Ahmad Ali wrote his famous

novel Twilight in Delhi

which offers to the reader the
Fall of Muslim Empire and its
cultural heritage. It depicts a
clash between old and new. It
brings before our eyes a true
motion-picture of how the
Muslims of the sub-continent
used to live their religious,
social, cultural, single and
collective life during the
chaotic years of 1857-1919.

 Another important thing to note is that, Ahmad Ali shows

us all the positive as well as negative aspects of the
Muslim Cultural life of sub-continent. So there is no taboo
binding the hands of the writer to omit this or that part of
the life: he presents life as a whole in all its aspects and
colors.

 The title of Ahmad Alis novel as Twilight in

Delhi is very significant in itself.
Twilight means the time of the day just after
sunset or before dawn when the sun is below the
horizon.
As the novel is aimed at writing about the fall of
the moghals,& the death of culture.

Significance of the Title

Twilight in Delhi deals with dying culture &
civilization of Muslim India in the earlier part
of twentieth century.
The city Delhi had faced many ups & downs
during the Muslim rule. It had a culture &
social order of its own, but culture was under
the threats of being demolished or changed
by British colonizers.

Significance of the Title

Delhi was once a paradise,
Where love held swayed & reigned;
But its charm lies ravished now
And only ruins remains.
No tears were shed When shroud less they
Were laid in common graves;
No prayers were read for the noble dead,
Unmarked remain their graves

Asghars Longing for Love

Throughout the novel, symbolical elements
are used vehemently.
Disillusioned character of Asghar I a
representative of the youth.
His approach seemed to be un realistic
Mr.Nihalss family represents the Muslim
community in India

Cat Episode

The death of Mr.Nihalss pigeons

is highly symbolic
It is a Turning point in Mr. Nihals
life.
A healthy tall & handsome person
turned into the weakest person in
the world.
The whole episode tells the
defeat of a certain way of life,
which showed the static side of
Muslim life.

Cat Episode
If the pigeons are a feature of culture, the cat
is perhaps the intruder & the symbolic idea
behind the picture is death of culture.
A famous critic Coppola sees it as, a potent
symbol Ali has used repeatedly in his short
stories to represent cunning, stealth &
destruction. He also identifies the cat with the
British who have succeeded in altering or
destroying these cherished ways of life by
introducing new ideologies.

Pigeon Flying & Kite Flying

Pigeon Flying & Kite Flying have been shown
as a part of their culture.
Another hobby is alchemy
The real idea behind these hobbies is to show
the general attitude or behavior of society.
Symbolically these hobbies are different
channels of escapism.

Mr. Nihals Paralysis

Mr. Nihals Paralysis represents a parting away
of old order or the end of old orthodox beliefs.
His desperation is symbolically the
desperation of old generation & its disability
at the distortion of its future hopes.
His paralyzed condition is the symbol of
stagnant & paralyzed condition of Muslims.
The death of Babban Jan & loss of pigeons add
agony to his life.

Begum Nihals Blindness

Begum Nihals Blindness shows her lack of
comprehension in maintaining the values with
changed social order in making proper
decisions.
Her blindness shows the blindness of women
of that age who were being unable to manage
the matters.

 Delhi is the representative of a particular set

of values.
Going through the novel one often feels Delhi
to be the central character and all characters
establish one or the other aspect of the city
itself in living their own lives.