Introduction:
Kamala Markandaya deals with social themes of great importance in her novels. She calls Nectar in a Sieve, a novel of rural India. Her purpose becomes clear with the sub-title of the novel that she intends to present a true picture of rural India in this novel. With this purpose she develops the character of Nathan and his wife, Rukmani, the narrator of the story.
A Fortunate man:
Nathan is fortunate for he is poor but son in law of a reputed family. His wife Rukmani belonged to a rich family but her parents knew nothing about financial planning. They lost prosperity with the passing of time. Rukmani is married to a poor farmer named Nathan. Rukmani was not beautiful and her father, now not rich, It was the best match for Rukmani, in this condition. At the time of Vida Rukmani's parents were very sad on account of their want of planning that the dearest daughter was thus, given to a poor man. Nathan, being a man of self-respect believes that his bride is the best dowry.
A Confident Man:
Nathan is a confident man. He is proud of his hard work. He is ready to turn the wheel of his destiny with his sincere efforts. He knows Rukmani belongs to a rich family with a big house yet he shows her his hut with a sense of pride for he has made it with his own hands. When Rukmani saw her husband's hut she was shocked for here she found nothing.
"I woke: I looked. A mud hut, thatched, small, set near a paddy field, with two or three similar huts nearby. Across the doorway a garland of mango leaves, symbol of happiness and good fortune, dry now and rattling in the breeze."
"This is our home," my husband said. "Come, I will show you."
Hearing it she got out of the cart and went in. There were two rooms, one a sort of storehouse for grain and the other for everything else. A third had been begun but was unfinished, the mud walls were not more than half a foot high. But being an ideal house wife she did not give importance to poverty for what was remarkable was her husband Nathan's confidence. He was sure to write his own destiny in rainbow colours for he was a hard working determined young man. Nathan's love for Rukmani was the other treasure of this poor hut. His concern impressed Rukmani so greatly that she had to show some courage. He said: "Perhaps you are frightened at living here alone, but in a few years we can move; may be even buy a house such as your father's. You would like that?"
It was his dream but not in vain for he had full faith in his labour and land. Rukmani discovered there was something in his voice, a pleading, a look on his face. It impressed her enough to declare:
"No," I said, "I am not frightened. It suits me quite well to live here."
He did not reply at once but went into the granary and came out with a handful of paddy. With great pride he made a display of it before his wife.
"Such harvests as this," he said, sliding the grains about in his hand, "and you shall not want for anything beloved."
It is her maturity that without any complaint she adjusts with what she gets in her husband’s house.
His Non-interfering Temper:
Nathan's non-interfering temper is remarkable. He lets Rukmani hold her house and life at her own will. He does not over shelter her. He does not even tell her where to go for washing clothes. With the result very soon Rukmani made adjustment with her circumstances. She became friendly with neighbours. Rukmani discovered a pool of water for washing the clothes. She met her neighbour Kali who also came there to wash clothes with two other women, Kunthi and Janki. They told Rukmani that Nathan had made this house with his own hands for her. Rukmani felt herself a lucky woman. Her husband was poor but he had a heart of gold. With her friends, Rukmani liked to go to village market to buy house hold things. By now she had known many in the village. So, she used visit village market once or twice a week. Among her friends Kunthi was of quiet and reserve nature. From Kali and Janki she learnt everything about village life. Rukmani took part in every village activity. Nathan was satisfied with her and addressed her as Ruku in love.
His Modern Outlook-Nathan, in spite of being confined to a small village, has a modern outlook. Rukmani is able to read and write. He takes pride in it and encourages her with an open heart. He does not envy her. He does not suffer from any complex on this ground. When Rukmani tells him about getting medical treatment from an English doctor, he welcomes the doctor. Later on Selvam becomes a trained assistant to Dr. Kenny. When Ira too suffers from barrenness, Rukmani takes her to Dr. Kenny and Ira becomes a mother. Nathan does not object to it. It is true he felt disappointed when Ira was born for he wished for a son. But her two things are to be remembered that he was a farmer who wished for a helping hand that he could get only from a son, and also it that he loved Ira and when her husband left her, he sheltered her as a modern father though he was in utter poverty. It is his modern outlook that he quite clearly admits to Rukmani that he is father to Kunthi's two sons. Kunthi entrapped him when he was not married.
His Fortitude:
Even in utmost misery, Nathan shows his courage. Indian farmers are made or ruined by nature and weather. Just after Ira's marriage in June, it started raining. It was not the season of rain. This year, it was very early for rains. Poor farmers mend their huts just before rains to pass the period easily. But this year early rains did not provide this opportunity to farmers. Nathan and Rukmani too had not protected their hut against rains. It rained so heavily that there was rainy water everywhere. Nathan's paddy field was flooded with water. Nathan reported Rukmani: "The rains have destroyed much of our work; there will be little eating done this year."
It continued raining and flooding the village. When it took the form of a storm, there was dark everywhere. Lightning and thundering threatened them, all over night. In the morning, the atmosphere looked calm and quiet. But by now, nothing was left in Nathan's field. It reduced many families to become homeless. Kali's hut was broken in the storm. She asked Rukmani to lend some palm leaves. But Rukmani herself had not any. Nathan told that palm leaves and rice could be bought in the village. But the storm had destroyed everything and there was utter ruin in the village. The prices of everything were rising high for there was no supply from outside and the stock of everything was limited.
Another year the village had no rains. After some days Sivaji came to take the landlord's dues. Nathan had nothing to pay. Sivaji warned that Nathan should pay at least the half if he wanted to save his land. Nathan and Rukmani decided to sell their all to collect the money. They had to eat even grass in hunger. In town Nathan breaks stones in spite of his illness.
An Ideal Father:
Nathan is an ideal father. He loves his children. He never makes any complaint against them. He does not obstruct their ways. As a farmer he expects their help in his fields. When his sons join the tannery, he does not object. Even when his sons decide to go to Ceylon, he asks Rukmani to let them do it. Murugan goes to town and he permits for it. He is not one of those selfish fathers who wish to have their sons at home with the false hope that in this way their old age would become safe and comfortable, His sons are always obedient.
His Struggle:
Nathan's whole life is a tale of endless struggle. In spite of being hard working, he suffers for he has no control over nature. Some time flood and some time drought force his family to starve. Ultimately, Nathan has to leave the village for town to live with Murugan. Rukmani is with him. In town they face more problems for their money is stolen. Having walked a long distance, they reach the Collector's house for now their son works here. Here, they meet only Murugan's wife whose name is Ammu, a thin girl with untidy hair. She tells that Murugan has left her nearly two years ago. Murugan has left the city also. She said that they should return to the village. Nathan and Rukmani have to bid good bye to her. Now Nathan and Rukmani break stones and come to earn eight annas. It encourages them. In this way they can save some money daily and collect sufficient enough to go back their village in two months by working there. Having worked hard in rains, Nathan becomes ill and one day he falls down never to rise again. It ends his short and simple life. Thus, Nathan is an inspiring character.
