Nectar in a Sieve summary

Nectar in a Sieve

Set in rural India during a phase of urban development, Indian author Kamala Markandaya’s acclaimed novel, Nectar in a Sieve (1954), follows Rukmani, an elderly woman who reflects on the various hardships and triumphs of her lifetime. Married at twelve years old to Nathan, a farmhand, Rukmani struggles to find happiness as she toils in the fields, grapples with unthinkable loss, and deals with sweeping changes in her homeland. The title of the novel derives from the 1825 poem “Work Without Hope” by Samuel Taylor Coleridge. Nectar in a Sieve has sold more than one million copies. It has been called “very moving” by Harper’s Magazine, “a novel to retain your heart” by Milwaukee Journal, and “an elemental book. It has something better than power, the truth of distilled experience” by New York Herald Tribune.

Narrated by Rukmani, an elderly Indian woman, the story begins in rural India. Rukmani is the educated daughter of a village chieftain who has seen better days. At age twelve, Rukmani is wedded to Nathan, a local farmhand. Nathan treats Rukmani with dignity and respect as she learns her customary chores and household duties. In less than one year, Rukmani and Nathan have a baby girl named Ira. They also enjoy a bountiful rice harvest. However, over the next six years, Rukmani does not conceive another child. Worried about her inability to give Nathan a son, Rukmani visits her ailing mother, where she meets a foreign doctor named Kenny. Kenny treats Rukmani’s infertile condition behind Nathan’s back. Suddenly, Rukmani bears five children. However, with each newborn comes less money to provide for them. A tannery is built close by, causing upheaval in the village community. Rukmani’s two oldest sons, Arjun and Thambi, find employment at the tannery. Their financial contributions help the family a great deal, but the sons are ultimately released from the tannery for leading a labor strike.

Rukmani and Nathan arrange for Ira to be married. A devastating monsoon destroys all of their crops. Rukmani spends her savings on food for the family. When Ira also proves to be barren, her husband’s parents return her to Rukmani and Nathan. Without Nathan’s knowledge, Rukmani consults Kenny again to treat Ira’s infertility. However, Kenny’s assistance is too late, as Ira’s husband has begun courting another woman. Rukmani becomes pregnant again, giving birth to her final son, Kuti. Ira looks after Kuti, which helps rid her depression. When a drought hits and the crops dry up, the family is left hungry again. The family is forced to sell nearly all of their belongings in order to pay half of what is owed to the landlord for their lease. The family suffers severe malnutrition, subsisting only on leaves and roots. Later, Kenny finds a servant job for Rukmani’s third son, Murugan. Rukmani’s fourth son, Raja, is murdered for stealing a leather hide from the tannery. Kuti nearly dies from hunger, forcing Ira to prostitution in order to provide for him. Even so, Kuti dies before a plentiful rice harvest comes in time to save him.When Kenny returns from a long trip, he brings enough money to open a hospital in the village. Kenny proposes to train Rukmani’s only remaining son, Selvam, as his aide. Surrounding villagers suspect Kenny shows kindness to Rukmani because they share a secret relationship. This rumor is spitefully proliferated by Kunthi, a village wife turned prostitute. In the past, Nathan served as a father figure to Kunthi’s two sons, a fact Kunthi uses to drive a wedge between Nathan and Rukmani. However, Rukmani finally learns the truth about Nathan’s relation to Kunthi and forgives him. Later, as Nathan approaches fifty years old, he is left with debilitating rheumatism and no farmhands to help him. Rukmani and Ira attempt to aid Nathan, but they are too weak. Ira must care for her newborn albino baby, whom she loves despite being born out of prostitution.

Rukmani and her family suffer their greatest blow when the landlord sells their lot to the tannery. Nathan is too old for anyone to lease him land, so he and Rukmani are evicted from their home of thirty years. Afterward, they travel to the city to visit Murugan. Selvam is left to look after Ira and their grandchildren. With dwindling possessions, Rukmani and Nathan attempt to locate Murugan. They sleep on a temple steeple the first night, during which a thief steals their money and possessions. A mischievous child named Puli assists them to find the residence of Kenny’s medical colleague. Rukmani and Nathan discover Murugan left his post over two years before to take a better paying position in the Collector’s house. Rukmani and Nathan visit and learn Murugan has deserted his wife and their baby son, who is gravely malnourished. Unwilling to impose on their daughter-in-law, Rukmani and Nathan return to the temple where food is provided to the needy.

Rukmani and Nathan fantasize about returning home but don’t have the means to do so. Rukmani attempts to find work reading letters, but earns only enough money to afford rice cakes. Puli guides them to a stone pit where there is higher-paying work and teaches them how to crack stones. Rukmani and Nathan come to trust and rely on Puli, allowing him to safeguard their money savings. As time passes, hope grows. One night, Rukmani overindulges on extra food and toys for Puli and her grandson. Rukmani is sure Nathan will be upset upon her return, but when she arrives back at the temple, she finds Nathan extremely ill. Despite his fever and monsoon conditions, Nathan continues toiling in the quarry. One night, Rukmani uses her pay to purchase a cart to transport the family home. She scrambles to catch up with Nathan in the street, but he collapses in the mud. Kind locals carry Nathan to the temple, where he dies in Rukmani’s arms as he reminds her of the happiness they enjoyed together. Afterward, Rukmani promises Puli a healthy life if he returns home with her. Rukmani introduces Puli to Selvam and Ira, claiming him as her adopted son. In an act of camaraderie, Ira prepares a meal for Puli while Selvam ensures Rukmani that the family will survive.