The Inheritance of Loss Essay Questions

How do Judge Patel's experiences at Cambridge influence his relationship with Nimi?

When Judge Patel first arrives in England, he is shocked by the nation's lack of grandeur and its "unaesthetic" poverty. Judge Patel mistakenly believed that by adopting British customs and celebrating British culture, he would be accepted into "civilized" society. Despite his advanced education, practiced manners, and commitment to assimilation, Jemu is rejected and scrutinized by strangers who refuse him accommodation and joke that he "stinks of curry." Ashamed of his accent and body, Jemu retreats into himself, studying tirelessly and washing obsessively until he feels "barely human at all." During his final examinations, Jemu's professors humiliate him. He is only accepted into the civil service to "Indianize" the program. Thus, Jemu starts to blame his Indian heritage for his failures and still desperately attempts to become British.

When Judge Patel returns to India, he feels like a foreigner; surrounded by Indian people and culture, he is constantly reminded of his shame and failure. Nimi epitomizes India for Jemu; though he "found beauty" in her face, he dismissed it, convincing himself English women were superior to Indian women. As Nimi refuses to change herself to accommodate Jemu, his abuse worsens.

How does Sai cope with isolation?

Sai grows up in a convent school in India while her parents work in Moscow. Under the nuns' tutelage, Sai is harshly disciplined and forced to conform to Western ideals; in this stressful environment, Sai makes few friends.

When Sai moves to Cho Oyu, she forms connections with others, though the mansion is remote. Sai encourages the cook's stories and spends most of her time with him; she regards the cook as a surrogate father. Sai also enjoys reading National Geographic magazines as well as travelogues, poring over photographs of distant places, which evoke deep and powerful emotions.

Sai also meets her need for human connection by pursuing an emotionally intense relationship with Gyan. Even when Gyan betrays and abandons Sai, her melancholy feelings comfort her.

How are Noni and Lola beneficiaries of colonial oppression? How are they victims of colonialism?

Noni and Lola are wealthy sisters who reside in a secluded mansion decorated with eclectic, multicultural objects. They enjoy a relatively easy life, as their wealth and social position allow them to employ servants and bodyguards and enjoy international entertainment, like books in multiple languages and radio access to the BBC. Lola and Noni's lifestyle is only possible because their parents' loyalty to the British crown afforded them a privileged position in India.

However, Lola and Noni's privileged lifestyle required them to follow strict social rules that prevent them from forming meaningful relationships. Lola and Noni's friendships are marred by jealousies and pettiness, and neither sister experienced genuine love. Noni's experiences in a colonial school destroyed her confidence, and she abandoned her dream of becoming an archaeologist.

How do Gyan and Judge Patel's journeys parallel one another?

Gyan and Judge Patel both come from families of modest means. Since both boys showed academic promise at a young age, their families invested time and resources into their education; they bore the pressure of elevating their family's status. Gyan and Judge Patel are both disillusioned when they reach age twenty; Judge Patel is traumatized at Cambridge University, and Gyan is passed over for jobs despite his college degree. Unwilling to process their disappointments and frustrations, Judge Patel and Gyan emotionally abuse and humiliate their romantic partners, who embody the forces they believe oppress them. For Judge Patel, Nimi embodies the "uncivilized" aspects of Indian culture, and for Gyan, Sai embodies the social privilege obtained by rejecting Indian culture.

How do Biju's experiences in America change his understanding of India?

Biju befriends people of various nationalities, cultures, and religions, like Saeed Saeed, a Zanzibarian Muslim. Other Indians, like Harish-Harry and the female students protesting gentrification, humiliate and condescend to Biju. Biju's friendships force him to reconsider racial prejudices readily accepted in his community and family. Through Biju's negative interactions with other Indian immigrants, he acknowledges that the Indian experience and the immigrant experience are diverse and nuanced. Biju struggles and suffers in New York City and begins to idealize his hometown, appreciating what he once took for granted. When Biju returns home, he does so with the understanding that, just like America is not the dreamland many Indians believe it to be, India is not the "backward" nation Americans believe it to be.