A Century of Uncomfortable Truths: Revisiting E.M. Forster’s “A Passage to India”

A century has passed since E.M. Forster’s seminal work, “A Passage to India,” first graced bookshelves, and yet its exploration of British India still feels unnervingly relevant today. Published in , the novel throws open the doors on the British Empire in its twilight years, a period rife with social unrest and deeply ingrained racism. Forster doesn’t shy away from these uncomfortable realities; he throws them into sharp relief.

At the heart of this sprawling narrative lies a budding friendship, as improbable as it is poignant. Dr. Aziz, an Indian physician, and Cyril Fielding, a British educator, find themselves drawn together amidst the stifling atmosphere of colonial rule. Their connection, however, forms the crux of the novel’s central conflict: can genuine friendship truly blossom in the shadows of such stark racial and power imbalances? This question, woven through the very fabric of the story, exposes the inherent contradictions at the heart of colonialism itself.

A Conversation with Sameer Pandya

To delve deeper into the enduring legacy of “A Passage to India,” we sat down with acclaimed author Sameer Pandya. Pandya, whose own novel “Members Only” brilliantly dissects the complexities of race and class, recently offered a fresh perspective on Forster’s masterpiece in his essay for the Los Angeles Review of Books. His insights, both personal and analytical, provide fertile ground for revisiting this literary landmark.

The Evolution of a Literary Relationship

Pandya’s journey with “A Passage to India” is one marked by evolving perspectives. His initial encounter, like that of many, was through the lens of the film adaptation; a visual and auditory experience that ignited a spark of interest in the narrative. It was during his academic years, however, that Pandya truly began to grapple with the novel’s complexities. The structured environment of literary analysis pushed him to confront the text’s nuances, peeling back layers of meaning to reveal the intricacies of Forster’s craft.

But it is perhaps Pandya’s own experience as a writer that allows him to connect with “A Passage to India” on the deepest level. With a novelist’s eye, he’s able to appreciate the subtle mechanics of Forster’s storytelling, recognizing the choices, both deliberate and perhaps unconscious, that shape the narrative.

Uncomfortable Truths and Literary Legacies

This nuanced understanding, however, doesn’t negate the aspects of “A Passage to India” that Pandya finds troubling, even a century later. While he acknowledges the power of Forster’s critique of colonialism, particularly for its time, he also points out a certain unevenness in character development. Fielding, the British protagonist, is often afforded more depth, his inner world rendered with a complexity that Aziz, for all his warmth and humanity, doesn’t always receive. It’s as if Forster, despite his best intentions, can’t quite shake off the lens of the colonizer, viewing Aziz as an object of fascination rather than a fully realized individual.

This observation cuts to the heart of a debate that continues to rage around “A Passage to India,” and indeed, many works of literature born from periods of colonial influence. Can a writer, however empathetic, truly transcend the limitations of their own historical context? Is it possible to portray the colonized experience without, in some way, perpetuating the very power dynamics that fuel colonial oppression? Pandya doesn’t offer easy answers; instead, he encourages a more critical engagement with these questions, forcing us to confront the uncomfortable truths that linger beneath the surface of Forster’s prose.

The Enduring Shadow of the “Educated Indian”

One such truth lies in the recurring trope of the “educated Indian,” a figure often found in colonial literature. Pandya astutely connects this trope to Thomas Macaulay’s infamous “Minute on Indian Education,” a document that laid the groundwork for a system designed to instill Western values and ideals in the Indian elite, creating a class of individuals caught between two worlds. Aziz, with his impeccable English and his yearning for connection with the British, becomes a poignant embodiment of this duality, expected to bridge the chasm between colonizer and colonized, yet forever reminded of his “otherness.”

This internal conflict, this sense of being adrift between two cultures, is something that resonates deeply with Pandya. In his own work, he explores the experiences of Indian Americans grappling with issues of identity and belonging in a contemporary context. The echoes of colonial history, he argues, can still be felt today, shaping the ways in which we view ourselves and our place in the world.

Forster’s Ambivalence: A Mirror to Our Own?

Further complicating matters is Forster’s own ambiguous stance on colonialism. While “A Passage to India” undoubtedly critiques the injustices of the imperial structure, it shies away from offering concrete solutions or advocating for radical change. Fielding, for all his criticism of the system, remains comfortably ensconced within it, benefiting from the privileges afforded to him as a British citizen in India. This ambivalence, Pandya suggests, is perhaps the most unsettling aspect of the novel, forcing us to confront the ways in which we, too, might be complicit in systems of oppression, even as we decry their existence.

A Call to Engage with Uncomfortable Truths

A century on, “A Passage to India” continues to challenge and provoke, reminding us that the legacies of colonialism are far from settled. It’s a testament to Forster’s genius, Pandya argues, that the novel resists easy answers, instead inviting us into a space of discomfort and ambiguity, a space where we’re forced to confront our own biases and assumptions about race, power, and the very nature of friendship. As we navigate an increasingly interconnected yet fractured world, grappling with these uncomfortable truths feels more vital than ever.

We urge you to embark on your own passage to India through the pages of Forster’s masterpiece. Confront its complexities, wrestle with its contradictions, and allow yourself to sit with the discomfort it evokes. In doing so, you might just discover something profound about yourself and the world we inhabit.

Join the Uncomfortable Conversation

And the conversation doesn’t end there. Join us next time for our next installment of the “Uncomfortable Book Club,” where we’ll be diving into Hilary Leichter’s brilliantly bizarre novel “Temporary.” Leichter’s work, a hilarious and heartbreaking exploration of work, identity, and the search for meaning in a gig economy world, is sure to spark lively discussion and further challenge our perspectives.

Interested in learning more about Sameer Pandya’s take on “A Passage to India”? Be sure to check out his insightful essay in the Los Angeles Review of Books here.

Ready to delve into Hilary Leichter’s “Temporary”? Grab your copy here.

Want to catch up on our previous “Uncomfortable Book Club” discussions? You can find them all here.

What We’re Reading, Watching, and Listening To

Our team is always on the lookout for thought-provoking content. Here’s a glimpse at what’s been capturing our attention lately:

• “The Ministry for the Future” by Kim Stanley Robinson: A chillingly plausible cli-fi novel that imagines a near future grappling with the devastating consequences of climate change.
• “The Underground Railroad” (TV series): Barry Jenkins’ stunning adaptation of Colson Whitehead’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel offers a visceral and unforgettable look at the horrors of slavery in America.
• “The Daily” podcast: A daily news podcast from The New York Times that provides in-depth reporting and analysis on the most important stories of our time.