A Passage to India

Fielding meets Hamidullah as he leaves McBryde’s office. Hamidullah will act as Aziz’s legal counsel at the trial; Fielding expresses his support for Aziz’s cause. Hamidullah explains his plan of contracting a widely known Hindu lawyer, Amritrao, because he has a reputation of hating the English. Though Fielding does not want to take sides, he pledges his support to Hamidullah before returning to the College. There, Professor Godbole waits for him. Godbole says that he is moving to Central India to reorganize the education system, using English models as his inspiration.

Godbole offers his take on Aziz’s case and explains that it is difficult for Indians to conceptualize singular evil or good actions: “Because nothing can be performed in isolation. All perform a good action, when one is performed, and when an evil action is performed, all perform it” (196). Fielding desires more concrete evidence for the case and believes that it was the guide who assaulted Adela. He is left frustrated after talking to Godbole, believing the man to be unhelpful to the cause.

Fielding is allowed to visit Aziz in prison, but when he does so Aziz is “unapproachable through misery” (198). He repeats that Fielding abandoned him during his arrest.