1. Nectar in a Sieve By Kamala Markandaya

2. About the Author Born Kamala Purnaiya in 1924 in Mysore. Her family was Brahmin, the highest caste in Hindu society. Graduated with a degree in history from the University of Madras in Chennai, India. Worked as a journalist for a brief while.

3. About the Author Emigrated to England in 1948. Married a Briton named Bertrand Taylor and had one daughter. Although a famous international writer, she was a private person and kept to herself and family. Died in May of 2004.

4. About Markandaya’s Work Markandaya is a pseudonym. She wrote 10 novels, most of them set in India. Nectar in a Sieve, her first novel, was published in 1954. Many of her novels reflect the changing times of Indian life after India won its independence from Britain. The characters in her books are usually women who struggle through those changes in society.

5. Important Themes Markandaya’s books have several common themes. While reading, focus on these themes to help you understand why Rukmani’s family falls apart around her. Eastern culture vs. Western culture Traditional life (rural) vs. Modern life (urban) The question of identity (feminist POV, Indian POV)

6. History and Background of India During the Age of Exploration, Britain entered India in the early 1600s. They founded the East India Company, which established trade with Britain and China. East India Company not only set up trade contracts and routes, but also began to institute British laws. The Company was also involved in religious affairs in the early 1800s. The East India Company was no longer just a trading commercial company, but slowly became an administrator for British government. India became a British colony in 1857-58.

7. History and Background of India India and Pakistan both claimed their independence in 1947. After Britain’s influence had begun to disappear, India reshaped their country’s government to a republican constitution. There was a political shift from monarchy to republic. Because of religious conflict between Muslims and Hindus, Pakistan and India had a civil war to separate the two nations. The wars also caused more political and economical instability.

8. Prime Minister Nehru Jawaharlal Nehru became the first prime minister of India when it gained its independence. He was an early advocate for complete independence from Britain. (Gandhi was also his mentor.) Nehru believed in economic planning and devised a plan to reconstruct railroads, irrigation systems, and canals, which was good for farming. With good farming, food production rose and grew. The population also increased, and India faced food shortage.

9. Prime Minister Nehru Nehru advocated for equal education for all children— including women. He established programs for land redistribution: Under British Colonialism: most economic benefits went to the landowners or the elite upper class—most of whom were British. Many Indians worked the farms, but they had to pay rent to the British owners; Indians never got to own the land they lived and worked on. After British Colonialism: British-owned land was redistributed to farmers who could pay for them. Poorer farms, unfortunately, could not afford to buy the land, so they continued working for someone else. Other new owners sometimes did not want their land to be a farm, which left farmers unemployed.

10. Hindu Caste System Nehru established laws to criminalize caste discrimination.

12. Hinduism Hinduism is considered as one of the oldest religions in the world. It is a henotheistic religion, meaning they believe in one god, but also recognize other gods and goddesses as facets, forms, or other manifestations of that one supreme god. Hinduism has two major divisions: Vishnu and Shiva. Hindus believe in transmigration of the soul (i.e. reincarnation).

13. Indian Life and Culture Sari -long robes women wear

14. Dhoti, kurta —clothing for men Dhoti—pants Kurta—long sleeved shirt

15. Farming for rice

16. Man selling vegetables at a market

17. Indian wedding ceremony