glory at twilight analysis pdf

Introduction

            Glory At Twilight is a famous short story written by an Indian writer Bhabani Bhattacharya. It is the story of Satyajit an honest and hard-working man. The Author depicts the harsh reality of how failure is faster and more powerful than success. It can take years to build on an honest reputation and gain prosperity, but failure never gives a warning before it strikes and takes down those years of hard work. The story explains how difficult it is to adjust to failure after being a glorious achiever.

About Bhabani Bhattacharya

            Bhabani Bhattacharya was a famous Indian writer, who wrote social realist fiction. He was born in Bhagalpur, part of the Bengal Presidency in British India. He gained a Bachelor’s degree from Patna University and a doctorate from the University of London. He was awarded the Sahitya Akademi award in 1967. Among his famous literary works included –

• So Many Hungers!
• Music for Mohini
• He Who Rides a Tiger
• A Goddess Name Gold
• Shadow from Ladakh
• A Dream is Hawaii

Analysis Of Story

            The story begins with the description of a slow-moving, narrow–gauge Indian train. Satyajit the protagonist of this story was a passenger on that train. He was tall thin and nearly forty years old man. He wore smart glasses to hide the hated glare in his eyes. With the sudden collapse of his bank, all his private property was gone overnight. He had lost all his equities, the house on Tagore street, and two cars. Therefore he had to travel on that wretched train. His wife was away with her parents in Delhi. She was unaware of the extent of his ruin.

“If the success had come fast failure had come faster.”

            Satyajit received the news of the birth of his child. Satyajit sold off his diamond ring to send his wife money for the name-giving ceremony. He was born in a humble village. Satyajit had struggled hard to attain that height. He was appointed as a clerk in a bank. It was all about a forged cheque for Rs. 2000/-. The man who presented the cheque looked frightened. His hand shook because the cheque was a forged one. The man was caught by Satyajit. He admitted that he had committed forgery because his wife was suffering from Tuberculosis. He had to forge the cheque to collect money to buy medicine. By detecting this case the clerk became an accountant.

            Just before his journey, he received a letter, which was about the wedding of his Srinath Uncle’s fifth daughter Beena. That was to take place on the 20^th of that month. Satyajit was presented in the marriage of the other daughters.

            Srinath was Satyajit’s neighbor in Shantipur village. There was no blood relation between them. Satyajit made up his mind to go to Santipur to attend the marriage ceremony. He would also avail himself the chance to take at his ancestral house and fishpond. He liked to give them to his wife as his last gift. So he intimated to Uncle Srinath that he would attend the marriage.

            At the platform, the crowd came rushing toward Satyajit as he stepped down from the train. They welcomed him with a small girl garlanding him. Satyajit was given a warm welcome. He was called the Glory of the Motherland. In the village, a group of ladies came forward to wash his feet. But Srinath wanted Beena to wash his feet. He smiled, and touched her hair in the gesture of blessing and wished that groom to be worthy of Beena. Other daughters Kamini, Damini, and Sahashi sit near him fanning with palm-leaf fans.

            Satyajit was praised by Beena’s mother who said that her daughter would have still been unmarried has he not helped them.

            Satyajit has Rs. 200 in total. He decided to give Rs. 101/-. He wanted to save Rs. 50/- to buy a perambulator for his newborn son.

            Satyajit went around the village meeting the elders through the rest of the day. He fondly visited his house and let out to a tenant. The groom’s party arrived in ox carts. Satyajit wanted to give Rs. 101/-. Srinath requested him to give Rs 2001/- towards cash dowry. Satyajit wanted to tell about his misery to Srinath but he could not get a chance to tell it.

Srinath wanted if someone in the village would advance a loan. Srinath came back and said that Harish, the moneylender would give the but he needed security, as he was doubtful of the repayment. Groom’s father would break off the marriage unless cash was paid before the ceremony started. Satyajit decided to give Rs. 151/-.

            Srinath told that Harish was willing to pay against the security of his house and fishpond. Srinath came with folded hands before Satyajit in order to overcome the daughter’s crises. Satyajit agreed to the condition and the problem was solved. The villagers hated the moneylender Harish for his activities. The story presents the greatness of Satyajit.

Conclusion

            Thus, Bhabani Bhattacharya on one hand depicted the glory Satyajit used to cherish earlier and his situation after his economic downfall. On another hand, it was also the case of the dowry system, which should be tackled with ironed hand. This shows the greed, lust, and wantonness of our society. So now we can say that The Glory At Twilight is the best work of Bhabani Bhattacharya.  

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