CHAPTER 26

Summary

• In this chapter, it tells the story of a woman's son Philipose and his fascination with water. His mother frequently worries about him playing in it and not being able to swim but the boy is determined to overcome his fear.
• They visit Parumala Church where the mother prays to Mar Gregorios, the only saint of the Saint Thomas Christians, and asks him to prevent Philipose from entering the water for she cannot bear to lose another son by drowning.
• Philipose is frightened by his mother's conversation with the saint's photograph but on the way home, his mother makes him promise to never swim alone due to their vow in front of Mar Gregorios' tomb. The boy agrees, not wanting to harm his mother.
• At the age of five, Philipose goes to a school built by his mother to keep children out of trouble. There he and his friends and playmates learn the alphabet from the kaniyan, a teacher who also reads horoscopes.
• One of the playmates, Joppan, tries to join the lessons but gets into trouble with the kaniyan since he comes from a lower caste. This incident upsets Philipose greatly and reveals the caste discrimination present in their society.
• Philipose's mother tries to explain to him the caste system, but her words only lead to his disappointment and disillusionment with the world. She also reveals that the caste system even affects Christians, and that Saint Thomas Christians including them have not eliminated casteism in their community.
• Joppan is punished by his own father for crossing caste boundaries and creating disharmony. But Philipose's mother feels sympathy for Joppan and decides to teach him herself while others are in school. She wishes for a day when her son and Joppan no longer have to face the world's duplicities.