To whom did E. M. Forster dedicate his novel A Passage to India?

Correct option is C

Explanation:

E. M. Forster dedicated his novel A Passage to India to Ross Masood, a man who played a significant role in shaping Forster’s views about India and its people. Ross Masood, the grandson of Sir Syed Ahmed Khan, was an Indian scholar and educationist.
Forster and Masood shared a close friendship, which greatly influenced Forster's understanding of Indian culture and society. They first met in England in 1906, when Forster was tutoring Masood in Latin. Their friendship deepened over the years, and Forster's interactions with Masood inspired much of the novel’s themes, especially the complexities of British-Indian relationships.

The dedication of A Passage to India to Masood reflects Forster’s deep admiration and affection for him. The novel is a profound critique of British colonial rule in India, and it explores themes of cultural misunderstanding, racial tensions, and the difficulty of true friendship between the colonizers and the colonized. Masood, being an educated Indian who had personal experience with British society, provided Forster with a unique perspective that shaped his portrayal of India in the novel.

Information Booster:

Edward Morgan Forster (1879–1970) was a British novelist, essayist, and critic known for his keen observations of social class, culture, and human relationships.

His major works include A Passage to India, A Room with a View, Howards End, and Maurice.

Forster was associated with the Bloomsbury Group, a circle of writers, philosophers, and intellectuals.

"A Passage to India" Published in: 1924

• Genre: Historical Fiction, Political Fiction, Social Commentary
  
• Setting: British India, primarily the fictional city of Chandrapore
  Themes:
  
• British colonialism and its impact on India
  
• Cultural misunderstandings and racial tensions
  
• The possibility (or impossibility) of friendship between the British and Indians
  
• Mysticism and the role of religion in shaping human perspectives
  
• The novel is divided into three sections—Mosque, Caves, and Temple—representing different aspects of Indian life and spirituality.
  Summary of A Passage to India:
  
• The novel revolves around the interactions between British colonizers and Indian citizens during the British Raj. The story follows Dr. Aziz, an Indian Muslim physician, and his complex relationship with Cyril Fielding, an English schoolmaster, as well as Adela Quested, a young British woman visiting India. The novel reaches a climax when Adela falsely accuses Aziz of assault in the Marabar Caves, highlighting the deep mistrust and racial prejudices between the British and Indians. The story ultimately questions whether true friendship between the two groups is possible under colonial rule.
  

Forster and Masood shared an intellectual and emotional bond, which significantly influenced Forster’s thoughts on India.

Masood introduced Forster to Indian history, culture, and politics, shaping the novel’s authentic representation of Indian society.

Their friendship was one of admiration and mutual respect, though it had complexities due to their different cultural backgrounds.

Forster visited India in 1912 and again in 1921, drawing on his experiences to write A Passage to India5. Literary Significance of A Passage to India

The novel is considered one of the greatest works of 20th-century English literature. It won the James Tait Black Memorial Prize for fiction in 1924.

Forster’s portrayal of British imperialism and its consequences remains a powerful critique of colonial rule.