Kailash

Kailash is the protagonist and narrator of the novel. He was born in India and attended college in Delhi. The novel’s story begins with his arrival in New York City to attend graduate school. He works as a teaching assistant while studying and researching literature and politics for his graduate school thesis. Soon after arriving to the United States, he is struck by the sexual and political openness of society there. He quickly becomes fascinated with sex and politics, and he becomes interested in studying salient intersections between sex, love, politics, and history. Kailash also struggles with a persistent sense of guilt, for he enjoys life in America and often feels that he is forsaking his Indian heritage.

Kailash falls in love with multiple women during his graduate school years. He first dates Jennifer, a graduate school dropout. Jennifer becomes pregnant and has an abortion, and the...