“There is no going back. Bend like grass, so as not to break it” (Markandaya 28). The character Nathan, in Nectar in a Sieve written by Kamala Markandaya, accepts change and "bends like grass." But the main protagonist, Rukmani, initially resists change. She thinks it's better to fight back. Eventually, she realizes that change can be good or bad. Markandaya believes that it is better to accept what cannot be changed rather than resist it and this is seen throughout his writings. In Nectar and a Sieve, Rukmani is the main protagonist. Therefore, it can be argued that Rukmani's views parallel those of Markandaya because Markandaya created this character from his own imagination. At the beginning of the book, the tannery is built and Rukmani is angry because she thinks it will bring changes that she won't like. She says, “But the change that has taken place in my life, in all our lies, and which has spread to our village, seems to have happened in the twinkling of an eye” (Markandaya 25). Rukmani resists the tannery and the people who come with it because they are different. Rukmani doesn't know them and that scares her. Other characters in the book, like Arjun and Nathan, are more accepting of change. Nathan tells Rukmani that it is better to accept change because it can be beneficial (Markandaya 28). Eventually, Rukmani begins to follow Nathan's advice. By the end of the book, Rukmani has begun to “bend like grass,” which Markandaya says is the best. While she and Nathan are in town, Nathan resists the change of scenery. He says, “It is better to starve where we were brought up than to live here” (Markandaya 166). But Rukmani agreed they'll probably stay in town for a little while. She does it... in the middle of a paper...... mbat on it. This is shown through the evolution of the main character, Rukmani, from resistance to acceptance of change throughout the story, and the end of the story ending on a positive note once Rukmani takes over. decision to welcome his new changed life. Markandaya also had to learn to accept change in his own life. She was born in a small village in India, but lived most of her adult life in London. This is very similar to the changes Rukmani had to make during his life. The similarities between the two women are so identical because they are essentially the same person; Rukmani being created from the spirit of Markandaya. Nectar in a Sieve is not only a great novel, it is a lesson in how to live life to the fullest and the need to embrace change in order not to break down. Works Cited Markandaya, Kamala. Nectar in a sieve. New York: Signet Classics, 2010. Print