Marriage is important in Indian culture for the

growth of the family and the rise in social status.

The theme of Marriage creates a dilemma for
Asghar as his passion for Bilqeece drives him to
despair and threats of suicide. Marriage also
become the source of dissension between
Asghar and Mir Nihal. Asghar wants to marry
Bilqeece who belongs to a lower status family
than Mir Nihal's family, this exploits Mir Nihal
anger as he wants Asghar to marry with a high
class girl. So, Marriage plays an important role
throughout the novel.

Diminishing of Muslim Culture

One of the major themes in "Twilight in Delhi" is

Diminishing of Muslim's culture. The effects of
shrinking Muslim civilization has been clearly
shown in the novel through the example of
Asghar. Twilight in Delhi basically deals with the
decay of Mughal Kingship and Muslim
civilization and culture.

Before the arrival of the British in Hindustan,

there had been ruling Muslims and their
civilization could be seen everywhere but with the
arrival of the British, the whole civilization faced
a huge decay. Mir Nihal, who used to live in the
Muslim civilization could not gratify with the
present situation of Muslim society. His attitude
reflects the predicament of Muslims of Delhi, to
whom it was about impossible to survive in the
changed conditions. Because they felt that this is
the most embarrassing condition of the Muslims.

Sex

Sex is one the most important themes of the

novel. Ahmed Ali depicts the society of Delhi
through his characters portrayal. Almost all the
characters are sexually suppressed. If we have a
look on Delhi's males society we come to know
that almost every male of Delhi went to
prostitutes to fulfill their desires and when they
become habitual they can not gratify with their
wives because they don't know the art of
capturing men through sex. So most of men have
no longer interest in their wives.

Mir Nihal, the most energetic man, goes to

Babban Jan. A young lady who gave him all these
pleasures and with her death the whole world of
Mir Nihal seems to be destroyed. He had also
illegitimate relations with his maid Dilchain and
when she got pregnant Megum Nihal was so
surprised as she was not married.

Asghar also had a young beautiful lady Mushtari

Bai. After seeing Bilqeece he wanted to marry her
and succeeded but soon lose interest in her
because of her lack sexual understanding. It
wasn't her fault because most of Hindustani's
women are shy and are not familiar with the art
of pleasing men. The whole family represents the
society of Delhi: the interest of men in prostitutes
and unawareness of women in what is happening
in surroundings