The Narrator is a thoughtful, observant young man pursuing a doctoral degree in London. His understanding of the world is shaped heavily by the stories and memories of his family members, especially his uncle Tridib's historical trivia and geographical knowledge. He struggles to reconcile his highly romanticized imagination with reality, often relying on the accounts of others to piece together his own family history.

Tridib is a Calcutta intellectual pursuing a PhD in Archaeology. Despite his vast knowledge of global history, mythology, and geography, he lacks a singular career ambition, much to the dismay of his strict family members. He appears extroverted in public spaces like tea houses, but is actually a private, solitary man who uses his stories to connect with a select few.

Tha'mma is the Narrator's grandmother and a retired headmistress of a girls' school. Widowed at a young age, she worked tirelessly to support herself and maintain strict traditional Indian values within her family. She views modern behavior, especially in young women, with severe disdain and holds strong nationalistic beliefs shaped by the Partition of India, which separated her from her childhood home in Dhaka.

Ila is the cosmopolitan daughter of an Indian diplomat. Educated abroad, she prefers blue jeans and short hair, openly rejecting the strict class divisions and gender norms of Indian society. She seeks personal freedom and bohemian idealism in London, acting in radical plays and attending protests, but struggles to form a stable cultural identity of her own.

May is a British woman who plays the oboe in a London orchestra. She is deeply philanthropic, frequently fasting to expand her perspective and collecting money for international relief funds on street corners. She views people without regard to their social or ethnic backgrounds, maintaining a strong, compassionate morality.

Nick is May's brother and the object of Ila's lifelong infatuation. While the Narrator imagines him as a heroic, worldly figure, the reality is that Nick is an average-looking man who ages prematurely and boasts constantly about failed business ventures in Kuwait. He represents a sense of English entitlement and often relies on superficial charm.

Robi is Tridib's brother, a physically imposing and decisive man who commands respect among his peers. Unlike his scholarly brother, Robi operates on strict moral and physical codes, believing deeply in the traditional rules of Indian society. He is quick to use force to ensure others adhere to his sense of propriety.

Mayadebi is Tridib and Robi's mother, and Tha'mma's sister. Married to a prominent political figure, she travels frequently and eventually settles in the Dhanmundi area of Dhaka. She maintains a warmer, more flexible demeanor than her strict sister, though she shares Tha'mma's memories of their divided childhood home.

Jethamoshai is Tha'mma and Mayadebi's elderly uncle. He remained in the family's ancestral home in Dhaka after the Partition of India. Now suffering from dementia, he lives surrounded by Muslim refugees whom he would have historically scorned, entirely dependent on their care and unable to recognize his own visiting family members.

Mrs. Price is the mother of May and Nick, and the daughter of Lionel Tresawsen. She maintains the London home that the Narrator has memorized through Tridib's photographs. She is a welcoming hostess who bridges the historical connection between her English family and the Narrator's Indian relatives.

Lionel Tresawsen is the deceased grandfather of May and Nick Price. A prolific inventor, world traveler, and political sympathizer, he lived a colorful life that included attending séances in Calcutta and working for a left-leaning book club in London. His legacy looms large over the Price household.

Shaheb is the husband of Mayadebi and father of Tridib and Robi. He is a prominent political figure and diplomat whose high status provides his family with international access but also demands public decorum.

Saifuddin is a mechanic who operates a workshop in the courtyard of Tha'mma's ancestral home in Dhaka. He serves as an intermediary between the visiting family members from Calcutta and the refugees currently occupying the property.

Khalil is a Muslim refugee living in Tha'mma's old family home in Dhaka. He has taken on the responsibility of caring for the elderly and confused Jethamoshai, treating the old man with patience despite the historical religious divisions between them.