A Devoted Son

Anita Desai was born in 1937 in Mussoorie, India. Her mother was German, and her father was Bengali. Desai was raised speaking several languages, including Hindi, German, and English. She attended the University of Delhi and graduated with a degree in English in 1957.

Before writing the short story “A Devoted Son,” she wrote several novels, including Cry, the Peacock (1963), Where Shall We Go This Summer? (1975), and Fire on the Mountain (1977). Her stories often focus on oppression, with the first two novels looking at the oppression of women.

“A Devoted Son” was published in 1978. Since then, Desai has written novels, short stories, and children’s books, and she is praised for her ability to evoke mood and character using visual images that range from the botanical to the meteorological.

The influence and opportunities that Desai was exposed to are reflected in “A Devoted Son.” Rakesh is afforded privileges that others are not, and he then uses his education to help the people he loves. There is a sense of pride in learning new things and using that information to improve the lives of others. His attitude perhaps reflects that of Desai.