Point of View

The point of view in Fire on the Mountain is third person omniscient, shifting fluidly between characters and always conveyed in past tense. The primary characters of the novel are Nanda Kaul and Raka, so the narrative follows them most often, but it also gives the thoughts and emotions of Ram Lal, the postman, Ila Das, the grainseller, and the caretaker of the burnt house. The narrative voice provides lengthy memories and flashbacks from Nanda Kaul and Ila Das, even the postman and the grainseller remember the past. In contrast to these characters, Raka never remembers or thinks about the past, with the notable exception of her trauma induced flashback—and even that is experienced as an event unfolding in the present, experienced as if it was happening at the party. The only other time that Raka references the past is in a briefly thought...