Novel Drama

Nectar in
a Sieve
Author Year Published Original Language
Kamala Markandaya 1954 English

THEMES

Enjoy Small Amid a horrific famine in rural India, optimistic peasant Rukmani and her
rice farmer husband spend their lives simply accepting fate. They work
Pleasures While hard, overcome tremendous losses, and never lose hope. They, like the
villagers around them, do what they must in order to survive.
You Can

Survival Optimism Education

In the face of horrific Despite devastating losses, Education proves to be

hardships, characters do Rukmani enjoys small pleasures the only effective tool for
what they must to survive. and never loses hope. empowering the poor.

Author Main Characters

Rukmani Nathan

Optimistic, compassionate Determined rice farmer; harbors

KAMALA MARKANDAYA peasant; remains focused on a dark secret and eventually
1924–2004 her family despite hardships works himself to death

Best known for her

sympathetic portrayal of
Indian peasants, Markandaya
was the first female Indian
author of her generation.
Portraying complex female
characters who break the
mold of “traditional” Hindu
wives, her works have become
the seminal representation
Kennington Kunthi
of rural Indian lives for
Western audiences. Generous Western doctor Vain and conniving prostitute;
frustrated by India’s poverty; uses sex to exploit others
helps Rukmani combat poverty for survival

Symbols

Cobra Bullocks Rice

Symbolizes the danger Reflect the hardworking Represents life and

of Kunthi’s deceptions peasants and their lack fertility, both of humans
during the famine of choices and of the earth

ant is our companion from birth to death,

familiar as the seasons or the earth.
Rukmani, Part 1, Chapter 19

Sources: Encyclopaedia Britannica,

The Guardian, University of Minnesota

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