The Covenant of Water

Uplift Master—so called for his skill in uplifting the community—comes to Parambil, along with his wife Shoshamma. He invites the local maharajah to the area, and together they denounce both British rule and the caste system. A few years into his stay, he suggests that the census should count not only the landowners but the pulayar and others; in this way, Parambil could gain the status of a “district village,” ensuring more resources (299). The first result of this designation is that Parambil will get its own post office, linking the community to the rest of India. Big Ammachi supports Uplift Master in his endeavors, and he asks her to cut the ribbon opening the new post office (300). She is photographed doing so—the first photograph ever taken of her. She knows that her late husband approves.

It is 1943, and much of the world is immersed in war. Philipose is set to go to college—if they can find a tailor with enough time to make him a uniform. The child he saved later died of a different disease, and Philipose is heartily against entering any medical profession. His vocation seems to be in literature.