Ahimsa

Anjali’s mother and teacher both agree to her idea about the school. However, more people start to avoid talking to the Joshis, including Chachaji when he can.

One day, some neighbors confront them as they leave the basti. Ma points out that schools in larger areas allowed Dalits in years ago. When they try to point out that Ma comes from privilege, she retorts that she learned English only because she listened to her brother’s tutor from the kitchen, where her parents made her work. That’s when she decided that everyone should be able to get an education and that women can do the same things men do.

The neighbors threaten to stop sending their children to school, wondering what Masterji, the teacher, will do without the tuition money. Since Suman is with them, Anjali tells her that it’ll be hard for her to stay at the top of the class in a school filled with professors’ children. Suman convinces her mother to let her stay, and her mother begrudgingly agrees to let the Dalits come. For now, though, they must sit in the back of the class. They tell this to Mohan, arguing that the other parents will come around, but he doesn’t think it’s likely.

Irfaan’s father and other community members help provide supplies and uniforms for the children from the basti so that they can attend the school. However, Anjali’s classmates tease her and say that she’s ruining school. One, Nirmala, explains that her father told her to avoid freedom fighters because her uncle died in the struggle.

They go to the kitchenware shop to pick up tiffin containers for Dalits to keep their lunches in, and Irfaan asks the store owner to engrave his father’s name on a pitcher. The man asks, “What’s the point?” (159) and complains that Muslims want to leave India if the British let go of their hold on India. He adds, “You think you will have time to take all your belongings? […] Leave it blank. Then some good Hindu family will be able to use it when you leave” (160). Anjali replies that Irfaan paid for it and tells the man to etch Farhan’s name on it, which he does. On her walk home, Anjali wonders why everyone is mean to people who are different than they are.

That night, the postman arrives, delivering news about Hindu-Muslim riots in the city. Anjali wonders what it’s about, and Baba tries to distract her. He gives her and Ma a letter from Shailaja’s brother in Bengal. The letter details how Hindus and Muslims are fighting. They go inside, changing their plan to go to the Victoria Garden for a fair that night.

When Anjali goes to bed, she still wonders about the riots. Jamuna stays with the family since it’s too dangerous to be in the streets, and she complains about Muslims, adding that they’re “too different from us” (168).

Anjali thinks about the difference between Hindus and Muslims. Hindus believe in one God who takes many forms, both human and animal, and they worship idols, are vegetarian, and revere cows. Muslims likewise follow one God, but they don’t revere idols. They avoid pork but eat beef. Anjali and Irfaan have each shared their religious holidays with one another.

Worried about Irfaan, Anjali sneaks out, heading toward Victoria Garden, thinking that her friend may be waiting for her. She sees a group of men destroying a Muslim-owned business. Then, several Muslims appear, and the two groups fight. The fire that the first group started has terrified some goats, who bleat in need of help. Anjali runs toward them and unties them, but the running goats alert the rioters to her presence. Suddenly, Captain Brent appears, saving her, and tells Indian policemen to arrest the men.

The next day, the town learns that several have died in the violence. Anjali’s parents keep an extra watchful eye on her. It isn’t safe to leave the house. When the radio plays the Muslim call to prayer, Jamuna responds angrily since her cousin’s basti across town was set on fire and she isn’t sure if he survived. Anjali uses the distraction to sneak out.

She spots Irfaan and his father on the way to prayer. However, Irfaan is cold toward her, mad that Hindus tried to burn the mosque. She points out that Muslims almost killed her. Then, Irfaan asks where her paintbrush is because someone wrote “Muslims, quit India” (180) on a wall of their dairy. Anjali is stunned that he’d accuse her, and he says that he’ll never talk to her again. She responds angrily.

Anjali goes to sit with Nandini. Ma comes in and sees that Anjali has been crying. She explains that she wanted to be excited for Paro and Mohan to come to school, but she now hates Irfaan and Muslims. Ma chastises her and then points at the grass and the water, comparing Hindus to the former and Muslims to the water. India needs both. They need to make sure that India survives.

Anjali sees fewer peacocks when she’s finally able to emerge from her home. She thinks about how her grandmother said that the birds flee when times are bad.

On Monday, Anjali gets ready for school, but a curfew has been imposed and school has been canceled for the week. She complains about how Hindus and Muslims don’t see each other as equals, so how will they start to consider Mohan an equal, but a knock at the door interrupts her. Ma sends everyone to Chachaji’s room in case it’s a rioter.

Anjali worries that Nandini is trapped because she’s tied up, so she sneaks out to untie her. Then, she realizes that it’s Paro at the gate. She tells her parents to come out, and then Mohan comes running. When they explain what’s happening with the school, Mohan is skeptical that they’ll ever go.

When Baba closes the door again, he sees that “Unclean” has been written on the pillar near their gate. Just then, a group of young men comes by and yells at Anjali’s mother, telling her to stop working with the Dalits. One throws a rock that narrowly misses her.

Ma wonders aloud whether what she’s doing is worth it if her family is in danger, but Anjali insists that they must keep going, and Ma comes around. She decides to go to a meeting at the Khadi Shop that’s happening before curfew.