A Passage to India

Two years after the events surrounding the trial, Dr. Aziz and Godbole live in Mau as part of the Rajah’s court. It is monsoon season, the time of a Hindu festival which Godbole prepares for and leads service in.

As he conducts a choir and considers the spiritual nature of their celebrations, Godbole suddenly remembers Mrs. Moore during a meditative trance: “Chance brought her into his mind while it was in this heated state, he did not select her, she happened to occur among the throng of soliciting images…” (321). The Rajah is severely ill and carried to the celebration in a litter, leaving to rest after his role has been performed. Dr. Aziz tends to the Rajah as his personal physician.

The narrator describes the Hindu rituals of the palace. Godbole is again visited by thoughts of Mrs. Moore: “He was a Brahmin, she Christian, but it made no difference, it made no difference whether she was a trick of his memory or a telepathic appeal” (326). He resolves to follow this line of inspiration and act upon the emotions it brings up.