Bhowani Junction is a 1946 British novel written by John Masters set in the midst of the political upheaval left by Britain's withdrawal from India.
Anglo-Indian Victoria Jones (Ava Gardner) returns to the town she grew up in, the fictional Bhowani, after years of serving in the British Army. She reconnects with her roots and community when she kills her would-be rapist and is offered refuge by the townspeople.
A film adaptation directed by George Cukor was released in 1956. See Mandalay for another black-and-white film set in British-occupied India.
Tropes:
- Child of Two Worlds: Played for Drama in regard to Victoria's inner conflict about her mixed-race status and all it entails. She feels racially superior to Indians but socially inferior to Brits. She grows resentful of Britain's culture after her experience serving in the British Army but can't quite connect with the Indian people from her childhood town when she returns. The climax of her character development is choosing another Anglo-Indian as her romantic partner.
- Childhood Friend Romance: Victoria and Patrick grew up together as mixed-race kids at Bhowani. The plot starts with them engaged in a hesitant relationship that cannot solidify because of their social resentment and insecurities. After much tribulation and love squares, Victoria chooses him because of the familiarity he represents.
- Heart Is Where the Home Is: Anglo-Indian Victoria must choose between the British Army Colonel Rodney Savage, Ranjit (a Sikh man), and Patrick (a fellow Anglo-Indian and her childhood friend). In the original book, she chooses Patrick after overcoming her issues with social inferiority. Unfortunately, they suffer an Adaptation Relationship Overhaul in the movie; with Victoria ending up with the dashing white Colonel Savage.
