Jivan

Jivan is one of the protagonists and first person narrators of the novel. An only child, as a girl, Jivan grows up in poverty. She and her parents live in a small slum for many years until the police ultimately demolish the village. Having heard of the government's plan to evacuate them, Jivan's family prepared their defense, storing up their own urine and fecal matter to throw at the officers. During the police invasion, Jivan's father is badly injured. Because they are too poor to avoid medical help, Jivan's father can no longer work as a rickshaw driver. Jivan and her mother struggle to afford food. They later move into government housing. The building is dilapidated, and does not have a proper water source. Despite their complaints, nothing is done to remediate the issue.

Eventually, Jivan and her parents move to the Kolabagan slum. Jivan's mother opens a...