"Midnight's Children" chronicles the life of Saleem Sinai, a man entangled in the mystical and historical events of India. From his grandfather's arrival in Kashmir to the entwined fates of children born at the stroke of independence, the narrative unfolds Saleem's unique gift of telepathy and its consequences. Through personal and political upheavals, Saleem's story is a vivid tapestry of love, loss, and identity.

Book One: Origins and Revolutions

The tale commences with Saleem Sinai, a pickle factory worker in his thirties, penning his life's extraordinary saga. Each evening, he reads the story aloud to Padma, a devoted listener who offers her insights. Saleem's narrative traces back to 1915 when his grandfather, Aadam Aziz, a fresh Oxford graduate, traveled to Kashmir, where he was summoned by a wealthy landowner to tend to his daughter. Aadam's curious affection for his future wife, Naseem Ghani, developed despite only glimpsing her features through a perforated sheet during medical examinations.

Amidst their budding romance, a critical historical moment unfolds—on April 13, 1919, while in Amritsar, the couple narrowly escapes the massacre of Indian nationalists by British forces. Aadam's life is serendipitously spared due to a sneeze that caused him to duck just as gunfire erupted.

Fast forward to 1942, Aadam and Naseem are now settled in Agra with a bustling family of five children. As India's independence looms, Aadam pins his hopes on the Hummingbird, Mian Abdullah, a prominent activist. Their daughter Emerald was courted by Nadir Khan, a poet and Abdullah's confidant. When Abdullah is murdered, Khan seeks refuge in the Aziz household's basement, sparking a clandestine romance with Mumtaz Aziz. Meanwhile, Emerald, feeling betrayed, informs Major Zulfikar of Khan's presence, leading to a chain of unions and separations that sees Mumtaz marrying Ahmed Sinai and adopting the name Amina.

Ahmed and Amina relocate to Delhi, driven by Amina's desire for children despite her tepid affection for her husband. Business troubles escalate as local gangsters extort protection money from Ahmed and others. Amid the rising cultural tensions, an incident with a street vendor provides Amina an unexpected spotlight to announce her pregnancy, which ultimately leads to their relocation to Bombay following a fortuitous insurance payout after a fire.

The Sinais settle in the Methwold estate in June 1947, a significant British colonial vestige. The birth of their child at the stroke of midnight on August 15, the dawn of Indian independence, marks an auspicious event. However, unbeknownst to them, a midwife, Mary Pereira, swaps the newborn with another, setting in motion Saleem's life as India's emblematic child, while the biological Sinai child fades into obscurity.

Book Two: Powers and Pains

Saleem's formative years are marred by family financial challenges, which compound when his father, Ahmed, invests his reclaimed assets into a failed business venture. On a brighter note, Amina's secret success in horse betting temporarily alleviates their financial woes. Saleem's unconventional appearance subjects him to ridicule, exacerbating his struggles.

A pivotal moment occurs at age nine when a blow to his ear unlocks Saleem's telepathic abilities. Initially, this gift provides insight into those around him, notably unsettling his neighbor Evie Burns when he peers into her mind. This revelation propels him to establish the Midnight's Children's Conference, a telepathic network of children born at the hour of India's birth, each harboring unique powers. Through this connection, Saleem learns of his mother’s discreet meetings with Nadir Khan, her former husband, and encounters Shiva, the child swapped at birth with him, who advocates for leadership through force.

Following an injury and blood tests that reveal his mismatched parentage, Saleem relocates to live with his uncle...