A Passage to India

It is the day of Mr. Fielding’s tea party. Mr. Fielding’s friendliness with Indians causes disharmony with the English ladies of Chandrapore: “The two wouldn’t combine” (66). Though he is not popular with the English, Mr. Fielding feels no regret for his kindness to Indians.

Dr. Aziz is the first to arrive. Mr. Fielding and Aziz establish an easy, trusting friendship. When Mr. Fielding announces that Mrs. Moore and Adela are coming, Aziz is briefly annoyed but soon finds “the English ladies easy to talk to” (71), so long as he forgets their gender. Adela asks for Aziz’s advice on the behavior of the Bhattacharyas, who failed to keep their plans with her and Mrs. Moore. Aziz reassures her that there was likely no offense meant, only that the Bhattacharyas are Hindu and therefore unreliable. On an impulse, Aziz invites Mrs. Moore and Adela to his house while secretly nervous about the poor state of his home. He begins admiring Mr. Fielding’s home and how mindfully Indian design and plants are curated there.

Professor Godbole, a musician and Brahmin, joins the party. Aziz begins reciting poetry and talks freely about Mogul emperors.