India

This large, populous, poverty-stricken country is the broad strokes setting for the novel. For centuries, Indian politics and culture were defined and dominated by other, colonizing countries and societal systems: its struggle to find and define its own identity is part of the sub-textual backdrop of the action.

Laxmangarh

This small, poor village in a part of India known as The Darkness (in the vicinity of the Ganga River, also known as the Ganges) is Balram's home town. He deeply resents, to the point of hatred, the life he lived there, his feelings and desperation to leave powerfully fueling his ambitions and entrepreneurial drive.

Dhanbad

Balram leaves Laxmangarh for the greater opportunities and potential freedom of the larger, wealthier community of Dhanbad. It is there that he starts developing marketable skills, eventually being hired by Mr. Ashok and his family as a driver.

New Delhi

Mr. Ashok and...