Language

Modern Indian authors writing in English often use words from Indian languages in their work. This accurately reflects the way people in India express themselves when they are speaking English. For example, in "Dharma," words that are not found in any English dictionary are used frequently, usually italicized but with no explanation of what they mean. The reader is left to deduce the meaning from the context. These terms include kutri, a knife used by warriors; sahayak, a batman, which is a servant to an officer in the British army—the term appears to have been adopted for officers in the Indian army too; dal, a dish made of lentils; dhoti, a loincloth worn by Hindus; and thali, a dish. The words sadra, manjha, and diya are also used.

Run-on Sentences

At times, when the story describes moments of great excitement or stress, the author alters the...