CHAPTER 1 Plot The Village by the Sea is set in a small village called Thul in Western India(near Bombay) and

focuses on a family trying to make ends meet. The main protagonists are Lila, the eldest child who is 13 years old, and her 12-year-old brother Hari. Lila and Hari who worked very hard to keep their family. Both of them had stopped going to school since long time ago because their labors were needed to handle the domestic problems including taking care of their sick mother while their father was too busy visiting the toddy house for drinking.They also have two younger sisters, Bela and Kamal. They live with their mother, who has been chronically ill and is bed-ridden. Their father is an alcoholic, which forces Hari and Lila to manage the family. There is much stress on them due to the constant demand of meeting the need of money. Although their father was earning money, he used to spend it to buy alcoholic materials.With two younger sisters to take care of, lif e for Lila and Hari is too hard. Haris friend Ramu tells hari about government plans to build new factory in their village. The new factory will offer many jobs to the villagers. Hari thinks about that as his opportunity to change his life . Characters Lila -She takes care of her family because her mother is too ill and weak to get out of her bed. - She is the eldest daughter of the family and is the elder sister of Hari, Bela and Kamal - She has given up school -She takes her mother role in preparing food and keep the house clean and tidy Father -He is no longer fishing, he sells his boat to pay debts - He is the father of Lila, Hari, Bela and Kamal - Irresponsible father - Drunkard - Wastes money on toddy -Always in debt because of drinking habit Bela and Kamal - younger sisters of Hari and Lila - they still go school - both of them help Lila managing the house. Biju -He has many boats -Plan to bulid a boat with engine that is bigger and faster than all the others -The richest man in the Thul village Hari - he is the only son of the family - he has to assume the duty of taking care of his parents and his siblings - he leads a hard life as he has to make decisions which adults have to make

Mother - She is the mother of Lila, Hari, Bela and Kamal - She fell ill with anaemia and is getting weaker by the day. - She is unable to take care of her children, protect them from their drunkard father nor work

Pinto - The pet dog of Hari's family - Faithful to the family especially Lila as she spent the most time with him Ramu -Friend of hari -Optimistic about government plans to build new factory in their village that will offer new work to the villagers