Major -14 assignment

  

Maharani Shree Nandankuvarba Mahila.                    Arts and commerce college 

Name :- jadeja shrutiba kanaksinh 

Year :- T.Y. B.A

Subject :- English 

Paper 's name :- A study of Indian English                                    novel and short stories 

Credit :- 4

Professor's name :- Aamena ma'am 

                 Class Assignment 

Write characters of 6 Short stories 

Unit -1

1. Toba tek Singh 

                      By sadat Hasan Manto 

 Major Characters:-

1. Bishan Singh

The central character of the story.

A Sikh inmate who keeps asking where Toba Tek Singh is—India or Pakistan.

Symbolizes the pain, confusion, and rootlessness caused by Partition.

His death in the no-man’s land represents the tragic impact of political borders on ordinary people.

2. Narrator

Describes events objectively.

Helps present the absurdity and irony of the situation without emotional exaggeration.

Minor Characters:-

1. Muslim, Sikh, and Hindu Inmates

Each reacts differently to Partition.

Represent the chaos and madness of society during that time.

2. The Man Who Climbs a Tree

Refuses to live in either India or Pakistan.

Symbolizes rejection of forced division.

3. The Inmate Who Believes He Is God

Shows the absurd nature of pojwer and authority.

Questions who truly has control during Partition.

4. Bishan Singh’s Friend (Fazal Din)

Informs Bishan Singh about Toba Tek Singh.

Represents human sympathy and emotional ties across borders.

5. Government Officials

Arrange the exchange of inmates.

Symbolize cold bureaucracy and political insensitivity.

2. Lihaaf ( The Quilt )

                             By Ismat chughtai 

1. Begum Jan

The main character.

Wife of Nawab Sahib.

Lonely, neglected, and emotionally starved.

Represents women’s suppression and isolation in a patriarchal society.

2. The Narrator (Young Girl)

Tells the story.

Innocent and childlike.

Does not fully understand what she observes.

Her perspective keeps the story indirect and symbolic.

3. Rabbo

Begum Jan’s maid.

Very close to Begum Jan.

Provides comfort and companionship.

Plays an important role in Begum Jan’s emotional life.

4. Nawab Sahib

Begum Jan’s husband.

Wealthy and socially respected.

Emotionally distant from his wife.

Symbolizes male neglect and social hypocrisy.

5. Other Household Women

Appear briefly.

Engage in gossip and conversation.

Represent society’s silence and avoidance of taboo topics.

3. The Night of the full Moon  (pooranmashi)

                     By kartar Singh Duggle 

1. Malan

Minnie’s mother; a beautiful, lonely woman neglected by her husband. She secretly meets her lover on a full-moon night, which causes the misunderstanding.

2. Minnie

Malan’s innocent and shy daughter, about to be married. She is falsely accused because villagers mistake Malan for her.

3. The Lover

A man who has loved Malan silently for over twenty years. His secret meeting with her leads to village gossip.

4. Malan’s Husband

A strict moneylender, busy with work and emotionally distant. His absence enables the incident to occur.

5. Lajo

Malan’s neighbour; a gossiping woman who spreads false rumours about Minnie.

6. Jumma

The village watchman who repeats what he sees without understanding the truth, strengthening the false accusation.

7. Ratna

The rich landlord of the village. He publicly accuses Minnie after finding a broken bangle, increasing her humiliation.

Unit -2 

 1. The Night Train at Deoli 

                                  By Ruskin Bond 

Major Characters

1. The Narrator (Ruskin Bond himself)

A young college student who frequently travels by train between Dehra and Delhi.

Sensitive, observant, and emotional.

Falls in love with a girl he meets briefly at Deoli railway station.

2. The Girl at Deoli (Unnamed)

A young, poor basket-seller at Deoli station.

Shy, innocent, and graceful.

Symbolizes fleeting love and unfulfilled longing.

Minor Characters

1. The Girl’s Grandmother

Accompanies the girl at the station.

Represents responsibility and the girl’s simple family background.

Coolies and Vendors at Deoli Station

Create the realistic railway-station atmosphere.

2. Other Passengers

Serve as background characters highlighting the narrator’s inner emotional world.

 

2. How I taught My Grandmother To Read

                                       By Sudha Murthy 

The Narrator

A young, educated girl.

She teaches her grandmother to read and write Kannada.

Represents patience, respect for elders, and the importance of education.

Grandmother (Avva)

Sudha’s grandmother.

Illiterate but very determined and eager to learn.

Strong, hardworking, and self-respecting.

Her desire to read Kashi Yatre motivates her learning journey.

Triveni

The writer of the Kannada serial Kashi Yatre.

Her story inspires Avva to learn reading.

Neighbours / Village women

Listen to Sudha reading stories aloud.

Represent traditional village society where women were often denied education.

3.   Karma 

               By khushwant singh 

Sir Mohan Lal:

 An Oxford-educated barrister who desperately tries to act British, speaks English, drinks whisky, and looks down on his own Indian identity and wife, viewing them as inferior. He seeks acceptance from the English but is thrown off the train by them, facing the ironic consequence of his actions (karma).

Lachmi (Lady Mohan Lal):

Sir Mohan Lal's plain, traditional Indian wife, who is comfortable with her native culture, enjoys betel leaves, and is relegated to the women's compartment, representing the authentic Indian identity Mohan Lal rejects.

Bill & Jim: 

The two British soldiers who forcefully remove Mohan Lal from the first-class compartment, demonstrating the racial prejudice he failed to see in the English, highlighting his misplaced admiration.

Bearer/Porter:

Servants on the train who facilitate the journey, with one bringing Mohan Lal his drink and another interacting with Lachmi, serving as background characters within the railway setting. 

           Home Assignment 

•  The NIGHT TRAIN AT DEOLI •

1. About the Author – Ruskin Bond

Ruskin Bond is one of India’s most loved English writers. He was born in 1934 in Kasauli and spent much of his life in the hill town of Dehradun. His writings are simple, emotional, and deeply connected with nature, childhood memories, loneliness, and human relationships. He is known for short stories, novels, essays, and children’s literature. Night Train at Deoli reflects his signature style—quiet emotions and unfulfilled relationships. He has received several awards, including the Sahitya Akademi Award and Padma Shri.

2. Introduction to the Story

“Night Train at Deoli” is a short story about a brief yet deeply emotional encounter between a young man and a girl at a small railway station called Deoli. The story highlights themes of love, separation, longing, memory, and missed opportunities. Though nothing dramatic happens, the emotional impact is strong, showing how even a short moment can leave a lifelong impression.

3. Summary of the Story

The narrator is a young man who often travels by night train between Dehradun and Delhi for college. During one journey, the train stops at a small, quiet station called Deoli. There he notices a young girl selling baskets. She looks poor but dignified and shy.

They exchange glances, and a silent emotional connection develops. When the train is about to leave, the narrator impulsively buys a basket from her. Though they do not speak much, the moment becomes unforgettable for him.

On future journeys, the narrator eagerly looks for the girl at Deoli station, and for some time, he sees her again. However, one day she is no longer there. He asks about her but receives no clear answer. Eventually, the train no longer stops at Deoli, and the narrator never sees the girl again. Yet, her memory stays with him forever, symbolizing an incomplete love.

4. Main Themes

a) Love and Longing

The story shows a silent, unspoken love. The narrator and the girl never express their feelings openly, yet their emotional bond is deep.

b) Transience of Life

Life is temporary and constantly moving, like the train. Moments pass quickly and cannot always be recaptured.

c) Loneliness and Separation

Both characters appear lonely. Their brief meeting highlights how human connections can be fleeting.

d) Missed Opportunities

The narrator never takes action to meet or help the girl. His hesitation results in permanent loss.

 5. Symbols in the story 

a) The Train

The train symbolizes time and life, which move forward relentlessly without stopping for emotions.

b) Deoli Station

Deoli represents a pause in life, a place of brief encounters and memories.

c) The Basket

The basket symbolizes the girl’s poverty, dignity, and simplicity, as well as the narrator’s emotional connection to her.

d) Night

Night symbolizes mystery, silence, and emotional depth, reflecting the narrator’s inner feelings.

6. Characters

1. The Narrator

A sensitive and emotional young man. He is thoughtful but hesitant, which leads to regret later.

2. The Girl at Deoli

A poor, shy, and dignified girl who leaves a deep emotional impact despite her brief presence.

7. Style and Language

Ruskin Bond uses simple, clear, and poetic language. His storytelling is quiet and realistic, focusing on emotions rather than dramatic events. The first-person narration makes the story personal and touching.

8. Message of the Story

The story teaches that small moments can shape our lives forever. It also warns against hesitation and reminds readers that chances, once lost, may never return.

9. Conclusion / Significance

“Night Train at Deoli” is a beautiful story about memory, love, and loss. It shows how an ordinary incident can become extraordinary through emotions. The story stays with readers long after it ends, making it one of Ruskin Bond’s most memorable works.

   

                             Essay 

“The Long Silence” by Shashi Deshpande

Introduction

The Long Silence (1988) is one of the most celebrated novels by Shashi Deshpande. It is a psychological and feminist novel that explores the inner life of an Indian middle-class woman. The novel focuses on silence—emotional, social, and psychological—and how this silence is imposed on women by patriarchy and tradition.

The novel won the Sahitya Akademi Award and is considered a landmark text in Indian English feminist literature.

About the Author

Shashi Deshpande is an Indian novelist known for portraying women’s struggles within marriage and family. Her writing style is introspective, realistic, and deeply psychological. She focuses more on inner conflict than outer action, making her novels powerful studies of the female mind.

Plot Summary (Detailed)

The novel is narrated by Jaya, an educated woman and writer. The story begins when her husband Mohan faces a professional crisis due to allegations of corruption. As a result, the family moves to a small flat in Dadar, Mumbai.

This physical displacement triggers Jaya’s emotional journey. She begins reflecting on her married life, her childhood, her relationships, and her lost ambitions. Through memories, she realizes that she has deliberately chosen silence to keep peace in her marriage.

Jaya recalls how she once wrote bold stories but later stopped because Mohan disliked her honesty. Gradually, she molded herself into the ideal wife—quiet, supportive, and non-questioning. Her silence, however, leads to frustration, loneliness, and loss of identity.

Towards the end, Jaya understands that silence is not a virtue but a form of self-erasure. The novel concludes with her determination to break the long silence and reclaim her voice, suggesting hope and transformation.

Character Analysis

1. Jaya

Protagonist and narrator

Educated, sensitive, introspective

Symbol of modern Indian woman torn between tradition and individuality

Represents women who silence themselves for marital harmony

2. Mohan

Jaya's husband

Conventional, patriarchal, career-oriented

Believes a wife should be obedient and supportive

Represents male dominance in marriage

3. Kamat

Family friend

Encourages Jaya to think freely

Symbol of intellectual companionship

Helps Jaya question her silence

4. Vanita Mami

Represents traditional female suffering

Dies after lifelong oppression

Symbol of women destroyed by silence

5. Rahul and Rati

Jaya’s children

Represent responsibility and emotional distance within family life

Major Themes

1. Silence and Suppression

Silence is the central theme. Women are taught that silence equals virtue. Jaya realizes that her silence has robbed her of identity and happiness.

2. Feminism

The novel highlights subtle oppression rather than open violence. It shows how women accept patriarchy unknowingly through compromise and obedience.

3. Marriage and Power

Marriage is shown as unequal. Mohan dominates emotionally, while Jaya adjusts and sacrifices her individuality.

4. Identity Crisis

Jaya struggles to define herself beyond roles of wife and mother. Writing becomes her path to self-discovery.

5. Tradition vs. Modernity

Jaya is modern and educated, yet bound by traditional expectations.

Symbols

Silence – Women’s oppression and emotional suppression

Writing – Self-expression and freedom

Home – Both shelter and confinement

Mythological references – Sita and Savitri symbolize ideal silent wives

Style and Technique

First-person narration

Stream-of-consciousness technique

Non-linear structure (memories and reflections)

Psychological realism

Title Justification

The title “The Long Silence” symbolizes:

Years of emotional suppression

Women’s muted voices in marriage

Jaya’s internal struggle

The novel ends with the hope of breaking this silence.

Conclusion

The Long Silence is a powerful exploration of female consciousness. It questions traditional ideals of womanhood and stresses the importance of self-expression. The novel ends on a hopeful note, suggesting that voice is essential for identity and survival.

References 

That Long Silence by Shashi Deshpande

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/That_Long_Silence

Shashi Deshpande – Author Profile

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shashi_Deshpande

Elaine Showalter, A Literature of Their Own

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Literature_of_Their_Own

Simone de Beauvoir, The Second Sex

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Second_Sex