ThAct: Midnight's Children

Midnight's Children by Salman Rushdie

This blog is created as part of the thinking activity on Midnight’s Children, guided by Dr. Dilip Barad Sir.

Video 1: Characters |

Midnight's Children

Characters of Midnight’s Children

Salman Rushdie’s Midnight’s Children has a large cast of characters, but each of them represents a symbolic aspect of India’s post-independence journey. The central narrator is Saleem Sinai, born exactly at midnight on 15 August 1947, the moment India became independent. His life is deeply connected to the nation’s history, and his special telepathic powers link him to hundreds of other “Midnight’s Children.” These children, all born in that magical first hour of independence, have unique abilities, symbolising the diversity and possibilities of the new nation.

Saleem’s life is shaped by a mix-up at birth. The nurse Mary Pereira, trying to help her lover, switches two newborn babies — Saleem, the child of a wealthy family, and Shiva, the child of a poor street entertainer. Saleem grows up in comfort but is not truly the Sinai’s biological son. Shiva, in contrast, grows up in poverty, but has incredible physical strength and becomes a soldier. Their fates represent the contrasts of post-independence India — privilege versus struggle, intellect versus brute force.

Other key characters include Parvati-the-Witch, a magical young woman who befriends Saleem and later marries him, giving birth to Aadam Sinai, fathered by Shiva. Parvati represents magic, hope, and resilience. Padma, Saleem’s listener, acts as the traditional sutradhaar (narrator’s companion) in Indian storytelling, questioning his account and keeping him grounded. Saleem’s grandparents, Dr. Aadam Aziz and Naseem Ghani, symbolise the clash between Western education and conservative traditions.

Through these characters, Rushdie blends personal and national history, showing how individuals carry the burden of political events, cultural change, and historical memory.

Key Points

Saleem Sinai – Narrator; born at midnight, has telepathy, symbolises India’s identity.

Shiva – Switched-at-birth; physical strength; represents aggression and military power.

Parvati-the-Witch – Magical powers; marries Saleem; mother of Aadam Sinai.

Aadam Sinai – Parvati and Shiva’s son, raised by Saleem; symbol of India’s future.

Mary Pereira – Nurse who switches babies; symbol of fate and guilt.

Padma – Saleem’s audience; traditional sutradhaar.

Dr. Aadam Aziz – Grandfather; symbolises modernity vs. tradition conflict.

Naseem Ghani – Grandmother; very traditional.

Learning outcome

I understand how Midnight’s Children uses magical realism and traditional Indian storytelling to connect personal lives with India’s post-independence history. I learn how characters like Saleem and Parvati represent social, political, and religious issues, and how events like the Partition and the Emergency of 1975 shape their journeys. I also see how the novel explores identity, freedom, and oppression, making me read it not just as a story but as a deep commentary on India’s postcolonial reality.