International Journal of English Literature and Social Sciences

Vol-7, Issue-1; Jan-Feb, 2022

Journal Home Page Available: https://ijels.com/

Journal DOI: 10.22161/ijels

Peer-Reviewed Journal

Victimization of women in Twilight in Delhi

Behjat Azhar

Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan, Pakistan

Received: 19 Apr 2020; Received in revised form: 19 Jan 2021; Accepted: 25 Jan 2022; Available online: 07 Feb 2022
©2022 The Author(s). Published by Infogain Publication. This is an open access article under the CC BY license
(https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).

Abstract— The research highlights how women are portrayed and objectified in the novel Twilight in
Delhi by Ahmed Ali. Women are victimized and suppressed by the men throughout the novel in various
ways. This research is carried out by the help of theme of feminism and covers almost all the aspects of
the feminist theory. The women are represented as subaltern and under constant influence of
patriarchal society. This image of women in the novel is the reflection of whole Indian society, not only
of a family or particular group. This article is a minute representation of women before the Partition of
the Sub-continent.
Keywords— Victimization, women, Twilight in Delhi, feminism, partition.

I. INTRODUCTION Publication of Angaaray (Embers) in 1932, after which he

Artistic manifestation of life through the medium of became the founder of All-India Progressive Writer’s
language is called literature. On analyzing literature, we can Movement. Angaaray is a collection of short stories, a
see that by development, trends in literature have been rancorous critique of Muslim values. However, he achieved
through a sea of changes and there are changes in forms as international fame by his first novel Twilight in Delhi
well as themes. Instead of common emotional themes as (1940). His literary achievement is more substantial in
were the trends of that time; social and political evils, moods fiction and in poetry as well. Ali earned international
of the age, sexuality, and struggle among different classes acclaim with the publication of his first novel, Twilight in
of the society for survival became the main themes. This Delhi (1940), which was written in English. He was one of
became possible by the contribution of many writers who the founders of modern Pakistani English Literature.
believe in progress of literature. A Progressive Writers The novel Twilight in Delhi is set in Delhi around 1911 to
movement started in 1936 to propagate literary cognizance. 1919. Ahmed Ali has vividly drawn the picture of old Delhi
There are many writers that have contributed much in the and its Muslim inhabitants of that era. He depicts the themes
various genres as poetry and fictions in both English and of disintegration, degeneration, alienation, gender and
Urdu literature, their contributions are still not social conflicts, nostalgia, the downfall of the Mughal
acknowledged in the literary world. Among these writers emperors, and the effects of colonialism and imperialism on
are Syed Sajjad Zahir, Ahmed Ali, Rashid Jehan, and Indian Muslims in Delhi. The novel deals with the decline
Mahmuduz Zafar. These literery personalities are also and disintegration of Northern India’s Muslim aristocracy
known as the initiators and “the trend setters of coming through the eyes of Mir Nihal and his family. Mehrotra is of
generations of writers”. As committed writer and social the view that the novel is an apt portrayal of the political,
reformer, Ahmed Ali (1910-1994) holds a very noticeable cultural and social changes that were an after effect of
stance. His contributions have created a very prominent colonialism in India (2003, p.185).
difference in betterment of life. The central theme of the novel is depicted by the title itself.
Being born in Delhi, he received his education from Aligarh Twilight in Delhi is the start of a new civilization and the
and Lucknow universities where he did his masters in initial stages of colonization of British in the early
English (1931). Ahmed Ali’s literary career started with the Twentieth century. It also hints towards the downfall of the

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Behjat Azhar Victimization of women in Twilight in Delhi

Muslim society as well as cultures and traditions in India. 20th century, mainly concerned with women suppression
Set between the moment of change at the end of nineteenth and suffrage. The movement to demand legal and social
and start of twentieth century, the novel Twilight in Delhi rights for women was called the second wave that started in
presents a live picture of the decay and loss of an entire nineteen sixties and continued till late nineteen seventies.
civilization and traditional nobility, thus making the history The third wave of feminism continues till present times and
alive once again. The story describes a disseminated started as a reaction to the failures of the first two waves.
household of a typical feudal family of Mir Nihal. The Research questions:
decay and downfall is not only of a Muslim family, but the
There are some research question that I will try my best to
end of the whole Muslim community.
answer in this article;
The story deals with the downfall of Mughal Empire and the
1. In what ways are women characters victimized by
family of protagonist, Mir Nihal. With the demolishment of
patriarchal oppression and traditional roles in the novel?
Muslims, the family also loses grip over the Muslim life
styles, after the war of 1857. 2. How are women objectified in the novel?
Twilight refers to the rise of the sun as well as the living 3. How is purdah manipulated in the novel?
standards of living standards of Mir Nihal’s family.
Towards the end of the novel, twilight in the evening refers
II. LITERATURE REVIEW
the destruction of Mir Nihal’s family and overall decline of
whole Muslim Mughal Empire. Asghar was a representation Due to its brilliant style and subject, Twilight in Delhi had
of new generation. They have started to mimic the ways of to face a very large amount of criticism. E.M. Forster wrote
Britishers and were moving away from their own cultural to Ahmed Ali in a letter, “It is beautifully written and very
values. The novel also shows the struggles of Mir Nihal as moving. The detail is almost all of it new to me, and
he sticks to older traditions and holds onto his culture and fascinating. It is a sort of poetical chronicle. At the end one
tries to prevent the new generations from adapting to the has a poignant feeling that poetry and daily life got parted,
ways and culture of the British colonizers. and will never come together again.”
Ahmed Ali’s novel articulated distress and concerns The novel is an epitome of pre-partition period and
over the downfall of Muslim cultures and colonial encompasses all the rituals, culture and people of that time.
powers and how they manipulated over the people in Anderson gave his critique on the novel saying that the
sub-continent. novel is complete in itself as it is about people, time and life.
It comments on the people with grace and provides clarity
The book contains many multidimensional themes
to the plot. It narrows down the gap between the two
including; colonialism, imperialism, hybridity, losses,
extremes of that time; the two totally opposite cultures and
struggle, feminism, male chauvinism, Marxism,
religions and further paves a path for a narrowed future
superstition, decline and degeneration and few others. In
(1971: p. 86).
this article, I will focus on one of the main themes of the
novel; Feminism. In order to apply feminism on Twilight in Ahmed Ali’s book is believed to be full of emotions and
Delhi, we will first see what feminism is. The word colors giving no chance of equality with another book of
feminism originated in late 19th century, from French word such caliber. Another critic, Maurice Collis (1940) is of the
féminisme. view that knowledge of a particular religion or nation is not
complete and authentic until it comes from the nation itself.
Feminism is considered as a collection of social and
We were never familiar with Russia and its culture until we
political movements, moral philosophies and common
read Turgenev or Tolstoi. Similarly, we can’t understand
theories that are driven and inspired mostly by the bitter and
India and its culture unless it is explained by the Indian
harsh circumstances experienced by women. Feminism also
novelist themselves. Ahmed Ali’s novel is at the forefront
intends at establishing the legal rights and protection for
of such a movement that strives for the acknowledgement.
women. Chandra Mohanty does not think of feminism as a
reaction to patriarchy but as “a mode of intervention into Many critics and authors discussed about the degeneration
particular hegemonic discourses”. Marnia Lazreg considers of Muslim civilization and culture in this novel. As
it inappropriate to observe feminism as a singular entity. It mentioned by Aslam (2014), “One of the major themes is
is actually the encouragement of rights for equality of both passing away of Muslim civilization in India. Twilight in
the sexes. Dehli basically shows the decay of the Mughal Kinship and
Muslim Civilization.” According to Iftikhar, the novel
Maggie Humm and Rebecca Walker divided the history of
throws light on double standard behaviours of culture
feminism into three waves starting from earlier 19 th century
till today. The first wave started in 19 th century to earlier

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Behjat Azhar Victimization of women in Twilight in Delhi

(2012). Twilight in Delhi provides a real and true picture of they are unable to preserve and hold onto their culture,
the static and decaying culture of Delhi. political and traditional values in India.
To indicate the presence of multiple voices in the novel, Theoretical framework:
Bakhtin (1981) suggested the term social hetroglossia. It I will apply the theory of feminism on various incidents and
means the inculcation of new values into an already existing characters as a tool, in order to highlight the main point of
culture. All around him, Ali saw old traditional values being focus. Different underlying meanings are to be revealed
replaced by new culture. Asghar, Mir Nihal’s youngest son with the help of these theories, of apparently simple events
was a very fine symbol of such hybridity. “They have lost happening in the novel.
their historical past, language and culture”, mentions
In Twilight in Delhi, women are depicted as “communal
Waseem (2015).
sufferers, familial victims and second class citizens”. The
The Twilight in Delhi is all about the sufferings and the lives dual identity of the Indian Muslim woman – as an Indian
of Muslims suppressed by the British. It is not just about the and a Muslim -often works to her disadvantage depriving
Muslim people both men and women that were dying and her of the dignity of Islam as a religion sought to safeguard.
suffering because of the changes but also encompasses the Islam is persistently portrayed as a misogynistic religion. It
death of a civilization; the death of traditions and the death puts its women in purdah, confines them to their domestic
of culture (Ahmed, 2012). It is just that the women are taken roles and reduces them to mere bodies sans creativity,
as a symbol to portray the loss. The loss of Muslim sensibility or intellect.
empowerment in India was depicted as loss of women and
Tradition and culture are two terms that are used to
their sufferings. “The condition of the Muslim women was
accommodate the lives and experiences of a Muslim woman
the barometer with which the life of the Indian society could
within feminism. Both these are a major stand point in their
be judged” (Ali, 2000).
lives. Anuradha Roy identifies this sway of tradition as an
Before the partition, the impacts of colonialism were strong aspect of women’s experience peculiar to the Indian
yet, they failed to modernize the lives of women in India. context.
There was a wrestling between the reforms and the desire to
change, between cultures, traditions and values. The women
were influenced by the new traditions but were still deep III. DISCUSSION
under the influence of the remnants of conservative Muslim All the female characters of the novel were marginalized
Mughal culture. An example of this was the character of and were victims of patriarchy. The head of family, Mir
Bilqeece. She used to wear English boots being fascinated Nihal was a wealthy patriarch with aristocratic habits. Like,
by the English women but her attire was still traditional and he had extramarital affairs and kept mistresses as per the
she never left her head uncovered. habits of other aristocratic class at that time. The females of
In Twilight in Delhi, Ahmed Ali have very sensitively dealt the family were kept under strict supervision and they had
with the life and frustrations of women of that time. He no say in personal matters such as marriages. They were not
writes about the unhappiness of Bilqeece who was rejected allowed to speak for their rights.
by her own husband and he also very aptly described the Material feminism is a term used to reflect how women are
condition and mental trauma of Mehru, Asghar’s sister; a used as commodity. The characters of Babban Jaan and
helpless girl who as a victim of her own family’s Mushtari Bai makes apparent the objectification of women
viciousness that forced her to marry a disfigured man much in the novel. People come to these courtesans to relieve
older to her, just because her family’s research yielded their minds of domestic problems and to satisfy their lust for
optimistic results for him that were actually false (Shamsie, love. But, there is no one who actually wants to give them
2002). respect. They think of them as a time pass and a possession
Tradition and culture, through their long surviving that they buy with money, so there is no place for respect of
institutions and ideologies are a major determinant in the something that is bought. No one ever marries them. The
lives of these women. Anuradha Roy identifies this sway of statement of Mushtari Bai where she thinks of herself as a
tradition as an aspect of women’s experience peculiar to the caravan-serai that where people visit only when needed to
Indian context. (Roy, 1999; p. 15). be refreshed from their problems of life, shows her
helplessness: “I am like a caravan-serai where people
In his article in 2012, Representation of Women in Ali’s
come, rest their tired bodies for a while and depart.”(Ali
Twilight in Delhi, Zia Ahmed observed that this task of
(1940) p.76).
preserving culture and traditions was now assigned and
limited to women just because men have realized that now At another place, another prostitute Mushtari Bai expresses
her distressed emotions as “My life is a dessert in which

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Behjat Azhar Victimization of women in Twilight in Delhi

no oasis exists” (Ali (1940), p.76). This statement This double standard of men towards women was not
illustrates her meaningless and colorless life. Zia Ahmed limited to purdah but it stretches over to religion too. The
(2012) explains the so called manner full characteristics of novel presents a picture of deviation of Muslims from
the decadents of Mughal Culture by portraying the lust and Islamic principles. In Quran, it is clearly mentioned that a
hunger for the love of women by adding the character of widow is allowed the right to remarry when her husband
prostitutes in the novel and how they have maintained the dies after a certain period, “When they have fulfilled their
society. term, there is no blame on you if they dispose of
In this novel, the infusion of Purdah in a Muslim Woman’s themselves in a just and reasonable manner” (The
life is manipulated by the feudal society to the extent that it Quran 2.234). But, in earlier times and still today, females
became oppression. This oppression of women and purdah were not allowed to remarry. They were forced to live their
was not confined to only this novel, but was very prominent lives in self-abnegation and an example of this was in the
in the sub-continent in the times when British people were novel itself, as Begum Waheed, Asghar’s sister was forced
trying hard to impart a new culture in the sub-continent. At to. Being a widow at the mere age of nineteen, she was also
the beginning of Twilight in Delhi, Ahmed Ali draws a not given the right to marry again because it was against the
picture of how the women are protected in the four walls of so- called Indian customs; Indian “social code, derived
the female portion of the house, Zenana. As he writes, mostly from prevailing Hindu practices, did not favor a
‘Walls stood surrounding them on all sides, shutting the second marriage” (Ali, p.36).
women in from the prying eyes of men, guarding their On the other hand, the male society follows no such
beauty and virtue’ (Ali, 2007, p. 39). All the women in the restrictions as females, for a widower. Most of the time, as
novel retained Purdah and were confined to the four walls soon as the wife dies, males marry again. In the novel too,
of the house in a separate portion reserved specially for Asghar is attracted towards his sister-in-law and planned to
women called ‘Zenana’. This was all an act and an effort to marry his wife’s sister only six months after Bilqeece’s
maintain Mir Nihal’s nobility and a respectable place in death. Another son of Mir Nihal, Shams, also used to flirt
society. Begum Jameela (1995) reflected that the pigeons with the house maid after his wife died (Dr. Asha S).
that were kept in a cage by Mir Nihal also symbolized the Both in colonial and postcolonial literature, women were
caged women wasting their whole life sitting and doing normally painted as an active agent in the historical and
nothing in zenana (p. 213). social processes. Similarly in the novel, Ahmed Ali
Ahmed Ali writes in the novel, “The four walls stood high, showcased women into both categories having both strong
shutting them all in from the world, protecting them and pathetic characteristics.
from noise and life” (Ali, p.48). Apparently these words “His women characters are mostly strong like
show the care and love for women by the males of their Begum Jamal and Begum Waheed, some of them
families that they are provided everything in their homes are passive resistors like Begum Nihal’s cunning
but, these words do not show the care of men for their way of having her own way in Asghar’s marriage,
women but their manipulation of women under the name of some of them are symbolic emblem of the
‘Purdah’. In actual, they are caged and confined so that they postcolonial concept of women as space like
do not demand their rights and resources. At another place Bahadur Shah’s relative and the naked woman in
in the novel, Ali states that “The world lived and died, street, and all of them epitomize the celebrated
things happened, events took place, but all this did not indigenous culture which include cultured
disturb the equanimity of the Zenana,” (p. 39). Here it is courtesans like Mushtari Bai” (Riaz).
evident that the female characters of the novel were so
The female characters were victimized and confined to their
caged within the boundaries of home that they had no idea
traditional roles. They try their best to fulfill the roles
of the outside world nor they had any desire left to leave
defined for them by the society and culture as a wife,
these four walls to take a stand for themselves or their
mother, sister and daughter. We can see that despite
daughters.
knowing about the extramarital affairs of her husband,
However, on the other hand, both the prostitutes lived a Beghum Nihal becomes the source of comfort for the whole
segregated life out of the status of nobility. They were not family regardless of her mental trauma.
accepted in the main fold of life. People like Mir Nihal and
The Traditional roles defined by the society also snatched
Asghar as well the other feudalists of the society, would
the basic right from women, their consent in marrying
visit them frequently but, they bound their own women in
someone of their own will. The right to choose a groom is
homes. This point outs the double standard behaviors of
given in every religion but, still girls “were never consulted
men.
about their own marriages and were given away to any man

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Behjat Azhar Victimization of women in Twilight in Delhi

their parents selected” (Ali, 1940; p.195). Another victim to a perfect house-wife” (Ali 1940). The women of Ali (1940)
this so-called societal traditional roles was Mehro, the were reticent and obliging to their men and had no opinion
younger daughter of the family. She was forced to accept a of their own (Zia Ahmed).
man much older and disfigured just because her father said This traditional set up caused these women characters to
so. She was not allowed to question the selection and was lose a lot of valuable things in their lives. Daughters are
not even allowed to see him before the marriage itself. And taught a way of life by their mother which even if they tried,
when she finally had a look at him after the Nikkah, she was is not changed with the passage of time. We see that
devastated. She accepted it as her fate. Her feelings were Bilqeece was not able to attract the attention of her husband
portrayed beautifully by the writer, “she felt like cow under because Asghar wanted a modern wife. She used to wear
the butcher’s knife. But she could not alter her fate and had English boots due to his insistence but was not able to leave
to accept it with as much courage as she could muster” (Ali her scarf, because she was not allowed to leave her head
1940, p.195). uncovered by her mother even in her childhood. She was
Bilqeece still looks upon her husband as lord and master and not able to get rid of this habit and it was the first thing that
even suffers in silence when he grows cold towards her. She made her loose her husband’s love.
accepted his every injustice and oppressive act thinking it as
her fate. True to their upbringing, Mehro and Bilqeece
IV. CONCLUSION
uncomplainingly fulfil their roles as passive, selfless and
subservient wives. Portrait of women is as silent, reticent and dependent.
Females are repressed, violated, marginalized and
Psychological feminism is a term used to describe the
manipulated at every turn.
manipulated women of the novel. The women of Twilight in
Dehli are the subaltern voices of the novel. They were Females are of two types in the novel. House wives and
suppressed and silenced in every matter. This silence gave dancing girls. Dancing girls are not only part of Indian
rise to dependency on magic and superstitions. All culture but also ventilators for men who need an outlet of
throughout the novel we can see that females were not their emotional and physical needs that is fulfilled by these
allowed to speak in any sort of matter. So, in order to dancing girls. House wives like Begum Nihal are almost
overcome this suppression, they frequently visit the fake blind to the needs of their husbands or like Bilqeece who
and real Pirs and used the amulets and charms provided by does not identify the need of her husband n indulges in self-
them to control their households and husbands. These fake pity n destroys herself. Purdah was just used by the men for
Pirs play with the innocent minds and trap them mentally by the manipulation of women, to confine them to the four
these charms and amulets. They are oppressed mentally, walls of the house well as to hide their own infidelities. Ali
physically and psychologically by the males and in every mentions that “mostly life (of women) stayed like water in
relationship. a pond with nothing to break the monotony of the static life”
(Ali 1940).
This whole oppression on women is also played by the
women themselves. The novel Twilight in Delhi, is set in a
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