Page 105 - DENG105_ELECTIVE_ENGLISH_II

Elective English–II

Notes “Secretly, I have always hoped that he (Javed Khan) succeeded in escaping. Looking back on
those months when we were his prisoners, I cannot help feeling a sneaking admiration for
him. He was very wild and muddle-headed, and often cruel, but he was also very handsome
and gallant, and there was in him a streak of nobility which he did his best to conceal.”

8.2 Plot

The novel starts with the death of the father of Ruth Labadoor in front of her eyes in a church.
This murder is committed by the Indian rebels who are a part of the Indian Rebellion of 1857
and who have decided to kill all the Britishers of the small town Shahjahanpur. It is then that
Mariam Labadoor, who is the mother of the narrator, Ruth Labadoor comes into action. She
takes their entire family of 6 to their trusted friend Lala Ramjimal who keeps them at his home
and gives them the maximum security and shelter he can give. The Pathan leader Javed Khan
comes to know that there are a few foreigners living in Lala’s home and he suddenly comes
into their house and forcefully takes away Ruth and Mariam Labadoor to his home. The rest
of the book is followed by the various happening in the Labadoor family, who are very
warmly welcomed by different family members of Javed Khan. But, Javed Khan himself is a
cunning man and he pleads to marry Ruth Labadoor. Mariam saves her daughter many times
as she does not want her to marry Javed Khan. She keeps a condition that if the British are
able to take on the country once again, then she would not let him marry her daughter and
if they lose from the rebels, then she would give her daughter to him. The British are able to
take the hold of the country and Javed Khan is killed in one of the fights with the Britishers.
With lots of help and support, the Labadoor family finally reach their relatives.

8.3 Main Characters

Ruth Labadoor
She is the narrator of the novel and the eyewitness of the death of her father.
Mariam Labadoor

She is a strong-from-the-heart lady and saves her family from any harm. It is her stern behaviour
that makes Javed Khan change his mind to kill the Labadoor family. She also saves her
daughter from being married to Javed Khan. She is a very good knitter and knits beautiful
clothes for the kind family members of Javed Khan. She is a very courageous girl who fought
against Javed Khan. She was smart and always cared of her daughter and had a very merciful
behaviour.

Lala Ramjimal
He is the most trusted friend of the Labadoor family and he gives them shelter when Mr. Labadoor
passes away.

Javed Khan
He is a courageous Pathan. His commitment goes loose when he finds Ruth Labadoor and falls
in love with her, although despite many pleads, he is not able to please Mariam Labadoor to
marry her daughter with him.

8.4 Analysis

In any instance of violence, war, etc, there are the active participants—those that actually go
out to war, actually take part in the violence as the perpetrators or as the victims, who die in
battle. And then there are those behind the scenes, who are equal stakeholders in the fallout

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