A Sorrowful Death of Prem Chand's Nirmala

 

Prem Chand’s novel ‘Nirmala’  depicts the struggle  of a young woman married to a middle-aged man Totaram, a lawyer. Her earlier engagement to a doctor was cancelled by her prospective in-laws when her father died abruptly. Her life with the lawyer  Totaram proves colourless and insipid as her husband has failed to cater to her emotional needs. Nirmala gradually becomes  a responsible housewife and Rukmini , the sister of Munshi Totaram resents the loss of her hold in the house.   Moreover he suspects her relationship with his eldest son Mansaram from his  earlier marriage. He joins Mansaram in a hostel and the pure and once vibrant  young man withers and dies when he realizes his father’s unfounded suspicions. Nirmala is devastated. She develops friendship with Sudha, the wife of the doctor who spurned her match earlier.   Munshi Totaram’s second  son Ziyaram turns a prodigal son and even steals jewels from his own home and meets untimely death. Siyaram, the youngest scion of the family goes under the influence of Sadhus and abandons his home . Doctor Sinha who turns repentant over his refusal of Nirmala earlier arranges  her sister Krishna’s marriage with his brother.  At one point he expresses his passion for Nirmala in the absence of Sudha but Nirmala  rushes out . Sudha comes to know of her husband’s misbehavior and Doctor commits suicide out of guilt and shame. Munshi Totaram who realizes his folly of second marriage to a young girl Nirmala and leaves home and  turns into a Sanyasi. Nirmala falls  severely ill and dies not withstanding the care by Rukmini. When Nirmala dies a poor  orphan leaving her baby with Rukmini. When people are hesitating to perform her funeral rites comes Munshi Totaram, now a  Sadhu. This novel is a testimony of the novelists’ skill in portraying the incompatibility of marriage between an old woman and a young woman, the psychological complexity  of individuals caught in the clash between economic turmoil and emotional emptiness. The death of Nirmala delights  the reader with a subtle humour in characterization of different characters and a deep   sorrow of  at the death of Nirmala, the pure and tender  flower that fades and dies for no fault of hers.