The following version was used to make this guide: Kelkar, Supriya. Ahimsa. New York: Tu Books, 2017. The novel is 293 pages and 35 chapters long, but for the purposes of this guide will be broken into six sections.

The novel opens with Anjali painting a Q for Quit India on the outside wall of Captain Brent’s office with her friend Irfaan. Her mother has just stopped working for Captain Brent, and Anjali wants to get back at him. They run away but Captain Brent catches them. He brings them back to his office, but her mother defends them. When Anjali gets home, her parents start arguing so she returns to Captain Brent’s office to ask for her mother’s job back. He turns her away.

Back at home, Anjali's family listens to a speech from Gandhi, and the speaker says they all need to devote a family member to the freedom fighting movement against the British. Anjali confesses to her parents she painted the Q, and they explain to her what the Quit India movement is about. It is based on Ahimsa - nonviolence - and civil disobedience. Her mother also tells her she is going to be a freedom fighter on behalf of their family.

When Anjali gets home from school one day, Ma decides they have to burn all their clothes since they were all produced in England. Instead, they have to wear khadi - plain white clothing - made by hand in India. Anjali agrees but hides her favorite saffron ghagra-choli under her mattress. She cries as her mother burns all their fancy clothes.

Anjali’s mother comes to school to teach them all about chakra, and making clothes at home. Ma also defends their toilet cleaner Mohan, a so-called Untouchable, from Chachaji. One day, Anjali and her mother attend a meeting at the khadi store about the Quit India movement, and her mother suggests that they teach the Untouchable children (whom Gandhi calls Harijans) in their basti. Keshavji, the movement leader, agrees explaining social justice and freedom from Great Britain must work hand in hand.

Soon after it is the holiday Diwali and Anjali, her mother, and Irfaan bring special treats to the basti where Mohan lives. Her mother gives an impassioned speech about how they all have to work to make change together. Anjali gives a treat to a little girl named Paro, who is wearing a necklace Mohan has made. Mohan scoffs, but later accepts one of the desserts Anjali leaves for him.

Anjali, her teacher Masterji, Ma, and Irfaan start going to the Harijan’s basti daily to teach the children lessons, as the Harijans are not allowed to attend school. Mohan teaches Anjali to call them Dalits, not Harijans. Anjali and Ma decide to clean their own toilets, knowing they need to change as well, not just expect the Dalits to change. Anjali learns that their waste is used as a fertilizer for their food. Anjali also decides that all the Dalit children should be allowed to attend school with her. There are protests from the neighbors, but eventually they relent.

Riots break out between Muslims and Hindus, and the family is forced to stay inside. Anjali escapes to find Irfaan but gets caught in the middle of a riot, and Captain Brent saves her. The next day Anjali finds Irfaan again but they get in a big fight - each blaming the other's religious group. School is closed for the week, and Paro and Mohan are disappointed. The family’s house is tagged with the word Unclean. They go to the khadi shop to continue to brainstorm nonviolent activities, but outside the meeting Ma and Keshavji are arrested for plotting to instigate riots with the Dalits.

Anjali’s mother goes to jail, and in the meantime Anjali spends time with the Dalit children, even helping Mohan sell his necklaces. They visit Ma in prison, consoling her and telling her not to quit the fight. Gandhiji, also in prison, starts his fast. Back in their neighborhood, Mohan tries to give a necklace to Suman and the entire neighborhood beats him. Baba saves Mohan but he runs away.

Gandhiji ends his fast, and everything quiets down; school is even about to re-open. They visit Ma in prison and she is fasting like Gandhiji in protest. Their attempts with their lawyer to get her out of prison continue to fail, so Anjali asks Captain Brent for a pardon, but he refuses.

The holiday of Holi comes and goes. Nandini, while birthing a calf, almost dies but Anjali runs to Irfaan and his father - who saves Nandini’s life using a methi plant from Paro. Anjali and Irfaan reconcile and name Nandini’s calf Ahimsa. Anjali and Masterji decide to hold school outside in front of the peepal tree with the Dalit children, and Suman brings others and they all learn together - achieving Anjali’s goal of equal education for all the children.

Keshavji dies in prison and there is a major protest that Anjali, Baba, and Irfaan join - Paro’s grandmother joining along the way. As it approaches the khadi shop, Captain Brent stops it and it becomes unruly. Captain Brent almost dies as the mob gets violent, but Anjali steps in and saves his life, crying out Ahimsa. While nursing her wounds from the mob, Anjali finds her saffron gaghra-choli hidden under her mattress. Captain Brent grants a pardon to Anjali’s mother, and the novel ends as Anjali and Baba get Ma out of prison.