A Fine Balance

A Fine Balance is the third book by Rohinton Mistry. Set in Mumbai between 1977 and 1979 during the turmoil of "the emergency", a period of expanded government power, this book is about four characters - Dina Dalal, Ishwar Darji, his nephew Om and the young lad Maneck from varied backgrounds who come together, develop a bond and depart from each other lives as dramatically as they come.

The book is a bestseller and is on Oprah's Book Club. It won the 1995 Giller Prize.

A Fine Balance was one of the selected books in the 2002 edition of Canada Reads, championed by actor Megan Follows.

The book exposes the changes in Indian society from independence in 1947 to the Emergency called by Indian prime minister Indira Gandhi. Mistry is generally critical of Gandhi in the book. The characters, from diverse backgrounds, are all brought together by economic forces changing India.

Ishwar and Om's family was part of the Chamaar caste, who traditionally cured leather. In an attempt to break away from the restrictive caste system, Ishwar's father apprenticed his sons to a tailor, and they became tailors. As a result of their skills, passed on to Ishwar's brother's son, they move to Mumbai to get work, by then unavailable in the town near their village because a pre-made clothing shop has opened.

Maneck, from a small hill village in northern India, moves to the city to acquire a college diploma "as a back up" in case his father's business is no longer able to compete after the building of a highway near their village.

Dina, from a traditionally wealthy family, maintains tenuous independence from here brother by living in the flat of her deceased husband.

External link

• Review of the novel