A compulsively readable story of struggle for survival in a large modern city and how it demeans human life. Ravi, son of a peasant, joins in the general exodus to the city, and, floating through the indifferent streets, lands into the underworld of petty criminals. He falls in love with pretty Nalini, and marries her against all odds. She tries to change his way of life, but fate conspires against him...and the story moves to a memorable climax.

Reviews

"From among the handful of Indo-Anglian women novelists, Kamala Markandaya stands out as one of the finest and most impassionate writers of fiction. Her greatest asset is her language - virile, vibrant and vigourous - with the right choice and turn of words and expressions. Handful of Rice certainly makes an absorbing and enjoyable reading." — Sunday Standard

"An overwhelmingly real book. It is about those parts of us, as human beings, which are permanent and universal - love, hunger, lust, passion, ambition, sacrifice, death." — John Masters

"Shades of Pearl Buck haunt the descriptions, situations and the characters.'' — Tribune

"...the author has successfully and virtually captured the mores, the spirit and, above all, the lingo obtaining in the streets and by-lanes of India." — Indian Express