assignment. The study of Indian novel and short stories
Name : Gohil nehaba vikramsninh
T.Y B.A SEM 6
Subject : the study of Indian novel and short stories
College - maharani shree nandkuvarba mahila arts and commerce college Bhavnagar
Topic: class assignment
characters of six stories
1. Toba tek Singh
2. Lihaf
3. The night of full moon
4. The night train at Deoli
5. Karma
6. How I taught my grandmother to read
Class assignment
Summary and theme of the train at deroli
Essay
That long silence novel as feminism
Class assignment
https://share.google/Oj0MXI6HqcOa1j3vF
Here are the main characters of the story “Toba Tek Singh” written by Saadat Hasan Manto:
1) Bishan Singh (Toba Tek Singh)
He is the main character of the story.
A Sikh man who has been in a mental asylum for many years.
He keeps repeating meaningless words like:
“Upar di gur gur di annexe di bedhiyana di moong di dal…”
He is from a village called Toba Tek Singh.
After the Partition of India, he becomes confused about whether his village is in India or Pakistan.
He refuses to go to either country and finally dies in the land between the two borders (no man’s land).
He represents the pain and confusion of Partition.
2) Fazal Din
A Muslim friend of Bishan Singh from his village.
He visits Bishan Singh in the asylum.
He tells him that his family has moved to India.
He tries to explain that Toba Tek Singh is in Pakistan.
He shows human friendship beyond religion.
3) The Other Inmates (Mental Patients)
Manto shows different types of patients to highlight the madness of society:
-A Muslim man who believes he is Muhammad Ali Jinnah.
-A Sikh who thinks he is Master Tara Singh.
-A Hindu lawyer who becomes mad because his beloved is in another country after Partition.
-An Englishman who is worried about whether he will be sent to England or remain in India.
These characters show how Partition affected everyone, even those who were already mentally unstable
4) Asylum Officials and Police
They arrange the exchange of mental patients between India and Pakistan.
They follow government orders without understanding the emotional pain of the patients.
They represent the cold and mechanical system of governments.
About the Story
“Toba Tek Singh” is set after the Partition of India in 1947.
The story shows how the division between India and Pakistan created confusion, suffering, and identity crisis.
–Through Bishan Singh, Manto criticizes the political decisions that divided people and families.
Story no 2
https://share.google/y435OFaLt7hbahkre
Lihaf
Insmat chughtai
Here are the main characters of “Lihaaf” (The Quilt) written by Ismat Chughtai:
1) Begum Jaan
She is the central character of the story.
Wife of Nawab Sahib.
She feels lonely and neglected because her husband shows no interest in her.
She becomes physically and emotionally weak due to lack of love and attention.
Her relationship with Rabbu becomes very close and intimate.
The “lihaaf” (quilt) symbolically hides her secret desires.
2) Nawab Sahib
Husband of Begum Jaan.
A rich and respected man in society.
He does not show affection toward his wife.
He prefers the company of young boys and students.
He represents hypocrisy in upper-class society.
3) Rabbu
Maid and companion of Begum Jaan.
She massages Begum Jaan’s body regularly.
She becomes very close to Begum Jaan.
Their relationship suggests hidden physical intimacy.
She plays an important role in fulfilling Begum Jaan’s emotional and physical needs.
4) The Young Narrator (Little Girl)
A child who comes to stay at Begum Jaan’s house.
She observes everything innocently.
She notices strange movements under the quilt at night.
Through her innocent eyes, the writer reveals the hidden reality.
Her narration adds mystery and suspense.
About the Story
“Lihaaf” is a bold story that talks about loneliness, female desire, and social hypocrisy in traditional society.
It created controversy when it was first published because it openly discussed hidden relationships.
Story no 3
https://share.google/bWrvu8YTVdEW0xViC
The night of full moon
Kartar Singh Duggal
Characters
1.Malan
Malan is Minnie’s mother.
Even though she is middle-aged, she is still very beautiful and looks
young, almost like Minnie’s sister. Her husband ignores her and stays busy with work, which
makes her feel lonely and unhappy. For many years, a man has loved her silently and waited for
her.
On a full-moon night, Malan finally gives in to her hidden feelings and goes to meet him.
This decision later causes a misunderstanding, and people wrongly blame her daughter Minnie
for what happened.
2. Minnie
Minnie is Malan’s daughter. She is young, beautiful, innocent, and shy.
She is about to be
married in a week and behaves like a well-mannered and respectful girl.
She regularly prays at
the temple and follows social rules. Sadly, she becomes a victim of false accusations when
villagers think they saw her with a man at night.
In reality, it was Malan wearing Minnie’s
dupatta and bangles, but Minnie has to suffer because of this mistake.
3.the lover boy
The lover is a man who has deeply loved Malan for more than twenty years.
Every full-moon
night, he comes quietly, hoping Malan will accept his love.
For years, she refused him, but this
time she opened the door.
He meets Malan near the bo tree on the full-moon night. His meeting
with Malan becomes the reason for the later misunderstanding in the village.
4. Malan’s Husband
Malan’s husband is a strict and hardworking moneylender.
He is always busy earning money and
caring only about work. He does not show love, care, or emotional support to Malan.
Because of
his cold behavior, Malan feels neglected. On the important full-moon night, he is away from
home, which indirectly allows the misunderstanding to take place.
5. Lajo (Neighbour Woman)
Lajo is Malan’s neighbour.
She is curious, judgmental, and enjoys gossiping about others. She
claims that she saw Minnie with a strange man in the fields at night. Instead of checking the
truth, she spreads her assumption. Her words play a big role in starting the false rumour and
damaging Minnie’s reputation.
6. Jumma (Village Watchman)
Jumma is the village watchman. He also says that he saw “Minnie” with a man during the night.
In truth, he saw Malan, but he could not recognize her because she was wearing Minnie’s
dupatta.
By repeating what he saw without understanding the truth, Jumma adds more strength to
the false accusation and scandal.
7. Ratna (Zamindar / Landlord)
Ratna is the rich and powerful landlord of the village.
He becomes angry when he finds a broken
red bangle in his field.
Since Minnie was seen wearing twelve bangles, he believes the broken
one belongs to her.
Without listening carefully or thinking deeply, he accuses Minnie in front of
everyone.
His strong words make the situation worse and increase the public humiliation of an
innocent girl.
Story no 4
The night train at daroli
-Ruskin bond
Characters of The Night Train at Deoli by Ruskin Bond
The Night Train at Deoli is a short romantic story about a young boy who falls in love with a girl he meets at a railway station. The story has very few characters, but each one is important.
1. The Narrator (Young College Boy)
He is the main character of the story.
He is a college student who travels by train to Dehradun during his holidays.
He is sensitive, emotional, and romantic.
He falls in love with the basket-selling girl at first sight.
He is shy and confused about his feelings.
Even after many years, he cannot forget her.
2. The Basket-Selling Girl
She is a poor village girl who sells baskets on the platform at Deoli station.
She is simple, innocent, and beautiful.
She has dark eyes and a sweet smile.
She does not talk much but expresses her feelings through her eyes.
She seems lonely but strong.
One day, she suddenly disappears from the station, which makes the story emotional and mysterious.
3. The Narrator’s Grandmother
She lives in Dehradun.
The narrator visits her during his summer vacations.
She is a minor character and does not play a direct role in the love story.
4. Other Minor Characters
Passengers on the train
Porters and vendors at Deoli station
These characters help create the atmosphere of the railway station and support the main story.
Story no 5
https://share.google/nePvcx4iVWFgy8zo0
Karma
-Khushawant Singh
Characters of Karma by Khushwant Singh
Karma is a short story about pride, westernization, and poetic justice. The story has few characters, but each one is important.
1. Sir Mohan Lal (Main Character)
He is a wealthy, educated Indian man.
He has studied in England and admires British culture.
He speaks English fluently and feels superior to other Indians.
He dislikes Indian traditions and tries to behave like an Englishman.
He is proud, arrogant, and full of false ego.
At the railway station, he is insulted and thrown out of the first-class compartment by a British soldier.
His humiliation shows the theme of karma (as you sow, so shall you reap).
2. Lachmi (Sir Mohan Lal’s Wife)
She is a simple, traditional Indian woman.
She wears Indian clothes and speaks in a simple manner.
She is humble and respectful.
Sir Mohan Lal feels ashamed of her because she is not “modern.”
She travels in the zenana (ladies’) compartment.
In the end, she continues her journey peacefully, while her husband is left humiliated on the platform.
3. The British Soldier
He is a minor but important character.
He represents British colonial arrogance.
He insults Sir Mohan Lal and throws him out of the compartment.
His behavior shows the racial discrimination during British rule.
4. Other Minor Characters
Coolies (porters)
Railway officials
Other passengers
They help create the realistic setting of the railway station.
Story no 6
https://share.google/ZfooHUYvEkdEtXauR
How i taught my grandmother to read
Sudha Murthy
Characters of How I Taught My Grandmother to Read by Sudha Murty
This is a touching autobiographical story about love, education, and determination. The story has a few important characters.
1. Sudha (Narrator)
She is the granddaughter and the narrator of the story.
She is a young school-going girl.
She is intelligent, confident, and kind-hearted.
During her holidays, she reads the weekly story Kashi Yatre to her grandmother.
When her grandmother feels helpless for not being able to read, Sudha teaches her the Kannada alphabet.
She becomes her grandmother’s teacher and feels proud of her success.
2. Grandmother (Avva / Ajji)
She is an elderly woman who cannot read or write.
She is loving, caring, and affectionate.
She is deeply interested in the Kannada novel Kashi Yatre by Triveni.
When Sudha goes away to a wedding, she realizes the pain of being illiterate.
She decides to learn reading and writing at the age of 62.
She is determined and hardworking.
On Saraswati Puja, she touches Sudha’s feet as a mark of respect to her teacher.
3. Sudha’s Grandfather
He is a minor character.
He supports the grandmother’s decision to learn.
He helps create a positive and encouraging atmosphere at home.
4. The Author Triveni (Indirect
Character)
She wrote the novel Kashi Yatre, which inspires the grandmother to learn reading.
Though she does not appear in the story, her work plays an important role.
๐๐๐ฅ๐ฅHome assignment๐ฅ๐ฅ ๐๐
The Night Train at Deoli
About the Author
Ruskin Bond (born 1934) is a famous Indian author known for his simple and emotional stories.
He was born in Kasauli, India.
He writes about nature, small towns, and human relationships.
Many of his stories are set in Dehradun and the hills of India.
His first novel was The Room on the Roof.
He has received awards like the Sahitya Akademi Award and Padma Shri.
๐๐ซSummary of the Story๐ซ๐
The Night Train at Deoli is a short romantic story about a young college boy who falls in love with a girl he meets at a small railway station called Deoli.
The narrator used to travel by train to Dehradun during his summer vacations to visit his grandmother.
The train stopped for a few minutes at Deoli station. One day, he saw a young girl selling baskets on the platform. She was poor but very beautiful, with dark eyes and a simple appearance. The boy was attracted to her innocence.
On his next journey, he spoke to her and bought a basket. They did not talk much, but their eyes expressed feelings. Slowly, a silent bond developed between them.
The boy began waiting eagerly for the train to stop at Deoli so he could see her.
However, one day when he arrived at the station, the girl was not there. He asked about her but got no clear answer. She had disappeared.
He felt sad and confused. Even after many years, he could not forget her and kept wondering what had happened to her.
The story ends with a feeling of mystery and incomplete love.
๐ซThemes of the Story๐ซ
1. Love at First Sight
The story shows how the narrator falls in love instantly with the basket-selling girl.
2. Separation and Loss
The sudden disappearance of the girl creates sadness and shows that some relationships remain incomplete.
3. Mystery of Life
The story ends without answers, showing that life does not always give explanations.
4. Youth and Imagination
The narrator’s feelings reflect the emotional and dreamy nature of youth.
5. Social Difference
The boy is educated and from a better background, while the girl is poor. This shows social inequality.
๐ฅ๐Essay ๐๐ฅ
https://share.google/p17p3KsQ8NhSu5eA5
“The Long Silence” in Feminism – Explanation
About the Author – That Long Silence
Shashi Deshpande is the author of the novel That Long Silence.
https://share.google/NsTzMyXObw1oIozTa
๐น Early Life
She was born in 1938 in Dharwad, Karnataka, India.
Her father, Adya Rangacharya, was a famous Kannada dramatist and writer.
She was educated in Mumbai and later studied journalism.
๐น Writing Career
Shashi Deshpande is one of the most important Indian women novelists writing in English.
Her works mainly focus on middle-class Indian women, their struggles, identity, marriage, and inner conflicts.
She writes about women’s emotions, silence, and the pressure of society.
๐น Major Works
The Dark Holds No Terrors
Roots and Shadows
That Long Silence
๐น Awards
That Long Silence won the Sahitya Akademi Award in 1990.
๐น Themes in Her Writing
Feminism and women’s identity
Marriage and family relationships
Social expectations from women
The need to break silence and speak out .
๐ซ๐ธ“The long silence” in feminism means the long period in history when women’s voices, experiences, and rights were ignored or suppressed. For centuries, women were expected to remain quiet, obedient, and dependent on men. They were not allowed to express their opinions freely.
1. Meaning of “Long Silence”
It refers to women being silenced in family, society, politics, and literature.
Women were not encouraged to speak about injustice, discrimination, or abuse.
Their education and freedom were limited.
Many women accepted unfair treatment silently because society expected them to do so.
2. Reasons for the Silence
Patriarchal society: Men had more power in decision-making.
Lack of education: Many women were not allowed to study.
Economic dependence: Women depended on men for financial support.
Social pressure: Speaking against injustice was considered disrespectful.
3. Breaking the Silence
Feminism is the movement that encourages women to:
Speak up for their rights.
Demand equality in education, work, and politics.
Share their personal experiences through writing and activism.
Challenge traditional gender roles.
Writers like Virginia Woolf and Simone de Beauvoir raised strong voices against women’s silence and demanded equal rights.
4. Importance in Literature
In feminist literature:
Women writers express hidden emotions and struggles.
Female characters are shown as strong and independent.
Literature becomes a tool to break silence and create awareness.
Conclusion
“The long silence” in feminism represents the historical oppression of women’s voices. Feminism aims to end this silence by promoting equality, confidence, and freedom of expression. It teaches that women should not remain silent but should speak for their rights and dignity.
