Archive · 1 Jul 2025
Alter's Novel: Kim's Adventures as a Spy in Pre-Partition Lahore
Imagine a grown-up version of the hero from the book "Kim" by Rudyard Kipling.
He's riding his motorcycle in Lahore in 1947.
Suddenly, someone shoots at him!
He gets hit and hurt, but drives away to safety.
The city is tense because of violence and unrest.
The main character goes to a woman named Champa, who helps him with his wound.
This shows the dangers and uncertainties of that time.
The story is an excerpt from Stephen Alter's novel about a grown-up Kim, Rudyard Kipling's young hero.
The protagonist is riding a motorcycle in Lahore on March 18, 1947, when he is shot at.
He is hit and wounded, but manages to escape the shooter and reach Anarkali Bazaar.
The shooting occurs amid rising tensions and violence in Lahore.
He seeks medical attention from Champa, who treats his wound.
- Who
- The shooter is unknown, but it is implied that the target is the protagonist.
- What
- The main character is shot at while riding a motorcycle in Lahore.
- When
- March 18, 1947.
- Where
- Lahore, specifically near the Victoria Memorial and Anarkali Bazaar.
- Why
- The motive for the shooting is unclear, though the context suggests it may be political due to the ongoing unrest.
- Setting
- Lahore, 1947
- Character
- Kim (from Kipling's novel)
- Incident
- Shooting
- Injuries
- Wounded leg
- Location of Shooter
- Behind a hedge near the Victoria Memorial