A Passage to India: Part 2, Chapter 30 Summary & Analysis

Another consequence of Aziz’s trial is that the Hindus and Muslims in Chandrapore start getting along better. One day Mr. Das visits Aziz at the hospital to ask him for shingles medicine and a poem for his magazine. Only Hindus usually read the magazine, but Das is hoping that it will be for all Indians, and he believes that Aziz’s contribution will help accomplish this, as Aziz is the current Indian hero of Chandrapore. Das suggests that Aziz try to limit the Muslim references in the poem, however, as Das is still practical and realistic about his hope for unity.

Aziz agrees to try, and he also writes Das a prescription. Aziz and Das shake hands warmly. Their interaction is typical of the new relationship between Hindus and Muslims—they are friendly, but still cling to stereotypes and “know too much about each other” to totally start over as friends. Aziz starts writing that evening, but he finds that he can only write sad poems about the decline of Islam, or angry, satirical poems.

Aziz never ends up actually writing a poem for the magazine, but thinking about what might appeal to both Muslims and Hindus makes him start thinking more about a united India. He does not feel a natural affection for his homeland, but he decides that India must unite and drive out the English. One day he mentions to Hamidullah that he was mistaken earlier in considering the English as laughable figures, when in reality they have so much power and deep-seated prejudice against Indians.

Aziz decides that he wants to take a job in a Hindu state, to escape British India, write poetry, and try to befriend the Hindus. Hamidullah argues that the “savages” won’t pay Aziz enough, and he scolds Aziz again for not making Adela compensate him monetarily. Aziz is firm and confident in his decision, however, and intends to better himself by expressing his heart, and Hamidullah is convinced and moved.

Hamidullah then passes on the rumor that Fielding was having an affair with Adela while she was staying at the college. Aziz makes a joke out of this, again mocking Adela for not being beautiful, but suddenly he has an outburst of anger and says that everyone has betrayed him. He surprises even himself with this, and quickly calms down.

Hamidullah suggests that they visit the women of the house behind the purdah (the practice of some Indian Muslim women who live behind a curtain or in a separate room so as not to be seen by men or strangers). Hamidullah mentions that at the time of Aziz’s trial the women had seemed to be ready to give up purdah, but they have not followed through yet. For example, they all like and respect Fielding, but none have actually met him. Even Hamidullah’s wife finds an excuse to avoid Fielding when he visits. Hamidullah contrasts this with foreign missionaries’ claims that Indian women are “downtrodden.” He suggests that Aziz should write a poem about “the Indian lady as she is and not as she is supposed to be.”