Summary of The Lives of Others by Neel Mukherjee is a sprawling, multi-layered family saga set in 1960s Calcutta, against the backdrop of political unrest and the rise of Maoist movements in India. At its center is the wealthy Ghosh family, owners of a large paper-manufacturing business, whose seemingly secure and privileged world slowly unravels under the weight of secrets, betrayals, and ideological conflicts. The novel opens with the shocking act of a desperate farmer driven to suicide, setting the tone for its exploration of systemic injustice and inequality, themes that echo throughout the Ghosh family’s story. The patriarch, Prafullanath, presides over a vast household filled with sons, daughters-in-law, and grandchildren, but beneath the surface lies tension—financial strain, simmering rivalries, and the gradual decline of old-world authority. Parallel to this domestic drama runs the story of Supratik, one of the sons, who abandons his family to join the Naxalite movement, seeking purpose in the struggle against poverty and oppression. Through alternating perspectives, Mukherjee contrasts the decadence and dysfunction of the Ghoshes with the raw struggles of peasants and revolutionaries, weaving a narrative that is both intimate and panoramic. With its rich detail, social critique, and unflinching portrayal of privilege, exploitation, and rebellion, The Lives of Others becomes not only the story of one family’s downfall but also a powerful commentary on class, power, and the costs of change in a rapidly transforming India.