A Fine Balance by Rohinton Mistry is a story set in 1975 India, where four characters from different backgrounds—student Maneck Kohlah, widow Dina Dalal, and tailors Ishvar and Om Darji—form an unconventional family in Dina's apartment amidst political upheaval and societal strife. The novel includes themes of oppression, poverty, and loss.

Rohinton Mistry's A Fine Balance captures the fragility of life through richly developed characters and a poignant narrative. Critics laud its powerful storytelling and vivid depiction of 1970s India, though some note its bleakness may be overwhelming for sensitive readers. Overall, it's celebrated for its depth and emotional impact.

Readers who appreciate A Fine Balance by Rohinton Mistry are typically drawn to epic, character-driven narratives that explore themes of survival, societal struggles, and personal resilience. Fans of Khaled Hosseini's The Kite Runner or Arundhati Roy's The God of Small Things will likely find this novel compelling and thought-provoking.

Melancholic / Gritty / Bittersweet / Contemplative / Unnerving

- Published in 1995, A Fine Balance was shortlisted for the prestigious Booker Prize and won the Los Angeles Times Book Prize for Fiction in 1996.
- The book gained further recognition when it was selected for Oprah's Book Club in 2001, significantly boosting its readership in the United States.
- Rohinton Mistry's detailed depiction of the setting and intricate character development in A Fine Balance has earned it critical acclaim, often being compared to the works of Charles Dickens in its social commentary.

**Maneck Kohlah**  
A handsome 17-year-old college student from a sheltered and happy family, who moves to the city to study refrigeration and air conditioning and rents a room from Dina.

**Ishvar Darji**  
A 46-year-old tailor from the untouchable caste with a kind demeanor and scars on his face, who looks after his nephew Om with fatherly concern.

**Omprakash Darji**  
The 17-year-old nephew of Ishvar, known as Om, who is thin and pessimistic with a tendency for impulsive outbursts.

**Dina Dalal**  
A pretty 42-year-old widow struggling to maintain financial independence, who runs a sewing business from her home and rents a room to Maneck.

**Nusswan Shroff**  
Dina’s greedy older brother who exploits her after the death of their parents and tries to control her life for financial gain.

**Rajaram**  
A hair-collector and con artist who shows Ishvar and Om the ropes in the shantytown and continuously reinvents himself.

**Shankar**  
A kind and generous beggar without legs or fingers, who helps other beggars and has connections to the Beggarmaster.

**Beggarmaster**  
The boss of a large group of beggars who uses connections for financial gain and has a complicated relationship with Shankar.

**Vasantrao Valmik**  
A middle-aged proofreader who meets Maneck on a train journey and appears throughout the story with varied occupations and philosophical insights.

**Thakur Dharamsi**  
A wealthy landholder from Ishvar and Om’s home village involved in maintaining the caste status quo and associated with political power moves.

Rohinton Mistry

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Novel

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Guide

Study Guide

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Overview

Get ready to explore A Fine Balance and its meaning. Our full analysis and study guide provides an even deeper dive with character analysis and quotes explained to help you discover the complexity and beauty of this book.

A Fine Balance Summary and Study Guide

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Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Epigraph-Chapter 1

A Fine Balance Epigraph-Chapter 1 Summary & Analysis

Chapters 2-3

A Fine Balance Chapters 2-3 Summary & Analysis

Chapters 4-5

A Fine Balance Chapters 4-5 Summary & Analysis

Chapters 6-7

A Fine Balance Chapters 6-7 Summary & Analysis

Chapters 8-9

A Fine Balance Chapters 8-9 Summary & Analysis

Chapters 10-12

A Fine Balance Chapters 10-12 Summary & Analysis

Chapters 13-15

A Fine Balance Chapters 13-15 Summary & Analysis

Chapter 16-Epilogue

A Fine Balance Chapter 16-Epilogue Summary & Analysis

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Character Analysis

A Fine Balance Character Analysis

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Themes

A Fine Balance Themes

Symbols & Motifs

A Fine Balance Symbols & Motifs

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Important Quotes

A Fine Balance Important Quotes

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Essay Topics

A Fine Balance Essay Topics

A Fine Balance

Before You Read

Reviews & Readership

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Who Should Read A Fine Balance?

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