudhishtir s cabinet locked in squabbles , yudhishtir remained tightly self-obsessed, seemingly unaware half of sat on executive branch him busily engaged in sawing off.

priya duryodhani, labelling faltering government backward front, begins gain political strength again. zaleel shah jhoota toppled in karnistani military coup, priya duryodhani runs rings around prosecutors while being tried subverting constitution.

yudhishtir suffers publicity blow when attends speech holy man uses word untouchables instead of harijans. ashwathaman criticises yudhishtir , party organisation awaits word ailing drona time yudhishtir go. yudhishtir dispatches sahadev tell drona ashwathaman s plane has crashed. when asked yudhishtir confirms ashwathaman dead , drona dies without throwing support yudhishtir s opponents in people s front.

when ved vyas confronts yudhishtir regarding lie ashwathaman, yudhishtir says day had caught cockroach, named ashwathaman, , killed it; thus, statement drona not lie. ved vyas refuses accept yudhishtir s explanation , abandons him. in case, yudhishtir s deception pointless. government falls , priya duryodhani victorious in next election.

ved vyas sees vision in pandavas, draupadi, , krishna hike mountain. 1 one killed, except yudhishtir, reaches top. when kalaam, god of time, offers bear yudhishtir court of history, yudhishtir refuses leave faithful dog behind. dog reveals himself dharma, yudhishtir s father, , 3 board kalaam s chariot together. in court of history, yudhishtir stunned find place of honour given priya duryodhani.