A Burning

Jivan is a young Muslim woman whose life is dismantled and destroyed by an unjust and inequitable system. Jivan is kind, demure, and a hard worker. She tries to help her mother with her ailing father, stays out of trouble, and even volunteers to teach English to those who are even more disadvantaged than she is. These traits make Jivan’s arrest and conviction all the more surprising and ironic.

As a poor Muslim girl, Jivan’s education and career opportunities are limited, and no matter how kind or ethical she is, she will always be judged for her religion. In the constant battle between Hindus and Muslims and India, Jivan is nothing more than her religion, at least to the outside world. When Jivan is arrested and her trial becomes national news, Jivan has few friends who can attest to her character. Jivan’s loneliness is highlighted by her online life; socializing on Facebook is one of Jivan’s only outlets for human connection, but one that ultimately ruins her life.

Majumdar uses Jivan’s character as a symbol of the injustice inherent in society; Jivan is used as a scapegoat because the government knows no one will ultimately care about Jivan, as the caste system is deeply woven into the fabric of Jivan’s society.