Chapter 6

Hari left home because of poverty that brought misery to his family. He had thought he was being adventurous, but now he sees that there are all sorts of men and boys going, and he feels a little bit less special and brave. He is just one of many. Adarkar is at the piers as well, and Hari goes along the pier following the crowd until men lift him and put him in a boat. The sun has risen by this time and lights up the water in shades of purple and green and blue. The boats set out like dolphins over the waves. From Rewas to Bombay is fourteen kilometers, and the men and boys sing as they sail. The vibe is more of a holiday than a protest, and Adarkar keeps shouting to remind people why they are going to Bombay. Eventually, he’s hot and tired, and the other men tell him to sit down and save his strength for the protest. They pass him tea and slices of lime.

Hari is the only person from his village in the boat, and he sits at the bottom where no one notices him. He wonders if he has done the right thing, but he knows he can’t turn back now. He will have to get a job and work and live in Bombay. A man eventually sees him and asks whose son he is; he notices Hari has no food and gives him a chapati, which Hari takes gratefully even though his mouth is almost too dry to eat it.

When Hari finally sees Bombay, he is awestruck. He wants to stand and stare at it, but everyone is pushing out of the boats, so the crowd moves him along. Everyone is in a hurry and is rushing to where they are going, and through the people Hari sees the bustle of the port, of the steamships and the docks and cranes that are putting goods on board. There are new smells everywhere, and new voices and languages as well.