Nectar in a Sieve tells the story of Rukmani, married as a child bride to a tenant farmer she never met. Together, they work side by side in the fields, battling against the harsh realities of nature—droughts, monsoons, and insects.

With remarkable fortitude and courage, Rukmani faces the challenges of changing times, poverty, and disaster. Her life is a gallant and persistent battle to care for those she loves. This beautiful and eloquent story presents a simple peasant woman in a primitive village in India, whose whole life is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit.

Rukmani's unwavering love for her husband, Nathan, becomes a beacon—a nectar that sustains them through hardship. Amidst the harsh realities of poverty and change, this novel weaves a tapestry of love, loss, and endurance.

Kamala Markandaya's prose captures the essence of rural India, portraying the hopes and aspirations of a young nation, surmounting many obstacles along the way.