Aspects of the Indian State and Politics in Rohinton Mistry’s A Fine Balance
Rohinton Mistry’s A Fine Balance (1995) is a powerful novel that explores the lives of four individuals from vastly different backgrounds who are brought together by circumstances during one of India’s most turbulent political periods—the Emergency (1975–1977). Through its richly layered narrative, the novel offers a stark critique of the Indian state and its political machinery, exposing how government policies, corruption, caste oppression, and authoritarianism deeply impact the lives of ordinary citizens. Mistry’s portrayal is not only an artistic representation of a historical moment but also a deeply political commentary on the workings of state power in India.
1. The Emergency and State Authoritarianism
The most prominent political backdrop of A Fine Balance is the Emergency declared by Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in 1975. This period, marked by the suspension of civil liberties, censorship, mass arrests, and state-sponsored violence, forms the core setting for the novel. Mistry uses this context to highlight how authoritarian politics directly impact the most vulnerable in society.
Characters such as Ishvar and Omprakash, two tailors from the Dalit community, suffer under the state’s aggressive “beautification” and “family planning” campaigns. They are forcibly picked up, their slum homes demolished, and Om is even subjected to forced sterilization. These brutal acts reveal the state's apathy and cruelty, where policies intended to "modernize" the nation are executed without regard for human rights or dignity. Mistry critiques how the Emergency transformed the Indian state into a repressive regime that prioritized control over care.
2. Corruption and Bureaucratic Apathy
Corruption in political and administrative systems is another major theme in the novel. From municipal officers to policemen and politicians, almost every figure of authority in A Fine Balance is depicted as corrupt or complicit. The constant bribes needed for survival, the indifferent bureaucracy, and the violence sanctioned by officials show how the state, rather than being a protector, often acts as a predator for its citizens.
Dina Dalal, the widow trying to maintain her independence by running a tailoring business, is regularly harassed by rent collectors and government inspectors. The social worker who visits her pretends to care about welfare but is mainly interested in finding faults to justify eviction. These encounters reflect a system designed not to support the people, but to exploit them. Mistry’s depiction resonates with a wider critique of how the Indian political system, though democratic in theory, often fails in practice due to deeply entrenched corruption.
3. Caste Oppression and Social Injustice
Though caste is a social institution, Mistry illustrates how the Indian state often reinforces caste-based inequalities rather than alleviating them. Ishvar and Om, born into the lowest caste, face lifelong discrimination despite moving to the city for a better future. The state machinery, instead of offering protection or opportunities, becomes an accomplice in their marginalization. Their village backstory, including the murder of their family by upper-caste landlords, goes unpunished, showing the failure of the state to enforce justice for lower-caste citizens.
Even in urban spaces, caste-based oppression continues. Om is humiliated and brutalized in state-run facilities under the guise of public welfare programs. This shows how deeply caste bias is embedded within political and institutional systems, and how policies that appear neutral on the surface can be tools for continued social oppression.
4. Loss of Democracy and Civil Liberties
Mistry uses the characters’ experiences to highlight the erosion of democratic values during the Emergency. Free speech is suppressed, protests are banned, and people are detained without trial. The character of Maneck, a college student who grows increasingly disillusioned with the political climate, represents the voice of the educated youth witnessing the collapse of democratic ideals. His gradual alienation and eventual tragic fate reflect the deep psychological and emotional damage caused by political oppression.
The novel suggests that the state’s control is not limited to physical violence—it extends to silencing dissent, destroying hope, and normalizing fear. In such a context, survival itself becomes an act of resistance.
5. Displacement and Urban Chaos
Another critical aspect of state policy that Mistry critiques is urban development at the cost of the poor. Slum demolitions, mass evictions, and the criminalization of homelessness are portrayed in graphic detail. The tailors and their community are rendered homeless as part of the government's beautification drive, which serves elite interests while devastating the lives of the poor. These actions are justified as national progress, but Mistry shows the human cost behind such policies.
Conclusion
In A Fine Balance, Rohinton Mistry paints a grim picture of the Indian state during the Emergency, exposing its authoritarian tendencies, systemic corruption, and failure to protect its most vulnerable citizens. The novel is not just a historical recounting of a dark political chapter, but a profound reflection on the imbalance between power and powerlessness in Indian society. By focusing on the lives of ordinary people—tailors, widows, students—Mistry reveals how political decisions at the top can ripple through society, destroying lives and dreams. Ultimately, the novel calls for empathy, justice, and accountability in the face of political indifference and oppression.
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