NAUKAR BY ANYA SITARAM SYNOPSIS

This story is about the relationship of characters and their relationship with
theenvironment. The development of characters and their thoughts are affected by the
presence of the naukar. The naukar is the subject of every occurrence and
conflict.Julia Bannerjee, an English girl , is married to Nilkant Bannerjee, an Indian,
and she livesin Calcutta which is reeked of poverty, death and confusion. She is
terrified andapprehensive of venturing out into the roads swarming with animals, cars,
buses andtrams. One morning, a man comes to see her in search of a job as a naukar
(servant).When she sees him she recognizes him as a rickshaw-wallah who had once
sent her homeand she had given him a huge tip. Despite her husbands disapproval,
she takes the rickshaw-wallah as the servant and this also upsets the cook who was
usually in-charge of selecting servants. On her first wedding anniversary, her motherin-law gives her anexpensive necklace which one day disappears. The police come
and arrests the rickshaw-wallah as he is the prime suspect. After some torturing at the
police station the rickshaw-wallah admits to stealing the necklace. Julia blames
herself as she believes that he wastempted to take the necklace because of her own
carelessness. She feels sorry for him.One day the police calls and informs that her
necklace was actually stolen by a notorious burglar. The rickshaw-wallah is released.
CHARACTERS
Julia Bannerjee
An English girl married to an Indian, Nilkant, and lives in Calcutta
Generous, sympathetic, empathetic, thoughtful
Good natured
Persistent and argument
Intelligent (he married her for her stimulating company)
Her actions are just and she wants fair treatment.
Kind - She makes allowances for the rickshaw-wallah and does not blame himtotally.
Silently rebels esp. when the rickshaw-wallah disappears for one week and after he
returns.
Has faith in her judgment.
Strong headed

Nilkant Bannerjee
Rebellious and strong headed
Prejudiced
Arrogant and conventional in India compared to England
Does not trust his wifes judgment
Unfairly generalizes people esp. the down-trodden and poor.
Cynical and short-tempered
Vindictive
Over-suspicious and too cautious
Insensitive and individualistic
Discriminates his own kind
Colonist attitude to a certain extent
Rickshaw-wallah
Thin, puny waist, puny hips, thin poles of legs, angular kneecaps jutted out
Poor, toiled very hard
Wanted money as food, not food
Honest, grateful
Earned a meager income as a rickshaw-wallah, so looked for a better-paying job
Worked as a servant at Julias house
THEMES
Social Prejudice
Poverty and Hardship
Cultural differences
Survival
Miscarriage of Justice
Discrimination
Making a difference in ones life
SETTING
Busy streets of Calcutta
Nilkants and Julias house

ISSUES
Rough justice (Rich vs Poor, Cultural differences)
Husband-wife relationshipHonestyFaith

ACTIVITIES
1.Show students a picture of a English girl in a crowded Indian city. Ask studentshow
would they feel if they
were in the girls shoes.
2.Group discussion
Give their opinion on mix-marriages and what possiblechallenges would the couple
face.