Nirmala

What is this book about?

Nirmala is a young, educated, beautiful girl. Her father dies before her wedding and her family cannot afford the dowry for the match they had planned. So she ends up being married off to an older widower named Totaram who already has three sons from his first wife.

From that point on, the novel traces what happens to Nirmala — her unhappiness in the marriage, her relationship with Totaram's eldest son Mansaram (who is almost her age), the jealousy and misunderstandings this creates, and the tragedy that unfolds because of it all.

Why Premchand wrote this

Premchand wrote Nirmala to directly attack the dowry system and the practice of unequal marriages. He wanted readers to see — very clearly — what these social customs actually do to real people, especially women. He succeeded completely. It is impossible to read Nirmala and not feel angry.

The characters

Nirmala herself is a sympathetic and dignified character. She does not complain endlessly — she tries her best to make the marriage work and to be a good stepmother. Her tragedy comes from a situation she had no power to choose.

Totaram is not a monster — that is also important. He is an ordinary, insecure man who cannot handle his own jealousy. His flaws are very human and that makes everything worse.

What I took from it

• The dowry system ruins lives — not just the women's lives but everyone connected to the marriage
• Age-mismatched marriages create problems that go beyond just the couple involved
• Society's judgment of women — especially regarding their relationships with men — is cruel and unfair
• Even a good person can cause great harm through insecurity and jealousy