Such a Long Journey

Dr.Y.K.Sharma

Deptt.of English,

Paper Code-62034401

Literary Cross Currents Selections from Living Literature Such a Long Journey

Next Act One

By-Rohinton Mistry-

Summary & Critical analysis

Plot Summary

Such a Long Journey, was written by Canadian based, Indian origin controversial left-winger writer-author Rohinton Mistry. He chooses Gustad Noble as the main character as he narrates interpersonal conflict and political scandal in early 1970s India. He was very critical of the regime of Mrs. Indira Gandhi. Indira Gandhi was the prime minister of India and her corrupt government and India’s war with Pakistan gives the story’s political setting.

Humour and compassion of the novel has been widely appreciated by the critics. It was shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize for Fiction. Personal life of the main character Gustad Noble is filled with pain although he is a strong and capable man.   He lives in Bombay with his wife, Dilnavaz, who was a housewife and takes care of the house and the family. They sired three children: Sohrab, who has been admitted to technical college but doesn’t want to go; Darius, the second son; and Roshan, the youngest, who is a girl. The family lives in an apartment in the Khodadad Building. The windows were still covered by blackout papers reminding China was years before.

A very old, a mature and trusted friend of Gustad for many years, Jimmy Bilomoria suddenly disappeared. Jimmy Bilimoria, a major, is an old and trusted friend of many years who has disappeared. Gustad feels the betrayal deeply and frustrations, as he liked Jimmy like a brother.

Gustad arranges a birthday dinner for Roshan, and his friend Dinshawji from work comes to help celebrate. Dinshawji is a jokester who has been very ill. During dinner, Sohrab makes it clear to his father that he has no intention of going to the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT). They argue, and in anger, Gustad declares that his son Sohrab is dead to him.

All of a sudden Gustad received a letter from his friend Jimmy, needs a favour, who now works for the Secret Service. Keeping in mind and remembering that Jimmy nursed him recover from a fractured hip, Gustad agrees. Dilnavaz discusses her problem with Miss Kutpitia to seek her advice about solving the problem between Gustad and Sohrab amicably, opening a practice of superstitious methods that continues throughout the novel. Roshan wins a doll in the school lottery; Tehmul, the disabled man who lives in the same building, falls in love with its creamy skin and blue eyes.

Gustad meets an associate of Jimmy, Ghulam Mohammed, who gives him a packet from Jimmy containing 1 million rupees. Jimmy wants Gustad to deposit the money in some fake bank account. His wife Dilnavaz wants to send the money back. Gustad agrees to send back the packet, but over the next few days finds two dead animals and a threatening letter in his bushes. Scary, Gustad  decides to deposit the money in the fake account and seeks Dinshawji’s assistance, making a decision they will deposit two stacks of money each day to avoid suspicion. Meanwhile, Roshan falls ill, and Sohrab packs his bag and goes to live with his friends. Gustad takes Roshan to their family doctor, Dr Paymaster, whose clinic cum office is near a famous brothel.

Roshan’s condition gets better just as Dinshawji’s health declines. A report of Jimmy’s arrest publishes in the paper. Gustad stops depositing the money and goes to meet Ghulam, who asks Gustad to return all the money to him in 30 days.

Gustad withdraws the money five days before of Ghulam’s 30-day ultimatum deadline. Just as Dinshawji hands the last of the money to Gustad, he collapses and is taken to the hospital. Gustad returns the money to Ghulam, and Ghulam gives Gustad a letter from Jimmy. Jimmy wants Gustad to come to Delhi to meet him; he wants to clear all the doubts and explain everything to his old friend. Meanwhile, Gustad regularly visits Dinshawji, serving him eat and engaging him with chitchat about the bank.

Gustad’s old friend Malcolm takes Gustad to a Catholic place of worship where he experiencing peace, but upon coming back home, Gustad comes to know about the sad news that Dinshawji has died. Gustad rushes to the hospital and sits with Dinshawji’s body until his wife reaches. He attends both the family funeral and the public ceremony.

Gustad goes to Delhi and meets a sick Jimmy in the hospital. Jimmy expresses regret to Gustad for harassing him. Gustad now realizes that there is nothing to forgive. On the return journey to Bombay, Gustad hears the prime minister announces on the radio that India is at war with Pakistan.

Indian forces move forward, and Bangladesh’s liberation seems imminent. Pakistani forces surrender and, reading the newspaper during his lunch hour; Gustad comes upon a piece of short news about the death of Jimmy Bilimoria. Gustad is the only mourner at the funeral.

Meanwhile, Dr. Paymaster and Peerbhoy Paanwalla lead a group of protestors marching against the city administration to protest against poor living conditions. Workmen have come to Khodadad Building to broaden the road in front of the complex. Clashes erupts between the protestors and the city workers. Tehmul steps outside and is hit in the head by a brick and dies. Tehmul’s death brings peace between father, Gustad and son, Sohrab. Inside his apartment, Gustad pulls down the blackout paper that has covered his windows since the war with China years before, marking a new beginning.