Nectar In A Sieve: Survival Of The Most Adaptable

Set in an India village, Kamala Markandaya's Nectar in a Sieve is a gripping story of one woman's survival of a checkered life, one that had no margin for misfortune. In this novel Kamala Markandaya depicts the lives of optimistic and accepting characters as superior to those who insist on keeping every aspect of their life and cultur the same. By being intolerant of change, these characters attempt to keep their lives stationary, something that is virtually impossible. In her novel primarily about the changes brought upon a rural Indian society Markandaya expresses her opinion that change is essential, and that one who attempts to ignore it to stay happy cannot succeed. The story is about Rukmani, a young woman born into the upper crust of Indian society, but this birth status does not automatically guarantee her the prosperous future it might suggest. Conflicts of tradition and the outside world begin to insinuate themselves into Rukmani's life, bringing change almost faster than she can adjust. Struggling through poverty and heartbreak, as well as the changing socioeconomic culture of their village, she demonstrates a quiet, pragmatic dignity that is concerned with life. By telling the story of a young Indian woman as she weds her husband and grows old with him, raises a family and suffers several hardships along the way, author strives to present a picture of a changing world and how it is the love of a family that overcomes these tremendous challenges. Rukmani is indeed presented as the epitome of self-sacrifice and patience within the novel, consistently working to uphold the traditional beliefs of her Hindu heritage, a background that was well-known by the author who grew up within the Hindu world.