Robi Character Analysis

Robi is the narrator's uncle, though he's only a few years older than the narrator. When his parents, Mayadebi and the Shaheb, moved to Dhaka in 1963, Robi went with them. He therefore got to accompany his mother, aunt, Tridib, and May to fetch Jethamoshai from his mother's childhood home when he was thirteen. He witnessed the riot that killed Tridib, which left him with PTSD and a recurring nightmare that haunts him into adulthood. As a student and an adult, Robi is very particular about behaving properly: the narrator suggests that Robi has an absurdly strong moral compass, which makes him willing to follow even the most ridiculous of rules. He's also a celebrated ringleader at Indian colleges, though he doesn't participate in any of the student protests due to his respect for rules. Ila finds his uptight nature tiring and offensive, particularly when he attempts to put her in her place as an Indian woman.