The Cultural and Religious Aspect in Clear Light of Day

In Clear Light of Day, Anita Desaihas pointed out the political and religious battle between Hindus and Muslims. she also shows us their way of life and the role ofnthe parents in India. She is inviting us to be a part of India through Tara's and Bimla's eyes.

The way of life, religion and beliefs that we call culture is much different in the Eastern Hemisphere than that of the Western Hemisphere. in places such as the Caribbeanand America both males and females work at their separate jobs to provide for their family. However, in India, New and Old Dehli to be exact, the women stay home and more or less take care of the children while men go out to work as the sole breadwinner to take care of their family.
The typical woman in India spends less time with their family and more time in front of the mirror looking pretty. This is strongly pointed out in Cear Light of Day as Mrs. Das spent no time with her family. Her daily routine consists of spending time in front of the mirror and going to the Club with her husband. The children are then, practically, left to raise themselves. We first meet Mr. Das when Raja explained to him his wishes to go to Jamia Millia College. His father spoke out for the first time and expressed his dissatisfaction with Raja's choice of college. Shortly after this, both parents died leaving the four children to take care of themselves since Mira Masi was incapable of taking on such responsibility. Neither parent was mourned for, for they were basically strangers to their own children.
In a sense Anita Desai has introduced us to the culture of India and what is accepted there. However, there was Bimla who Desai describes as not being the typical India woman. She was not married as she did not want to, she smoked (and this was not culturally expected in India) and she taught at a women's college. It is shown that Bimla has strayed away from the stereotype way of living for Indian women and has created her own.

From the beginning of the book, Desai has already established that there is an ongoing war in India between the Mulims and the Hindus. It can be said that the world is divided between four main religions: Jewish and Christianity and and Hinduism and Muslim.
It is pointed out in the book that no one is safe from the other side as each religion is trying to eradicate the other. The Das family belongs to the religion of Hinduism, though it is not mentioned in the book that they neither speak of their religion nor practice it. Raja is the only member of the family that shows an interest in the religious beliefs in India. Though in the beginning, Raja is completely Hindu, he begins to change his perspectives of Muslims as he became associated with Hyder Ali and his friends. He now saw Muslims as friend rather foe. Raja became what I call bi-religious and neither his family or friends accepted this. In getting more closer to Hyder Ali and his family, Raja has neglected his families and his position as man of the house after his father died. Anita Desai has centered the focus of religion mainly on Raja in order to show a young man living in India can become confused about his religious identity.