At this point in the novel, it seems almost all the principal characters experience some kind of “rebirth” except for Burnham and Doughty (perhaps all the white Englishmen). Deeti’s rebirth is perhaps the most explicit example. It is stated outright by the narrator (maybe even Deeti herself) that some kind of rebirth has taken place in her life. Part of that rebirth seems to be choosing or assuming a new caste. Zachary, Paulette, Jodu, Neel, and Kalua all seem to be experiencing a change of their status in society.
In a similar way to Deeti’s, their lives are “reborn” and assume new shapes and circumstances. It seems only Neel experiences a change for the worse, perhaps because as a Raja, he has no palce to go but down. In another sense, Nob Kissin is the only character that actively seeks to be “reborn,” all other characters seem to simply endure the rebirth that comes their way.
I’m not sure if Nob Kissin’s desire to be transformed is in some way ironic since he wants it so much and doesn’t seem to get it fully (at least so far). Though by comparison, Nob Kissin is not necessarily as righteous and good as Deeti seems to be. Kissin seems to use his status as leverage for positioning himself to get what he wants. He’s also implicated in Neel’s arrest. Deeti on the other hand seems to be a victim. In this respect she has some kind of inherent moral high ground that Nob Kissin only “pretends” to have.
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