Essay on a Passage to India
A Passage To India portrays the stance of the British people in India, wherein the Englishman is viewed as a racist, self-righteous and rude set who deny to relate to the Indians on an individual level or rather see Indians as a person. A Passage to India is divided into three sections: Mosque, Cave and Temple, each part portraying a symbolic meaning.
Chandrapore an unusual city situated beside the river Ganges, though being grime when compared to the structures of the British colonials, Chandrapore’s hidden beauty still prevails. This description of the Indian city and the British sets the mood and theme suggesting the distrustful and snobbish behavior of the British towards the Indians.
“They all become exactly the same, not worse, not better. I give any Englishman two years, be he Turton or Burton. It is only the difference of a letter. And I give any English woman six months. All are exactly alike.” (Chapter 2)
This conversation between Hamidullah and Mahmoud Ali further paves the idea of the British towards the Indians.
The encounter between Dr.Aziz and Mrs.Moore in the mosque wherein Dr.Aziz angrily shouts at Mrs.Moore for intruding in a mosque-a holy place for Muslims, epitomizes the anger of Indians against the British for trespassing on their land and soil. Mrs.Moore answers "That makes no difference. God is here." (Chapter 2)
And that she had removed her footwear, symbolizes that English people (though not all) do realize the fact that as God is everywhere so there is a person with feelings in each individual. This characteristic is further portrayed in Miss Adela Quested – a young intelligent educated woman and a free thinker, who accompanied Mrs.Moore to India to decide whether or not to marry Mrs. Moore son, Ronny.
This attitude as a free thinker enabled Adela to wonder as to why the Englishmen were so hostile towards the Indians. Unlike most Englishwoman, Adela attitude towards the Indians would be a friendly and approachable one.
Chandrapore an unusual city situated beside the river Ganges, though being grime when compared to the structures of the British colonials, Chandrapore’s hidden beauty still prevails. This description of the Indian city and the British sets the mood and theme suggesting the distrustful and snobbish behavior of the British towards the Indians.
“They all become exactly the same, not worse, not better. I give any Englishman two years, be he Turton or Burton. It is only the difference of a letter. And I give any English woman six months. All are exactly alike.” (Chapter 2)
This conversation between Hamidullah and Mahmoud Ali further paves the idea of the British towards the Indians.
The encounter between Dr.Aziz and Mrs.Moore in the mosque wherein Dr.Aziz angrily shouts at Mrs.Moore for intruding in a mosque-a holy place for Muslims, epitomizes the anger of Indians against the British for trespassing on their land and soil. Mrs.Moore answers "That makes no difference. God is here." (Chapter 2)
And that she had removed her footwear, symbolizes that English people (though not all) do realize the fact that as God is everywhere so there is a person with feelings in each individual. This characteristic is further portrayed in Miss Adela Quested – a young intelligent educated woman and a free thinker, who accompanied Mrs.Moore to India to decide whether or not to marry Mrs. Moore son, Ronny.
This attitude as a free thinker enabled Adela to wonder as to why the Englishmen were so hostile towards the Indians. Unlike most Englishwoman, Adela attitude towards the Indians would be a friendly and approachable one.