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Part 4

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24 views1 page

Part 4

summary

Uploaded by

ishasharma8766
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Part 4

4.1 and 4.2


The excerpt is from A Suitable Boy by Vikram Seth, which explores the lives of various characters in
post-independence India, weaving their personal stories into the broader social and political fabric of
the time. In this section, the focus is on Veena Tandon, her family, and the dynamics in Brahmpur, a
small town where her husband, Kedarnath Tandon, is involved in the footwear trade. The narrative
also introduces Haresh Khanna, Kedarnath’s guest, who works for the Cawnpore Leather & Footwear
Company.

The scene begins with a tender family moment where Veena, after a long day, returns home to be
greeted by her son Bhaskar, who is explaining his ideas about mathematics. Bhaskar is portrayed as a
curious and brilliant child, deeply interested in mathematics, which is a point of tension in the family.
Veena reveals her concern for his withdrawal and obsession with numbers.

Haresh, who has a keen interest in the business side of things, listens intently to Bhaskar’s ideas, and
later discusses with Kedarnath the complexities of the local shoemaking industry. Haresh struggles to
understand the system of credit and the strike by the shoemakers, who are protesting the payment
system involving post-dated chits. Kedarnath explains the issues from his perspective, detailing the
challenges the traders and shoemakers face.

Veena and Kedarnath’s relationship is depicted as loving, though there are tensions related to
finances, as Kedarnath is struggling with the effects of a prolonged strike and financial pressure. The
conversation highlights the strain that economic hardship can place on families, even those with
ambition and dreams, such as Kedarnath’s hopes for Bhaskar’s education.

The narrative also subtly touches on the political climate of the time, with Veena expressing her
dissatisfaction with local political leaders and their handling of the situation. Through Haresh’s
interactions with the family, the reader gains insight into the socio-economic struggles of post-
partition India, as well as the tensions between traditional values and the changing realities of
modernity.

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