A Passage to India is a 1924 novel set against the backdrop of the British Raj and the Indian independence movement in the 1920s. Forster is noted for his use of symbolism as a technique in his novels. The novel is based on Forster's experiences in India and revolves around four characters. It portrays the relationship between the British and the Indians and the tensions that arise when a visiting Englishwoman, Adela Quested, accuses a well-respected humble Muslim surgeon, Dr. Aziz, of having attacked her during an outing. The novel examines racism and colonialism as well as a theme of the need to maintain both ties to the earth and a cerebral life of the imagination.
