Although, it can be seen that the ways that provoke racial tension are not just one sided, as the Indian’s provide evidence of discrimination, “possible to be friends with an Englishman”. This view can be judge of two separate ways the fact that the Indian people of Chandrapore feel this way adds to the racial tension between the two groups.
However, this idea could suggest a completely different view, that the Indian people are simply just confused about whether realistically friendship can be achieved between the two groups. As it is not directly being racially offensive but it does show the tension, as if there were no tension, surely, this open question may have no need to be asked? In comparison to what has been seen of the British attitude it would appear mildly offensive however.
In addition to the idea that the Indian people are not the ones that are providing this cause of racial tension it can be clearly seen that the Indian people want to be friends. Evidence of this is “You understand me, you know what I feel. Oh if others resembled you!” This was a comment made by Aziz when talking to Mrs Moore a British woman visiting Chandrapore. The suggestion made by Aziz that he would actually appreciate the British is to understand that the racial tension that Aziz feels. This shows that he has discovered fear and nervousness from the British, as he has difficulty understanding why they feel so much anger toward the people of India. Therefore the confusion shown by Aziz would appear to demonstrate the way Forster has created the tension as it shows the other receiving side of this racial abuse.
Contrastingly to the evidence I have given about the British it can be seen there are people who believe that this racial tension is insignificant. This can be seen by “she wished she was a member, so that she could have asked him in”. Mrs Moore’s naivety in the tension between the Indian people and the British is refreshing, as it shows a contrasting point of view. We later find out that Aziz would never actually be allowed into the club, as he is an Indian. This idea that Mrs Moore can ignore the fact people have such a problem with the natives creates a different perspective on the racial tension.
In addition to this the ignorance of the British is shown by the “National Anthem” which is played at the beginning and end of an event. The fact that this is played shows the stubbornness of the British, that this simply has to be played to make the point that they are British and simply want nothing to do with the Indians. They also want this to segregate the Indian’s individuality and turn the place into something it is not. The effect of Forster including the National Anthem creates the sense that the British don’t want to capture the insight of Indian culture and instead come to India and enforce their own.
As a reader I feel the fact that Ronny, Mrs Moore’s son, had to conduct a “short interview” about the fact that she had spoken to a native suggested racial tension significantly. The main discussion that this idea provoked was that it was the idea of the distrust that the British have for the Indian’s, the fact that she spoke to a native made him interrogate his own mother. The image creates that not only have the civil service created this picture to Ronny, that the Indian’s are people to be weary of, but groups of people can be so much in fear of each other within living distance of each other.
A disgusting image is created about the way the British feel, when Mrs Callender says “the kindest thing one can do to a native is to let him die”. The idea that a person could even think this way about another human being in my opinion is simply the mind of a murderer, it is terrible to think that if one of the natives were to be hurt the British may actually just let them suffer and die. This description gives the suggestion that they do not even see the Indians as people but animals, as if an animal is hurt or ill they may then be allowed to die via an injection. This suggestion creates a whole new perception of the British and shows an insight as to just how much Forster is making them cause this racial tension which evolves throughout A Passage to India.
To draw all of these points together it is fair to say that there are several techniques as to how Forster expresses racial tension within A Passage to India. These include racist comments, the civil service, not understanding one another’s culture and classes within India and Britain which make the tension increase further.
I feel, however, the concluding point which sums up this racial tension is the way in which the British are simply ignorant of religions and how they are expressed within India. A perfect example of this is “stood with their backs to the company and their faces pressed into a bank of shrubs”. This quote shows that the British are blindly not observing why these women cannot participate, within the party held for Mrs Moore and Miss Quested, as it is part of their religion not to. Religion and beliefs within India make up a significant part of the tradition within India; this ignorance leads me to believe that this is the main factor as to why the racial tension is portrayed so significantly by Forster. Had this additional factor not been included with A Passage to India the suggestion I feel that Forster may have wanted to make about the racial tension would have had a completely the different effect.
