In 1920, Apu and his parents, having left their home in rural Bengal, settled in an apartment in Varanasi where his father Harihar worked as a priest.

Harihar makes progress in his new pursuits: praying, chanting and officiating among the ghats on the sacred Ganges River. However, Harihar develops a fever and soon dies. His wife Sarbajaya is forced to work as a maid. With the help of a great uncle, Apu and his mother return to Bengal and settle in the village of Mansapota. There Apu apprentices as a priest, but he longs to attend the local school. He excels in his studies, impresses a visiting dignitary, and the principal takes a special interest in him.