Clear Light Of Day pages 1-100

Pages 1-100
In the book Clear Light Of Day the first couple of pages seem to be pages which gives us, the audience insight into how the lives of the Das family was based. Itbegins to set the stage for the four major characters of the book, Bim, Raja, Tara and Baba. The first encountered character is Tara who has moved away from the family home in Old Delhi and has gotten married and currently lives in New Delhi. Tara is back in Old Delhi to pay a visit to her brother and sister, Baba, who is mentally disabled and Bimla, the only two relatives remaining in the Das' old family house. Tara who has been caught up with life in New Delhi is almost surprised to see that nothing has changed back home, everything including the rose-walk where they played as kids is still there. There rose-walk appears to be a major symbol in the book because it is there in the rose-walk that many of the flash-backs are experienced by the characters.
While walking through the rose-walk Bimla and Tara have flashbacks which give the readers an idea of the type of characters in the book. Bimla, the oldest sibling, is an independent, female radical. She is a strong woman who stands up for herself quite contrary to the Indian culture. Raja, the second sibling, used to be very good friends with Bim but later on we learn that he betrays them by charging rent on their home when he leaves. Tara, the third sibling, is quite opposite of her sister, she is a conventional Indian woman,which includes being very subservient to man. Baba, the youngest practically has no future, being mentally disabled. He is subject to care all his life, and is aided by the only sibling who does not marry and leave home, Bimla.
In these pages it shows how the family also ended up the way it is with all the sudden deaths of their family members. Their mother who dies suddenly, who was supportive of Tara who she recognized was the softest, is followed by their father, who has always been arguing with Raja because of his desire to attend a Muslim college, knowing that at the time with an outbreak of war on the verge, it might not be the best thing. Finally their Aunt Mira succumbs to her drinking.
Overall in the first 100 pages the author gives the audience a chance to understand how the scene is set, the characters, the events taking place and the circumstances surrounding the afore mentioned elements.