Comment on Forster’s treatment of Hindu-Muslim
relationship in A Passage to India.
Comment on Forster’s understanding of the minds of
the Hindus in A Passage to India.
Ans. Chandrapore, the setting of A Passage to India represents
India of the British regime. There is no harmony—religious, political
or social, between the communities living at Chandrapore city. The
Englishmen and women look upon the Indians as belonging to an
inferior race. The Indians dislike the English for ruling over them
with force. The Muslims and the Hindus are also living in an
atmosphere of mutual distrust and misunderstanding. The Muslims
consider themselves superior to the Hindus over whom their
forefathers had ruled for two hundred years or more. But the trial of
Dr. Aziz at the court by Britishers brought the Hindus and the
Muslims of Chandrapore in closer relation.
E.M. Forster has nicely displays the differences between the
Hindus and the Muslims. he o.,serves even though the Hindus
01 slavery under Muslims.
rule, they assemble on the same platform. Both of them want
independence but they differ on the question of succession. Aziz
wants his Afghan ancestors to conquer and rule India. To be more
liberal, he wants an assemblage of oriental statesmen to solve the
tangle. Dr. Aziz wishes the Hindus do not remind him of cow
dung. Mr. Pa; the Magistrate thl•mks some Of the Muslims to be very
violent.
Mr. Bhattacharya fails to send his carriage carry Mrs. Moore
and Misc Adela Quested. Aziz criticizes them severely saying that
the Hindus are untrustworthy and dirty. He that the;
not want
Bhattacharya’s have not sent the carriage because they
rty and
the English ladies to see their dirty house. All Hindus are ax.
the source of infection. Godbole, though he is a professor
Phil,yophy, cannot see anyone eating beef because of h
superstitious mind. Such are the insurmountable fundamental
differences” between the two sections of Indian community.
But Aziz’s victory at the trial court brought about the Hindus and
the Muslims closer to each other, although there are differences
between the races. The trial accomplishes nothing as far as the
Anglo-Indian problem is concerned, except to deepen the ill-feeling
between the races, but it certainly brings about at
and local tolerance Benwell the Muslims and the Hindus. Mr. Das,
the magistrate, at the trial, pays a visit to Dr. Aziz. He requests him
for two things—remedy for shingles and a poem for his brother-in-
laws magazine. Aziz promises both.
However, it cannot be said that various sections of the Indians
know much about each other to be able to overcome their mutual
suspicions. In spite of their desire to come together both the Hindu
and the Muslim communities stuck to their estimates and opinions.
