Cracking India Lesson Plan

Discuss the argument between General Rogers and Mr. Singh at the small dinner party the Sethis host. What new information does Lenny's eavesdropping introduce to readers? What does the disagreement between the men demonstrate?

Lenny's father tells a joke, stating at the end that he learned the other day that syphilis didn't exist in India until the British came. General Rogers replies that the people won't be able to blame the British for everything for much longer, especially with Gandhi's antics. Mr. Singh becomes upset and demands Independence - although Mr. Rogers has indeed just hinted at the departure of the British. The argument quickly spirals out of control,...