'Passage to India' Summary

The novel opens with the arrival of Mrs. Moore and Miss Quested in the fictional Indian city of Chandrapore. They are introduced to Dr. Aziz, who takes them on a tour of the Marabar Caves, a series of ancient Buddhist caves. While in the caves, Adela believes that she is assaulted by Dr. Aziz, and she reports the incident to the British authorities. Aziz is arrested and put on trial, and the ensuing trial brings to the surface the deep-seated racial tensions between the British and the Indians. Forster uses the trial as a way to explore the broader themes of colonialism, prejudice, and cultural misunderstanding. The novel is a powerful and moving indictment of the British Raj, and it remains one of the most important works of English literature about India.