Indian English literature
Name: Malek Muskan Naushadbhai
College: Maharanishree Nandkuverba Mahila Arts And Commerce College
Year: T. Y. B. A.
Sem:6
Subject : A Study of Indian English novel and short stories
Topic: (1) The night train at deoli by Ruskin bond
(2)How I taught my grandmother to read by sudha murti
Assignment:Home assignment, class assignment, essay writing
Submitted to : Amena Rangwala
Class Assignment
(1) Toba Tek Singh By Sadat Hasan Manto
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Overview
"Toba Tek Singh" is a short story written by Saadat Hasan Manto and published in 1955. It follows inmates in a Lahore asylum, some of whom are to be transferred to India following the 1947 Partition. The story is a "powerful satire, and also a bitter indictment of the political processes and behavior patterns that produced [India's] Partition".
Author
Characters
Bishan Singh (Toba Tek Singh): A Sikh inmate who has been in the asylum for 15 years. Once a prosperous landlord, he has not slept since his admission and spent the entire time standing on his feet, causing his legs to swell. He is obsessed with the location of his hometown, Toba Tek Singh, and famously mutters the nonsensical phrase: "Upar di gur gur di annexe di be-dhiyana mang di daal of di Toba Tek Singh and Pakistan
The Muslim Inmate (Muhammad Ali):
An inmate from Chiniot who declares himself to be Quaid-e-Azam (Muhammad Ali Jinnah).
The Sikh Inmate: In response to Muhammad Ali, this inmate promptly declares himself to be Master Tara Singh (a prominent Sikh political leader).
The Tree-Dweller: A Muslim inmate who, confused by the division of India and Pakistan, climbs a tree and decides to live there because he wants to belong to neither country.
The "God" Character: An inmate who believes he is God. When Bishan Singh asks him where Toba Tek Singh is, he replies that he hasn't decided yet as he is busy with other orders.
The Hindu Lawyer: A young man from Lahore who went mad after being separated from his beloved in Amritsar due to the new borders.
The Anglo-Indians: Inmates in the European ward who are concerned that their special status and western food (bread) will be replaced by local "chapattis" after the British leave.
Fazal Din: An old Muslim friend from Bishan Singh’s village who visits him to bring news that his family has safely migrated to India.
Roop Kaur: Bishan Singh’s daughter, who visits him once a year. During her final visit, Bishan does not recognize her, symbolizing his complete detachment from the changing reality.
The Guards and Officials: Representing bureaucratic indifference, they oversee the physical exchange of inmates at the border (Wagah), treating them as mere cargo.
(2) Lihaaf (The quilt) by Ismat chugtai
Author
Overview
"Lihaaf" ("The Quilt") is an Urdu short story written by Ismat Chughtai which was published in the Urdu literary journal Adab-i-Latif in 1942. In the coming decades, it was widely anthologised and faced an obscenity trial. It is one of Chughtai's well known works.The story deals with suggestive lesbianism, but also with the insulated and suffocating life of a neglected wife in a feudal society as well as sexual abuse.
Characters
Begum Jaan: The story's protagonist, she is a beautiful woman married to a wealthy Nawab. Trapped in a loveless and neglectful marriage, she experiences deep isolation and physical dissatisfaction until she finds companionship and relief through her maid.
Rabbu: Begum Jaan's devoted servant and masseuse. Described as physically unattractive—dark-skinned, stocky, and scarred by smallpox—she is nonetheless essential to Begum Jaan, providing the physical intimacy and "massages" that the Begum craves.
The Narrator : An eight-year-old girl and the niece of Begum Jaan. Her innocent and often confused perspective provides the lens through which the reader observes the "shadowy" activities beneath the quilt.
Nawab Sahab: Begum Jaan's husband, an esteemed and virtuous man. He is physically present only on the periphery of the story, as he is more interested in the company of "young, fair, slender-waisted boys" than his own wife.
Minor Characters
The Narrator's Mother: She sends her daughter to stay with Begum Jaan, hoping the girl will learn feminine grace and decorum.
The Night Of The Full Moon (Pooranmashi) by kartar singh duggal
Author:
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Overview
Kartar Singh Duggal published a short story collection in English translation titled The Night of the Full Moon and Other Stories in 1992.
The title story in the collection is "The Night of the Full Moon" ("Pooranmashi" in Punjabi).
The original Punjabi work, a collection of stories including "Pooranmashi," was his twelfth
collection of short stories in Punjabi entitled Ik Chhit Chanan Di, which won the Sahitya
Akademi Award in 1965.
The English collection includes 41 stories and was published by Sahitya Akademi. The title story is about a mother and daughter and explores the author's understanding of women's responses.
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 (Malan’s Secret Admirer)
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.
The night train at deoli by Ruskin Bond
Author
Overview
"The Night Train at Deoli" tells the story of a college student's train journey to Dehradun. During a stop at the small station of Deoli, he has a brief encounter that leaves a lasting impression. He finds himself anticipating future stops at the same station, hoping for another glimpse. However, on a subsequent journey, his expectation is met with disappointment. Unable to learn more about the object of his interest, he chooses to continue his journey with the memory of the encounter. The story ends with him still traveling and carrying the hope of seeing the person again.
Characters
The Narrator:
An 18-year-old college student traveling from Delhi to his grandmother's house in Dehradun. He is sensitive, introspective, and romantic, often lost in thoughts and dreams. He develops a deep, silent infatuation with a girl he sees at a lonely station, which leaves a permanent mark on his heart.
The Basket Seller (The Girl):
A young, mysterious village girl seen selling hand-woven baskets at the Deoli railway station. She is described as having pale skin, shiny black hair, and "dark, smoldering eyes". Despite her poverty being barefoot and wearing old clothes she carries herself with grace and dignity. She never speaks much, which adds to her enigmatic presence.
The Grandmother:
The narrator's grandmother, whom he visits every summer in Dehradun.
The Station Master:
There are two mentioned the original station master and his successor. The new station master provides the narrator with the disappointing news that no one knows what happened to the girl.
The Tea Stall Owner:
A person at the Deoli station who is unable to provide any information about the girl when the narrator searches for her.
The Train Guard:
A minor figure who signals the train's departure, often cutting the narrator's brief moments with the girl short.
How I taught my grandmother to read by sudha murthy.
Author:
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Overview:
How I Taught My Grandmother to Read? is a fictional short story written by prolific Indian author Sudha Murthy. This story was published in the book How I Taught My Grandmother to Read and Other Stories in the year 2004 by Penguin Books, India. Later it was included in the Class 9 English Communicative CBSE Syllabus. In the story, the author recalls how she taught her illiterate grandmother to read.
Characters:
1. Krishtakka (The Grandmother)
The central figure of the story is a 62-year-old woman living in a village in north Karnataka.
Illiterate yet Wise:
Having lost her mother young, she never attended school and spent her life dedicated to her family and religious duties.
Determined:
After realizing her helplessness when she cannot read her favorite magazine serial alone, she decides to learn the Kannada alphabet, proving that "for learning, age is no bar".
Humble:
Upon completing her goal, she breaks tradition by touching her 12-year-old granddaughter’s feet, treating her as a Guru (teacher).
2. The Narrator/Granddaughter
The story is told from the perspective of a young girl, about 12 years old.
The Teacher:
She initially teases her grandmother for wanting to learn at an old age but eventually becomes her dedicated tutor.
Observant and Empathetic:
She notices her grandmother’s distress after returning from a wedding and is moved by her desire to become independent.
3. Triveni (The Author of 'Kashi Yatre')
While not a physical character in the village, the popular Kannada writer Triveni is essential to the plot.
The Inspiration:
Her novel Kashi Yatre, published serially in the magazine Karamveera, features a protagonist who mirrors the grandmother’s own desire to visit Kashi.
The Motivation:
It is the grandmother’s intense emotional connection to Triveni’s story that drives her to overcome her illiteracy.
Karma by Khushwant Singh
Author:
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Characters:
"Karma" is a short story written by Indian writer Khushwant Singh. It was originally published in 1989 in Singh's The Collected Stories."Karma" is about an Oxford-educated Indian man who adopts upper-class English culture and lifestyle only to be rejected by British colonial officers.
Characters:
Sir Mohan Lal:
A middle-aged Indian man and barrister who spent five years studying at Oxford.Arrogant, snobbish, and deeply ashamed of his Indian heritage. He considers himself superior to other Indians, including his wife.
He meticulously mimics British mannerisms wearing Savile Row suits and Balliol ties, drinking Scotch, and reading The Times to impress Englishmen. He is the protagonist whose "karma" is realized when the very culture he admires (the British) rejects and humiliates him.
Lady Lal (Lachmi):
Sir Mohan Lal's wife, a traditional, uneducated Indian woman in her mid-forties. Simple, pleasant, and gregarious; she is the complete opposite of her husband.
She wears a traditional sari with a diamond nose ring, eats chapattis with mango pickle, and enjoys chatting with porters and commoners. She represents authentic Indian roots. While her husband is thrown off the train, she continues her journey undisturbed in the general compartment.
Bill and Jim:
Two British soldiers who encounter Sir Mohan Lal in the first-class compartment. They treat him with racist disdain, calling him a "nigger" and eventually throwing him off the moving train.
The Porter (Coolie):
A station worker who assists Lachmi with her luggage and engages in friendly conversation with her, contrasting Sir Mohan's refusal to speak with "natives".
The Bearer:
A servant who brings Sir Mohan his drink and installs his luggage in the first-class coupe.
Home Assignment
The night train at deoli by Ruskin bond
About the author:
Ruskin Bond (born 19 May 1934) is an Indian author and poet. His first novel, The Room on the Roof, published in 1956, received the John Llewellyn Rhys Prize. Bond has authored more than 500 short stories, essays, and novels which includes 69 books for children.[1] He was awarded the Sahitya Akademi Award in 1992 for Our Trees Still Grow in Dehra. He was awarded the Padma Shri in 1999 and the Padma Bhushan in 2014.
Summary:
"The Night Train at Deoli" by Ruskin Bond is a poignant story about adolescent infatuation, the beauty of fleeting encounters, and the bittersweet nature of unfulfilled longing. Narrated by an 18-year-old college student, the story recounts his annual summer journeys by the night train to his grandmother's home in Dehradun.
The central event occurs at Deoli, a small, isolated railway station where the train stops for only ten minutes. During one such stop, the narrator encounters a young girl selling cane baskets. Narrator is immediately struck by her appearance her pale skin, shiny black hair, and "dark, troubled eyes".
Though they barely speak, a profound silent connection forms between them. On his return journey months later, they meet again, and the mutual recognition is clear; they share a brief, joyous moment of unspoken affection.
The narrator feels a deep sense of responsibility and an impulse to take her with him, but the train's departure forces another separation.
The tragedy of the story lies in the girl’s subsequent disappearance.
When the narrator returns the following summer, the girl is nowhere to be found. His inquiries at the station yield no answers, leaving him in a state of dread and disappointment.
Despite his intent to stay a day in Deoli to find her, he never actually gets off the train on future trips. He chooses to preserve his idealized memory of her rather than risk facing a harsh or painful reality. He prefers to keep "hoping and dreaming," and the girl remains an eternal, beautiful mystery in his mind.
Bond explores the theme of ephemeral connections how brief interactions with strangers can leave a lasting impact on our souls. The story also touches on the innocence of youth and the fear of disappointment. By never breaking his journey at Deoli, the narrator demonstrates a universal human tendency to romanticize the unknown. Ultimately, "The Night Train at Deoli" is a celebration of the power of memory and the small, seemingly insignificant moments that shape our lives.
How I Taught My Grandmother To Read by Sudha Murthy
About the author
Sudha Murty ; born 19 August 1950 is an Indian educator, author, and philanthropist. She is the Founder-Chairperson of the non-profit charitable organization Infosys Foundation. She is married to the co-founder of Infosys, N. R. Narayana Murthy. In 2024, Murty was nominated as Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha on 8 March 2024 for her contribution to social work and education. Murty was awarded the Padma Shri, the fourth highest civilian award in India, for social work by the Government of India in 2006.[2] In 2023, she was awarded the Padma Bhushan, the third highest civilian award in India.
Summary
When the author was a girl of about twelve, she used to stay in a village in North Karnataka with her grandparents. Since the transport system was not very good in those days, they used to get the morning newspaper not until the afternoon. The weekly magazine used to come in a day late. All of them would wait eagerly for the bus, which arrived with the newspapers, weekly magazine and the post.
At that time, Triveni was a very popular writer in the Kannada language and all the village people would wait eagerly for the weekly magazine 'Karmaveera', where one of her novel Kashi Yatre was appearing as a serial. It was the story of an old lady and her earnest desire to go to Kashi, where she wished to worship Lord Vishweshwara to attain the ultimate blessings. But finally, the old lady sacrifices all her savings for the marriage of a young, poor girl, who falls in love but there was no money for her wedding so she gave her all her savings.
Impressed by the plot of Kashi Yatre, the author's grandmother Krishtakka would listen to the story as her granddaughter read the episodes to her. She was so touched as she related with the main character. She could repeat the entire text by heart. She never went to school and so, she couldn't read it by herself. Afterwards, she used to join her friends at the temple park and would discuss the latest episodes.
After narrator returns from enjoying a week-long wedding with her cousins, she finds her grandmother in tears. When she asks her what the matter was, her grandmother expresses her grief of getting married very early and therefore not getting a chance to receive an education. She explains that while the author was away, Karmaveera came in as usual, but she couldn't read a single alphabet and felt very embarrassed, helpless and dependent. After this, she firmly decides that she will learn to read the Kannada alphabet from the next day onwards and keep the day of Saraswati Puja as the deadline. That day she would be able to read a novel by herself
As a result, from the next day the author started her tuition and found her grandmother to be a very intelligent and hardworking student. She diligently did her homework and slowly learnt to read, repeat, write and recite.
When the Dussehra festival came as usual, the writer secretly bought Kashi Yatre which had been published as a novel by that time. Then suddenly her grandmother bent down and touched her feet. The author found this as extremely bizarre since elders never touch the feet of youngsters and thought that her grandmother had broken the rules of the tradition. But in response to that, her grandmother replied that she was touching the feet of a Guru (teacher), not her 12-year-old granddaughter as it was the custom that a teacher should be respected, irrespective of gender and age. She explained that her granddaughter was a very caring and loving teacher who taught her so well that she could easily read any novel confidently. This way, the author had helped her grandmother to become independent.
The story ends as the author gives the gift to her grandmother and her grandmother is able to read the title Kashi Yatre by Triveni.
Essay
That long silence by Shashi Deshpande
About author
She was born on 19 august 1938 in Dharwad, Karnataka, the second daughter of the Kannada dramatist and writer Adya Rangacharya and Sharada Adya. She was educated in Bombay now Mumbai and Bangalore. Deshpande has degrees in Economics and Law. In Mumbai, she studied journalism at the Vidya Bhavan and worked for a few months as a journalist for the magazine 'Onlooker'.
She published her first collection of short stories in 1978, and her first novel, 'The Dark Holds No Terror', in 1980. She won the Sahitya Akademi Award for the novel That Long Silence in 1990 and the Padma Shri award in 2009. Her novel Shadow Play was shortlisted for The Hindu Literary Prize in 2014.
Summary
Shashi Deshpande’s That Long Silence is the quiet yet deeply moving story of Jaya, an educated middle-class woman whose life appears settled on the surface but is filled with unspoken pain and emotional suppression.
The novel begins at a moment of crisis in Jaya’s life. Her husband Mohan, a successful engineer, is accused of professional misconduct, and as a result, the couple is forced to leave their comfortable home in Bombay and move into a small, almost empty flat.
This sudden change disrupts their routine and exposes the emotional distance between them. Mohan withdraws into silence and despair, while Jaya is left alone with her thoughts, memories, and questions about her life and marriage.
As Jaya sits in the quiet of the flat, the present moment triggers a flood of memories from her past. The narrative moves back and forth in time as she reflects on her childhood, her marriage, and the many compromises she has made over the years.
Jaya remembers how, from a young age, she was taught that a woman’s duty is to adjust, endure, and remain silent for the sake of family harmony. These lessons slowly shaped her into someone who suppresses her true feelings in order to be a “good wife.”
Her marriage to Mohan, once filled with hope, gradually becomes emotionally empty. Mohan expects Jaya to fit into the traditional role of a supportive, obedient wife who never challenges his authority.
Although Jaya is intelligent and independent by nature, she learns that speaking openly often leads to conflict. To avoid disturbing Mohan’s sense of masculinity and control, she begins to silence herself.
Over time, this silence becomes a habit, and eventually, a way of life. Jaya realizes that she has stopped expressing anger, disappointment, or desire, choosing instead to maintain a peaceful but hollow relationship.
Before marriage, Jaya had dreams of becoming a serious writer. Writing gave her a sense of identity and freedom. After marriage, however, Mohan reacts negatively to one of her stories, feeling exposed and uncomfortable with her honesty. Hurt by his reaction and fearful of upsetting him again, Jaya gives up meaningful writing and turns to safer, superficial columns.
In doing so, she sacrifices her creative voice, just as she sacrifices her emotional one. Writing, which once allowed her to speak, becomes another area marked by silence.
As Jaya reflects on her own life, she also recalls the lives of other women she has known. These memories deepen her understanding of how widespread female suffering is. Her sister Kusum, emotionally neglected and mentally fragile, is treated as a burden by her family and ultimately commits suicide. Vanita Mami, trapped in an unhappy marriage, seeks love outside her relationship but is still denied dignity and happiness.
Through these women, Jaya sees different forms of silence some imposed by society, some chosen for survival and realizes that none of them truly protect women from pain.
The crisis in Mohan’s professional life becomes a turning point in Jaya’s self-awareness. For the first time, she sees her husband not as a strong, confident man but as someone deeply insecure, dependent on her silence for his sense of superiority.
She begins to understand that her silence has not only erased her identity but has also allowed Mohan to remain emotionally distant and authoritarian. Jaya recognizes her own role in sustaining this silence how she chose comfort and social approval over honesty and self-expression.
As the novel moves toward its conclusion, Jaya arrives at a quiet but powerful realization. Silence, which she once believed was necessary for peace and stability, has only led to loneliness and self-denial.
The “long silence” of her life symbolizes the silence of countless women who are taught to suppress their voices in marriage and society. Jaya decides that she can no longer live this way.
The novel does not end with dramatic rebellion or separation, it closes with hope. Jaya resolves to speak honestly, to communicate with Mohan, and to reclaim her voice through truthful writing.
That Long Silence is ultimately a story of inner awakening rather than outward action. Shashi Deshpande captures the emotional reality of women who live within social boundaries yet struggle silently against them. Jaya’s journey shows that breaking silence is not an act of aggression but an act of self-respect, and that finding one’s voice is the first step toward a more authentic and meaningful life.
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