In Abraham Verghese’s novel, The Covenant of Water, Lenin is a major character, the adopted son of Digby and Philipa Varghese. He embodies the complexities of id, cultural assimilation, and political beliefs in post-independence India. His character arc explores themes of belonging, social justice, and the seek for that means inside a quickly altering world. His mental curiosity and fervour for drugs, fueled by private tragedy, finally lead him on a path intertwined with the household’s enduring thriller.
Lenin’s presence within the novel gives a vital perspective on the sociopolitical panorama of India throughout a transformative interval. His adoption into the Varghese household highlights the evolving social dynamics and the mixing of cultures. His title itself, a transparent nod to the revolutionary determine Vladimir Lenin, suggests an inherent rigidity between custom and progress, a theme that resonates all through the novel. His journey additionally presents a window into the challenges and triumphs of medical developments inside a particular cultural context.