MUHAMMAD ALI

M.A English Linguistics 2015-17SHAH ABDUL LATIF

UNIVERSITY KHAIRPUR

Twilight in Delhi

Twilight in Delhi

The story is about a family

(Indian Muslim culture) Mir Nihal & his family

Ahmed Ali (1908-1994)

• Ahmed Ali was an Indian poet, novelist, critic and scholar.

• Born in Delhi, India, Ahmed Ali was educated at Aligarh and Lucknow universities.

• This novel was published in 1940.

Author’s Introduction

Character of Mir Nihal • Mir Nihal seems the protagonist of the novel.

• He is nearly sixty-two years old person whose outward appearance is the picture of Muslims.

• He is tall and wearing white Muslim coat reaching down to the knees.

• Mir Nihal struggles to protect the new generation from the disastrous effects of colonialism on their culture.

Character of Mir Nihal • On the other hand, he himself is involved with

foolish activities. • He had illicit relationship with Babban Jan &

his maid.• He had a hobby of flying pigens & making

medicines.• Mir Nihal does not approve the relationship

between Asghar and Bilqees because of the class difference.• He becomes paralyse.

Begum Mir Nihal:

• The wife of Mir Nihal who takes decision of Asghar’s marriage against Mir Nihal.• She always remains contemplative of

returning her husband at home.• She is nearly sixty years old.• She becomes blind.

Babban Jan:

• Babban jan is the most important personality in Mir Nihal’s life.• She is love of Mir Nehal & Mir Nehal

buys her a house to live there.• She is prostitute.• Her death causes the loneliness of Mir

Nehal.

Asghar:• The son of Mir Nihal• Asghar, lover of English culture, he tries to go against

the norms of his family, he gets married with his beloved Bilquees and starts living in a foreign life style.• After marriage, problems between Asghar and Bilquees

led due to be inattentioned towards Bilquees, Bilquees suffer in her heart and ultimately forced her to die.• Now he wants to remarry again with Zohra younger

sister of Bilquees.• He also had a secret/dancing girl to give him

satisfaction & pleasure.• He was in love three times

Mushtri Bai:

• Mushtri bai is also the most important personality in Asghar’s life.• She is the first love of Asghar• She is the secret/dancing/prostitute girl.• She uses many tricks to give pleasure &

satisfaction to Asghar.• She causes the death of Bilquees because

Asghar doesn’t find any same trick of pleasuring in Bilquees what she had.

Bilquees:

• The wife of Asghar.• She is the respective & innocent girl of low class

family.• She was grown up in a little bit religious context.• She never came up forward in style, she always

remained in her culture.• She couldn’t impress Asghar & Asghar always

expected some thing from her, like Mushtri Bai.• After marriage, Asghar desn’t lover her, he is

inattention towards Bilquees now he doesn’t love her, Bilquees suffers a lot in her heart and die.

Zohra:

• Younger sister of Bilquees.• Third love of Asghar.• She lives with her sister Bilquees.• After the death of her sister she take cares of

her niece.• She finally agrees to be in love with Asghar.• She writes Asghar a letter to go for wedding

on the day of her marriage.

Significance of the Title• “Twilight” refers to the time of day just after the sunset or before

the dawn when the sun is below the horizon.

Significance of the Title• The novel is aimed at writing about the downfall of the culture and

civilization of Muslim India due to the arrival of British during the early 20th century.

Symbolism:

•Asghar Representative of the youth•Mir Nihal’s Family Muslim community in India• Pigeons Culture•Mir Nihal’s paralysis The end of old orthodox beliefs• Begum Nihal’s blindness Blindness of women of that age

Summary:• It is about love between Asghar, who is from an upper

class family and Bilqees, who comes from a lower class family.• Mir Nihal struggles to protect the new generation from the

disastrous effects of new culture.• Mir Nihal does not approve the relationship between

Asghar and Bilqees because of the class difference.• Asghar seeks help from his mother.• Asghar go against the norms of his family• The death of Bilquees causes Asghar’s rude behave to her• Asghar wanted 2nd marriage with Zohra

Theme:•Modernity vs Conservatism

Arrival of British, old views of Mir Nihal.

• Downfall of Muslim civilization in IndiaDecay of Mughal kingship e.g Mir Nihal

• Gender issuesPatriarchy, needs of men

THANK YOU

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