Manas is an autodidact youth of vaulting literary and academic ambitions who is struggling to make a living while taking university exams as an external candidate. When he unexpectedly meets Lily Wertheimer, a Peace Corps volunteer in India, a friendship blossoms and he narrates his heartrending story to her. They tentatively explore romance as Lily likens their relationship to the Beautiful Lily in search of the Green Snake of Goethe's myth. While working for his M.A., Manas is challenged to figure out the identity of the Map that Changed the World, its discovery augurs well for his metamorphosis into a new person. The Map portrays the new and challenging life full of hope, opportunities, pains, and prospects in post-Independent post-Partition India through Manas's life. Meanwhile, Lily is not the only romantic interest in Manas's life. Asti, whom Manas hoped to marry, is faced with personal dilemma that may wreck her chances to have the marriage of her dreams; while an academic woman of standing also considers whether Manas has the proper status to be an appropriate husband for her. In the midst of these romantic dilemmas Manas considers whether or not to leave the country of his forebears where he fears he will always be forced to live on the margins of society, and departs for the United States to pursue his program of Ph.D. and lead a life with a brand new karma. Narrated in Manas's cautious but solemn and virile voice, the Map is a richly detailed portrait of strong emotions and hope vanquishing fear, fierce determination overcoming failure, hard work and perseverance meeting the challenges of aspirations and dreams.