Is this really a utopia?

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     After reading half of the book, we may start to question the term "utopia". We say that an utopia is the ideal way of living where everyone is happy and everything is perfect. But if there is even just one person that doesn't like the situation, can we still say that it is an utopia?

     For example, let's look at Murugan Mailendra's words to get an idea. He is highly affected by his mother and Colonel Dipa. In the speech between him and Will Farnaby in the hospital, he says that he wants to process the petroleum under the island when he becomes the Raja. His thoughts and style gives as a clue about the little dictator inside him. He also wants to create an army in Pala, and emphasizes that people in Pala are pacifist and peaceable with a face full of hatred. When he talks to Will about the previous and the present government, he uses these sentences:

Murugan: "But at least they did something. Whereas nowadays we're governed by a set of do-nothing conservatives. Conservatively primitive—they won't lift a finger to bring in modern improvements. And conservatively radical— they refuse to change any of the old bad revolutionary ideas that ought to be changed. They won't reform the reforms. And I tell you, some of those so-called reforms are absolutely disgusting."
Will: "Meaning, I take it, that they have something to do with sex?"
Murugan nodded and turned away his face. To his astonishment, Will saw that he was blushing. "Give me an example," he demanded. But Murugan could not bring himself to be explicit.
"Ask Dr. Robert," he said, "ask Vijaya. They think that sort of thing is simply wonderful. In fact they all do. That's one of the reasons why nobody wants to change. They'd like everything to go on as it is, in the same old disgusting way, forever and ever."
   
     We can read the same emotions from his mother's words:

"God," the Rani murmured voluptuously, "God . . ." Then, reopening her eyes, "These people in Pala," she added, "they don't believe in God. They only believe in Hypnotism and Pantheism and Free Love." She emphasized the words with indignant disgust.

     As we understand from these dialogs, Murugan and her mother Rani are highly dissatisfied. They simply do not like the system, people and the traditions in the island. But they are also a members of the Pala community. So is there really a utopic place. It seemed to me that living in present Pala is quite a distopia for them.

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