Paper short abstract:

The presentation tries to analyze the latest novel published by the single living Jewish author of fine literature writing in Hindi. The novel is on the problem of defining and maintaining Jewish identity in contemporary India.

Paper long abstract:

In her third novel in Hindi, Sheila Rohekar (born 1942) for the first time goes into her own identity as a Bnai Israel Jew. Miss Samuel finds herself in an isolated situation between a father who dreams of emigration to Israel, but never realizes it, and a brother who overstates his Indian identity, downplaying or even negating his Bnai Israel identity. The family members remain isolated from each other as well as from their surrounding society, which puts them either together with Muslims, Parsis or with Christians, but fails to recognize her "difference". However, she sticks to her belief that "one day this difference will bring the change into the story". Completely isolated at the age of 70, Miss Samuel in her rest home lives off from her memories, trying to put the different strings of her life together, ending up in a dreamless and lonely presence.