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Colonel Creighton
Lurgan Sahib is a seller of rare gems and a mentor to Kim. An enigmatic figure, Lurgan exact relationship to the British government is unclear, though he seems to largely function as an instructor in the intricacies of espionage. This, at least, is the role he plays in Kim’s life, instructing in him the art of disguise, speed-memorization, and role-playing. Notably, Lurgan Sahib is also the only mentor to share in Kim’s racial ambiguity; though a sahib in appearance, Lurgan’s Urdu accent and strange intonation in English suggests Asiatic heritage, as does his treatment of Kim. As such, their shared affinity for disguises and role-playing is unsurprising—both are forced to reckon with the complexities and performativity of identity on a daily basis. In this context, while Lurgan’s connection to Kim may be less emotionally deep than that of the other mentors, he emerges as perhaps Kim’s most influential teacher, instructing Kim on how to best harness his natural talents.
Lurgan Sahib Quotes in Kim
The Kim quotes below are all either spoken by Lurgan Sahib or refer to Lurgan Sahib. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
).
Chapter 7
Quotes
It was absurd that a man of his position should take an interest in a little country-bred vagabond; but the Colonel remembered the conversation in the train, and often in the past few months had caught himself thinking of the queer, silent, self-possessed boy. His evasion, of course, was the height of insolence, but it argued some resource and nerve.
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Related Characters:
Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 8
Quotes
‘Is he by chance’ – he lowered his voice – ‘one of us?’
‘What is this talk of us, Sahib?’ Mahbub Ali returned, in the tone he used towards Europeans. ‘I am a Pathan, thou art a Sahib and the son of a Sahib. Lurgan Sahib has a shop among the European shops. All Simla knows it. Ask there… and, Friend of all the World, he is one to be obeyed to the last wink of his eyelashes. Men say he does magic, but that should not touch thee. Go up the hill and ask. Here begins the Great Game.’
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Chapter 9
Quotes
He was a Sahib in that he wore Sahib’s clothes; the accent of his Urdu, the intonation of his English, showed that he was anything but a Sahib. He seemed to understand what moved in Kim’s mind ere the boy opened his mouth, and he took no pains to explain himself as did Father Victor or the Lucknow masters. Sweetest of all – he treated Kim as an equal on the Asiatic side.
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Lurgan Sahib Quotes in Kim
The Kim quotes below are all either spoken by Lurgan Sahib or refer to Lurgan Sahib. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
).
Chapter 7
Quotes
It was absurd that a man of his position should take an interest in a little country-bred vagabond; but the Colonel remembered the conversation in the train, and often in the past few months had caught himself thinking of the queer, silent, self-possessed boy. His evasion, of course, was the height of insolence, but it argued some resource and nerve.
1000
Related Characters:
Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 8
Quotes
‘Is he by chance’ – he lowered his voice – ‘one of us?’
‘What is this talk of us, Sahib?’ Mahbub Ali returned, in the tone he used towards Europeans. ‘I am a Pathan, thou art a Sahib and the son of a Sahib. Lurgan Sahib has a shop among the European shops. All Simla knows it. Ask there… and, Friend of all the World, he is one to be obeyed to the last wink of his eyelashes. Men say he does magic, but that should not touch thee. Go up the hill and ask. Here begins the Great Game.’
0100
Chapter 9
Quotes
He was a Sahib in that he wore Sahib’s clothes; the accent of his Urdu, the intonation of his English, showed that he was anything but a Sahib. He seemed to understand what moved in Kim’s mind ere the boy opened his mouth, and he took no pains to explain himself as did Father Victor or the Lucknow masters. Sweetest of all – he treated Kim as an equal on the Asiatic side.
1100
