The main issue Desai confronts in Hullabaloo in the Guava Orchard is that of nature versus civilization. As mentioned in the setting, Desai makes strong statements throughout the book regarding the problems inherent in man's encroachment upon the natural order of things. At the start of the book, the newspaper from which Mr. Chawla reads aloud reports all manner of explanations for the drought that Shahkot is experiencing. The monsoons have not yet come, and the people fear for their crops and their livelihoods and so seek solace in dreaming up reasons for the monsoons' absence. They look for something or someone to blame, to fill up the space of worry they have created in the face of a natural, inexplicable force.

Likewise, when Sampath runs away to the guava orchard, at first there is a sense of jubilation and freedom in his thoughts and responses...