Beena Kamlani’s The English Problem is an evocative and thought-provoking historical novel that delves into the complexities of colonial identity, personal ambition, and the emotional cost of displacement. Set against the backdrop of India’s struggle for independence, the novel follows Shiv Advani, a young Indian man personally chosen by Mahatma Gandhi to study law in England, return home, and fight against British rule. Yet, as Shiv navigates the streets of London, he finds himself seduced by the very culture he was sent to challenge. Torn between duty and desire, tradition and self-actualization, he embarks on a deeply personal and political odyssey that questions what it truly means to belong.
With its rich historical tapestry, literary prose, and psychological depth, The English Problem is a stunning debut by Beena Kamlani that seamlessly blends fact and fiction, featuring real-life figures such as Virginia Woolf, Leonard Woolf, and Gandhi himself. However, despite its brilliance, the novel is not without its flaws—its pacing sometimes drags, and certain narrative choices feel more cerebral than emotionally gripping.
Plot: A Collision of Ideals and Reality
Shiv Advani is an idealist, raised in an influential Indian family, groomed from childhood to serve his country. His father, Ramdas, is a respected lawyer and a close ally of the independence movement. His mother, fiercely traditional, pushes him into an arranged marriage with Seher, a young woman he barely knows.
When Shiv arrives in London, he is struck by the rain-soaked melancholy of England, a stark contrast to the warmth and vibrancy of India. He takes up residence with the Polaks, a progressive English couple deeply involved in Gandhi’s movement. While Mr. Polak serves as his mentor, introducing him to British legal traditions and the power structures he must one day dismantle, it is his encounters outside their home that challenge him the most.
In the grand halls of Middle Temple, he sees firsthand how British institutions operate—how they groom their elites, how their traditions enforce silent but insurmountable barriers. His interactions with aristocrats, intellectuals, and fellow barristers expose the quiet racism of the empire, the ingrained superiority complex of the ruling class, and the subtle ways in which the English “civilize” their subjects.
And yet, Shiv finds himself seduced by England. The crispness of a well-tailored suit, the rhythm of London’s streets, the unspoken privileges of whiteness—he longs to belong. But belonging comes at a price: an abandonment of his roots, a forgetting of his wife and child back home, and a dangerous love affair that threatens everything.
Main Character Analysis: Shiv Advani—A Man Torn in Two
Shiv’s internal conflict is the beating heart of The English Problem by Beena Kamlani. He is a man of duty, yet he cannot resist the pull of pleasure and personal ambition. He is sent to England to master British law, but instead, he finds himself falling in love with the enemy—not just with their culture, but with Lucy, a young aristocratic man who embodies the freedom and fluidity Shiv craves.
This relationship is one of the most compelling elements of the novel. It is illicit, intoxicating, and deeply symbolic—Shiv’s desire for Lucy mirrors his conflicted relationship with England itself. The tension between what is expected of him and what he truly wants makes him an achingly human protagonist.
However, Kamlani’s detached narrative voice occasionally creates distance between the reader and Shiv’s emotions. While we see his struggles, we don’t always feel them. The writing, though lyrical, is sometimes too intellectual, preventing the reader from fully immersing in his pain.
Themes: The Cost of Empire and the Search for Identity
1. The Psychological Cost of Colonialism
Kamlani’s novel brilliantly illustrates how colonialism is not just a political system, but a psychological one. Shiv is not just a man struggling with his personal identity; he is a symbol of the colonized mind—trained to admire and emulate the very people who have subjugated him. His struggle is not just political, but existential.
2. The Complexity of Nationalism
Though the Indian independence movement looms large in the background, the novel resists simplistic patriotism. Shiv’s father, Ramdas, believes in nonviolence, while others, including his wife, believe force is the only way to drive the British out. This moral ambiguity gives the novel depth and nuance, preventing it from becoming a mere anti-colonial diatribe.
3. Sexuality and Forbidden Desire
One of the novel’s most daring themes is Shiv’s relationship with Lucy. At a time when homosexuality was illegal, their love is both transgressive and dangerous. But Kamlani does not frame it merely as a romantic subplot—it is a metaphor for Shiv’s entire existence in England. Just as he is drawn to the beauty of English culture, he is drawn to Lucy’s charm and reckless freedom. And just as England will never fully accept him, his love affair is doomed from the start.
Writing Style: Lyrical Yet Distant
Kamlani’s prose is beautifully crafted, with evocative descriptions that capture the loneliness of exile, the cold sterility of England, and the warmth of memory. The novel’s strongest moments lie in its sensory details—the smell of rain on London streets, the texture of a finely tailored suit, the taste of a mango from home.
However, the novel sometimes lacks emotional immediacy. Kamlani’s prose, while elegant, is occasionally too cerebral, making it hard for the reader to feel fully immersed in Shiv’s inner turmoil. While the novel is deeply intellectual and historically rich, it sometimes reads more like an analysis of colonial identity than a deeply felt human story.
Criticism: Where the Novel Falters
- Pacing Issues: The novel takes its time building tension, which, while immersive, sometimes makes the narrative drag. Certain chapters—especially those focused on legal discussions—feel overlong, slowing the story’s momentum.
- Lack of Emotional Climax: Though the novel is thematically powerful, its emotional crescendo lacks intensity. The final confrontation between duty and desire—between Shiv’s personal happiness and his responsibility to India—feels rushed and somewhat muted.
- Underdeveloped Supporting Characters: While Shiv is richly drawn, some secondary characters—particularly Seher, his wife, and his family back home—feel underdeveloped, reducing the impact of his personal betrayal.
Final Verdict: A Brilliant Yet Flawed Debut
Beena Kamlani’s The English Problem is a thought-provoking and beautifully written debut that explores colonialism, exile, and forbidden love with intellectual depth and historical nuance. While its lyrical prose and sharp insights make it a compelling read, its slow pacing, distant narration, and occasional lack of emotional intensity prevent it from being a masterpiece.
Recommended For Fans Of:
- A Passage to India by E.M. Forster
- The Night Watch by Sarah Waters
- The Shadow Lines by Amitav Ghosh
- The God of Small Things by Arundhati Roy
Despite its flaws, The English Problem by Beena Kamlani is a deeply intelligent novel that lingers in the mind—a meditation on the price of identity, the lure of empire, and the cost of forbidden love.