A Passage to India Characters

A Brahman Hindu professor at Fielding’s college. Godbole is mysterious and spiritual, a figure associated with universal oneness. He later experiences religious ecstasy at the Hindu festival in Mau.

The English collector, or chief British official, who governs Chandrapore. He has been in India for two decades and is very set in his ways. Turton is stern, official, and patriotic, and though he feels an underlying hatred for most Indians he still acts tactfully when needed.

Mr. Turton’s wife, who is outspoken in her hatred of Indians and her sense of snobbish superiority.

The British civil surgeon and Aziz’s superior, though an inferior doctor. Callendar is especially prejudiced, condescending, and hateful towards Indians. He boasts about possibly torturing Nureddin at his hospital.

Aziz’s uncle and friend. Hamidullah was educated at Cambridge and became close friends with an English couple there, though he believes such friendship is almost impossible in India. He is also one of Fielding’s close friends until Fielding’s falling-out with Aziz.

Aziz’s friend, a lawyer who is dramatic, emotional, and passionately anti-English, especially after Aziz’s trial.

A distant cousin of Hamidullah’s who lives off of his money and plays the fool for his others’ entertainment. He is part of the expedition to the Marabar Caves.

A prominent Indian and English Loyalist, meaning that despite being Indian he is strongly supportive of British rule of the Raj. He is wealthy, benevolent, and beloved by the community. However, he renounces his English title after Aziz’s trial.

The Nawab Bahadur’s grandson, supposedly tortured by Callendar at the hospital.

A subaltern who plays polo with Aziz early in the novel, and then drunkenly insults Fielding and the Indians after Adela’s attack.

A low-born Hindu doctor, whom Aziz scorns. Lal hates Aziz and offers to testify for the English at his trial.

An unknown Indian who leads Aziz and Adela through the Marabar Caves. He is possibly Adela’s attacker, but he runs away soon afterward and is never found.

The ruler of an Indian province including Mau. He is old and sick and attended to by Aziz, but he dies during the Hindu festival.

Mrs. Moore’s son, a sensitive young man who travels with Fielding to Mau. Aziz is instantly drawn to him, and Ralph seems to share his mother’s mysterious spiritual power.

Mrs. Moore’s daughter who marries Fielding. She shares her mother’s concerns regarding spirituality.

A famous anti-British lawyer who defends Aziz at his trial.

Ronny’s subordinate, an Indian official who judges Aziz’s trial. Despite being Hindu, he befriends Aziz afterward.

An English missionary who lives outside town.

A young English missionary who feels that monkeys and other mammals might be allowed into heaven.

A friendly couple whom Adela meets at the Bridge Party.

Aziz’s slow-witted servant.

A young man who likes to spread rumors and cause trouble.

An English woman who is usually snubbed but becomes idealized after Adela’s attack.

The wife of the province’s lieutenant-governor, who lets Mrs. Moore travel in her cabin back to England.

Adela and Mrs. Moore’s rude servant.

An engineer and Aziz’s friend, Rafi’s uncle.

Aziz’s three children who live with their grandparents and then with Aziz at Mau.