The Covenant of Water

What is the role of caste in Indian society as depicted in this novel? How does its prevalence impact characters such as Joppan and Lenin?

Compare and contrast the character of Big Ammachi with that of her granddaughter and namesake, Mariamma. How are they similar? How are they different? What influence does Big Ammachi have on her granddaughter?

What role does Philipose play in the extended Parambil family? How does his death impact Mariamma’s work on the Condition?

The Condition encompasses both mythical qualities and, eventually, a scientific explanation. Do both understandings possess truth? Why or why not?

How do politics—of empire, of communism, of radicalism, of independence—impact the lives of those at Parambil?

Does Digby Kilgour become a legitimate member of Indian society? Why or why not?

What is the importance of naming in this book? Why are so many characters identified by their roles rather than their given names?

What does leprosy (Hansen’s disease) signify in the book?