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 Twilight in Delhi (Ahmed Ali)

This novel is about the life of old Delhi.Remarkably ordinary book.The story of Mir Nihal and his family. It is more like a classical or traditional type story,characters are all related to old Delhi life namely-pigeon fliers,the faqirs ,the lace makers,the ice cream vendor,the poets,they all are described under the umbrella of colonial oppression.it is a lamentation against the plight of once and the greatest Mughals Empires. 

I think everyone would be amazed by its simplicity,historical aspects,geography and the love of art.As Ahmed Ali writes -
"What happened to the great poets of Hindustan? Where were Mir & Ghalib & Insha? Where were Dard & Sauda & Zauq?"
Where, in fact, is Delhi?

Moreover,in the progression of the novel we will see that Ahmed Ali has a broken hopes for Muslims of subcontinent. it is beneficial for those who wanted to have a knowledge or interest about Indian traditions in general and Islamic traditions in particular. it is widely a recapturing of vanished old world.

Language of the book is also beautiful with abundance of Urdu and Persian poetry translations.

Delhi was once a paradise,
Such peace had abided here;
But they have ravished its name and pride,
Remain now only ruins and care.

- Bahadur Shah

So the book is a lament, but in it there is also the echo of a call for independence.

themes: 

nostalgia,colonial oppression.poverty ,illiteracy,marriage.