Such a Long Journey

Such a Long Journey, written by Canadian-Indian author Rohinton Mistry, follows Gustad Noble as he navigates interpersonal conflict and political scandal in early 1970s India. Indira Gandhi’s corrupt government and India’s war with Pakistan provide the story’s political backdrop. Critics widely praised the novel’s compassion and humor. It was shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize for Fiction.

A strong and capable man, Gustad Noble carries a personal history of sadness. He lives in Bombay with his wife, Dilnavaz, who takes care of the house and the family. They have three children: Sohrab, who has been accepted to technical college but doesn’t want to go; Darius, the second son; and Roshan, the youngest, who is a girl. The family lives in an apartment in the Khodadad Building. Blackout paper has covered their windows since the war with China years before.

Jimmy Bilimoria, a major, is an old and trusted friend of many years who has disappeared. Gustad feels the betrayal deeply, as he loved Jimmy like a brother.

Gustad arranges a birthday dinner for Roshan, and his friend Dinshawji from work comes to help celebrate. Dinshawji is a jokester who has been very ill. During dinner, Sohrab makes it clear to his father that he has no intention of going to the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT). They argue, and Gustad declares that Sohrab is dead to him.

Gustad receives a letter from Jimmy, who now works for the Secret Service and needs a favor. Remembering that Jimmy helped him recover from a broken hip, Gustad agrees. Dilnavaz seeks advice from Miss Kutpitia about resolving the trouble between Gustad and Sohrab, beginning a practice of superstitious behaviors that last throughout the novel. Roshan wins a doll in the school raffle; Tehmul, the disabled man who lives in the building, falls in love with its creamy skin and blue eyes.

Gustad meets Ghulam Mohammed, an associate of Jimmy’s who gives him a package from Jimmy containing 1 million rupees. Jimmy wants Gustad to deposit the money in a fake bank account. Dilnavaz wants to send the money back. Gustad agrees, but over the next few days finds two dead animals and a threatening note in his bushes. He decides to deposit the money and enlists Dinshawji’s help, deciding they will deposit two stacks of money each day to avoid suspicion.

Meanwhile, Roshan falls ill, and Sohrab packs a bag and goes to stay with friends. Gustad takes Roshan to their family doctor, Dr. Paymaster, whose office is near a well-known brothel.

Roshan’s health improves just as Dinshawji’s health declines. A report of Jimmy’s arrest appears in the paper. Gustad stops depositing the money and goes to see Ghulam, who says Gustad must return all the money to him in 30 days.

Gustad retrieves the money five days ahead of Ghulam’s 30-day deadline. Just as Dinshawji hands the last of the money to Gustad, he collapses and is taken to the hospital. Gustad returns the money to Ghulam, and Ghulam gives Gustad a letter from Jimmy. Jimmy wants Gustad to travel to Delhi to see him; he wants to explain everything to his old friend. Meanwhile, Gustad regularly visits Dinshawji, helping him eat and entertaining him with gossip about the bank.

Gustad’s old friend Malcolm takes Gustad to a Catholic shrine where he experiences peace, but upon returning home, Gustad learns that Dinshawji has died. Gustad goes to the hospital and sits with Dinshawji’s body until his wife arrives. He attends both the family funeral and the public ceremony.

Gustad travels to Delhi and visits a sick Jimmy in the hospital. Jimmy apologizes to Gustad for involving him. Gustad now feels that there is nothing to forgive. On the return journey to Bombay, Gustad hears the prime minister announce on the radio that India is at war with Pakistan.

Indian forces advance, and Bangladesh’s independence seems imminent. Pakistan surrenders and, reading the newspaper during his lunch hour, Gustad comes upon a short piece announcing the death of Jimmy Bilimoria. Gustad is the only mourner at the funeral.

Meanwhile, Dr. Paymaster and Peerbhoy Paanwalla lead a column of protestors marching against the city to protest poor living conditions. Workmen have come to Khodadad Building to widen the road in front of the complex. Fighting erupts between the protestors and the city workers. Tehmul steps outside, is hit in the head by a brick, and dies. Tehmul’s death brings peace between Gustad and Sohrab. Inside his apartment, Gustad pulls down the blackout paper that has covered his windows since the war with China years before, marking a new beginning.