Throughout the novel, there is a common theme of intelligence and communication. Ghosh’s most notable contrast is between the two characters Kanai and Fokir. Kanai is characterized to be intelligent, being multilingual and excelling in areas of travel and understanding of Indian cultures and geography. However, Kanai lacks respect for women and is shown to constantly objectify them. Fokir on the other hand is a contrast to Kanai’s character. He is often ridiculed for his inability to read and write, labelling him as “unintelligent” to the people around him, more specifically his wife Moyna and Kanai. Despite his lacks we see that through Piya’s internal dialogue and interactions with him that he’s more worthy of her respect; Ghosh’s use of Piya and Moyna throughout the novel serves the purpose of contrasting Kanai and Fokir’s characters.

First, it is important to highlight how Kanai interacts with Piya and Moyna. For Piya he is often flirtatious and occassionally makes her uncomfortable. In the Chapter, “A Sunset” He states how Piya would be, “…much more to my taste.” (Ghosh, Pg.220) When the topic of marriage came up when Piya suspected he might have some romantic feelings towards Moyna. It’s worth noting that Kanai does infact answer Piya’s question about Moyna but only stating that she’d be good for “a fling.” Highlighting the aspect of respect that Kanai lacks where he objectifies Moyna but reassures Piya that she’s the one he’s after to her face. Piya’s reaction to this is a “wary smile” showcasing some form of uncomfortableness from that comment and was momentarily pleased that Kanai interrupted their conversation as an excuse to drop the subject. On the other hand, there’s Kanai and Moyna. Kanai has stated that even though he can only view Moyna as something “short-term” if it ever turned romantical, he does praise Moyna stating, “I admire her.” (Ghosh, Pg. 220) Even complimenting her by calling her a “…bright girl” (Ghosh, Pg. 156) In the “Disturbance” Chapter. When the two are together, specifically in the presence of Fokir, Kanai and Moyna both take liberty in making fun of him. In the Chapter, “Negotiations” when Piya explains why Fokir’s knowledge would be useful for her trip. Moyna makes a smart remark, “She made a funny little play on the word gyan, which means knowledge and gaan, which means song. She said that her life would be a lot easier if her husband had a little more gyan and a little less gaan.” (Ghosh, Pg. 212) This emphasizes not only the admiration Kanai has for her, but that they share the value of intelligence and their belittlement of Fokir highlights a respect that Moyna has for Kanai that she doesn’t have for Fokir.

Piggybacking off of that, Fokir and Moyna have an odd marriage. Moyna doesn’t respect Fokir because of his lack of education. Fokir is often viewed as “invisible” even to Moyna. An example of this would be when Piya brought money as a form of thanks to Fokir. “Piya rose from her chair, but was quickly pre-empted by Moyna, who stopped before her with an extended palm. Thus forestalled, there was nothing Piya could do: she handed the money to Moyna…” (Ghosh, Pg. 208) This action emphasizes that Moyna doesn’t trust Fokir enough to make financial decisions, even though he is the reason that they’re getting the money in the first place; Moyna’s lack of faith in Fokir showcases a polar opposite relationship between Moyna and Fokir, and Moyna and Kanai. Fokir’s relationship with Piya is ironically healthier than Fokir’s marriage. Piya admires Fokir’s knowledge of the sea in a similar vain to how Kanai values Moyna’s intelligence. “…her husband knows the river well. His knowledge can be of help to a scientist like myself.” (Ghosh, Pg. 212) In another interaction we see that there’s some kind of intimiate feeling that Piya has towards Fokir, when Piya first meets Moyna she internalizes that she, “…felt a twinge of envy at the thought of her going back to Fokir and Tutul, while she returned tto the absence of upstairs.” (Ghosh, Pg. 196) These pieces of evidence emphasize that there’s a level of respect and admiration that Piya has towards Fokir that Moyna lacks, despite his illiteracy Piya still treats him as an equal and cares about him enough to gather some form of a one-sided albeit intimiate connection with him through feelings of envy about his wife and how she can spend more time with him.

These differences in the relationships between these four characters then sets up the relationship between Fokir and Kanai. As mentioned prior, Kanai does take fun in belittling and making fun of Fokir. For majority of the novel, that is the gist of their entire relationship; but later on, we see this envious side of Kanai when Fokir is mentioned or praised. In the Chapter titled, “Words” Kanai tries comparing himself to Fokir in a desparate attempt of validation, “If she (Piya) had to choose between me and Fokir, whom do you think it will be? Moyna’s reply was non-committal…Her hesitation provoked Kanai…But you’re such a bright and capable girl, Moyna…Why don’t you forget about Fokir? Can’t you see as long as you’re with him you’ll never be able to achieve anything?” (Ghosh, Pg. 258) This piece of evidence emphasizes that despite his belittlement, Kanai feels threatened by Fokir; even though he lacks communication skills. Fokir has something that Kanai doesn’t have and as a result Kanai feels the need to get “competitive.” As a contrast, Fokir doesn’t pay any attention to Kanai’s belittling. In “Negotiations”, Kanai tries conversing with Fokir, “…in a loud, hearty voice, attempting friendliness, Ha-re Fokir do you know me? I’m Mashima’s nephew, Kanai Dutt. Fokir, made no answer…Fokir, it, seemed, had no interest in pursuing the conversation.” (Ghosh, Pg. 209) This piece of evidence emphasizes that the negativity in their relationship is one-sided through Kanai, his choice to speak to Fokir as if he was a child and Fokir choosing to disengage with the conversation highlights that Kanai treats Fokir horribly with no justification which pushes more into how disrespectful he can be to people. Which shows one of the many reasons as to why Fokir manages to be a better romantic interest to Piya than Kanai.

In Conclusion, the contrast of how Piya and Moyna treat Fokir and Kanai help build Fokir and Kanai’s character’s as polar opposites.