A Guardian and A Thief | Megha Majumdar | Literature Fiction | Book Review

 

If circumstances push an ordinary person into doing something morally wrong, should we judge the person—or the society that created those circumstances? 📖

Name of Book: A Guardian and A Thief

Author: Megha Majumdar

Publisher: Hamish Hamilton

Publication Date: 30 Oc 2025

No.of Pages: 217

Format: Digital

In a near-future Kolkata beset by flooding and famine, Ma, her two-year-old daughter, and her elderly father are just days from leaving the collapsing city behind to join Ma’s husband in Ann Arbor, Michigan. After procuring long-awaited visas from the consulate, they pack their bags for the flight to America. But in the morning they awaken to discover that Ma’s purse, containing their treasured immigration documents, has been stolen.

Set over the course of one week, A Guardian and a Thief tells two stories: the story of Ma’s frantic search for the thief while keeping hunger at bay during a worsening food shortage; and the story of Boomba, the thief, whose desperation to care for his family drives him to commit a series of escalating crimes whose consequences he cannot fathom. With stunning control and command, Megha Majumdar paints a kaleidoscopic portrait of two families, each operating from a place of ferocious love and undefeated hope, each discovering how far they will go to secure their children’s future as they stave off encroaching catastrophe.

My Opinion

A Guardian and a Thief by Megha Majumdar is a thought-provoking gem that questions our ideas of good and bad, morality, and human judgment. It asks a daring question: how should a person’s actions be judged when their life has been upended by a single incident?

The story shows how desperation, greed, and circumstances can gradually transform an ordinary man into someone almost unrecognizable. More than a story, this book feels like a mirror held up to society, reminding us that the burden of being “good” doesn’t rest solely on an individual—it is shaped by the society around them.

I was deeply affected by Bumba’s character and the questions he raises. His perspective is impossible to ignore, and by the end, you may find yourself in tears.

• Characters ------------------ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
• Atmosphere ---------------- ⭐⭐⭐⭐
• Writing Style -------------- ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
• Plot ------------------------- ⭐⭐⭐⭐
• Intrigue -------------------- ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
• Logic ---------------------- ⭐⭐⭐⭐
• Enjoyment ---------------- ⭐⭐⭐⭐