Rich Like Us: Character Mind Map & Summary
The key characters of Nayantara Sahgal's Rich Like Us (1985), grouped into branches, with the key episodes, a quick summary and the exam facts that come up again and again in UGC NET.
The Character Mind Map
Tap any name to open the details.
Sonali & Rose
Sonali is an honest civil servant who is demoted during the Emergency of 1975; Rose is an Englishwoman who married an Indian businessman and lived her life in India.
Ending: Rose is killed👑 The Family
Ram's householdRamRose's husband
Role: A businessman with two wives.
MonaRam's first wife
Role: Mother of Dev.
DevRam's son
Role: A corrupt young man who prospers under the Emergency.
🏠 Officials
The EmergencyRavi KachruSonali's friend
Role: An opportunist who rises with the regime.
Key Episodes
The turning points examiners love to ask about.
Quick Summary
The story, stage by stage.
Stage 1Emergency
- Sonali's demotion.
Stage 2Rose
- Her memories of Ram.
Stage 3Corruption
- Dev's schemes.
Stage 4Murder
- Rose's death.
Must-Know Exam Facts
Quick points for UGC NET, SET and PGT.
Award
Sahitya Akademi Award (1986); Sinclair Prize (1985).
Theme
The Emergency, corruption, women in politics.
Author
Sahgal is Nehru's niece; she returned her award in 2015 in protest.
Narration
Mixed first and third person.
Additional Revision Notes
Deeper characters, themes and context for UGC NET English revision.
Emergency Background
Nayantara Sahgal situates the narrative against the authoritarian pressures of India's Emergency (1975–77), exploring their effects on institutions and relationships.
Women and Agency
The experiences of Sonali and Rose offer contrasting perspectives on gender, loyalty, privilege and resistance in a politically compromised society.
Narrative Concerns
The novel combines personal histories with political critique, revealing how public corruption and private injustice can reinforce one another.
Indian Literature
100+ Key Works of Indian Literature
All these character mind maps in one printed book.
