A Passage to India: Part 3, Chapter 35 Summary & Analysis

There was once a young Muslim saint who came to Mau and freed all the prisoners in the local fort before he was beheaded by the police. There are now two shrines to him in Mau, one for his head and one for his body, and both Muslims and Hindus worship at them. Islam usually scorns any kind of idol-worship, but in Mau this rule has been softened by Hindu influence. Aziz was angry at the idolatry when he first arrived, but soon he came to like the saint, associating him with his own time in prison. The shrine of the saint’s body is now in Aziz’s own garden.

The morning after the religious ceremony, Aziz takes his three children to visit the shrine of the saint’s head, which is atop a hill near their home. They explore the shrine, which is full of bees, and then the mosque next to it. The mosque seems small, lumpy, and tilted compared to the usually austere Islamic architecture. Aziz and the children then wander to the old fort where the saint freed the prisoners. They admire the view from the hill, though Aziz avoids looking at the European guest house. It is the rainy season and the water tanks are full, which is good for future crops. In the distance are hills full of temples for local Hindu gods.

Soon they pass a line of prisoners. The children ask them which one of them will be freed that night during the ceremonial Hindu procession of the Chief God. In the ceremony, the Chief God will pass through town, stop at the jail, and free one prisoner. The prisoners politely discuss their hopes with Aziz’s children. The prisoner’s guard asks Aziz about the Rajah’s health, and Aziz says that his condition is improving, though in fact the Rajah had died the night before after overexerting himself at the celebrations. His death is being concealed until the festival is over, so as not to overshadow the religious ceremonies.

Aziz’s children then notice that Fielding and his brother-in-law are climbing up to visit the saint’s shrine. The children ask if they should throw stones at the Englishmen, and Aziz rebukes them but is proud and pleased. They watch the two Englishmen enter the shrine and then be chased out by a swarm of bees. The children laugh, and the incident puts Aziz in a sudden good mood. He addresses the Englishmen, at which point Fielding’s brother-in-law says that he has been stung. Aziz approaches and pulls some bee stings out of the man’s wrist.

Fielding immediately asks Aziz why he hasn’t answered his letters, but he is interrupted by a sudden downpour. They hurry down to Fielding’s carriage with Aziz, who bows sarcastically to the Englishmen. Aziz answers Fielding’s questions curtly, and Fielding soon gives up trying to be friendly and familiar. He becomes more “official,” asking why no one has met them at the guest house or answered any of their questions.

They reach the carriage, and while helping the Englishmen inside, Aziz addresses Fielding’s brother-in-law as “Mr. Quested.” Fielding is shocked, for he didn’t marry Adela, but instead married Mrs. Moore’s daughter Stella. The brother-in-law is Ralph Moore. Fielding realizes that this is the cause of Aziz’s unfriendliness, and he immediately blames Mahmoud Ali, who knew Fielding’s wife’s name. Mahmoud Ali had even referred to her as “Heaslop’s sister” in an insolent letter written on Aziz’s behalf.

The name “Heaslop” enrages Aziz, who is already ashamed and angry at his own mistake. He admits that he was mistaken, but proudly says that he doesn’t care—he still doesn’t want Fielding to visit him while in Mau. Aziz declares that he will stick to his own people from now on, and he still feels that Fielding has betrayed him. Furthermore, Aziz says that he will forgive Mahmoud Ali anything because Mahmoud Ali loved him. Aziz gathers his children around him and says in Urdu that he doesn’t want anyone English to be his friend. He returns home, feeling moved and excited, especially by the mention of Mrs. Moore’s name. Aziz feels as if her spirit has returned to help him.