Nightfall In The City Of Hyderabad
by Sarojini Naidu
Sarojini Naidu has taken a simple moment from life as usual and embellished it with all the local colours available. She presents for her readers an ornate and intense image of night falling over the ancient city of Hyderabad.
The Poem :
"See how the speckled sky burns like a pigeon's throat,
Jewelled with embers of opal and peridot.
See the white river that flashes and scintillates,
Curved like a tusk from the mouth of the city-gates.
Hark, from the minaret, how the muezzin's call
Floats like a battle-flag over the city wall.
From trellised balconies, languid and luminous
Faces gleam, veiled in a splendour voluminous.
Leisurely elephants wind through the winding lanes,
Swinging their silver bells hung from their silver chains.
Round the high Char Minar sounds of gay cavalcades
Blend with the music of cymbals and serenades.
Over the city bridge Night comes majestical,
Borne like a queen to a sumptuous festival."
Comprehension:
1. Find the antonyms of the following words from the poem.
a. cools = burns;
b. straight = winding;
c. dull = gay;
d. exposed = veiled;
e. hurried = leisurely;
2. "Hark, from the minaret, how the muezzin's call
Floats like a battle-flag over the city wall."
a. Where is the minaret that the muezzin calling from?
= The minaret is of a mosque situated in the ancient city of Hyderabad.
b. What does his call indicate in this time?
= His call indicates that it is the time of twilight and he is calling all the Muslims to prayer.
c. What has his call been compared to and why?
= His call has been compared to a battle flag over the city wall.
As of we are aware of the fact that Hyderabad was the city of Nawabs(kings) and there was a familiar scene of battles. There used to be a flag over the city wall to indicate the beginning of a war. Likewise, the poet compared the muezzin's call with the battle-flag, as he is also making all aware about the prayer.
3. "From trellised balconies, languid and luminous
Faces gleam, veiled in a splendour voluminous."
a. What have the adjectives, 'languid and luminous' been used to describe?
= The adjectives, 'languid and luminous' have been used to describe the faces of the persons who were visible in the balconies of the houses in the city of Hyderabad.
b. Why might the faces be gleaming?
= The faces might be gleaming because of the lights reflected on their faces. As night was falling in the city of Hyderabad, all the lights were being illuminated.
c. What does the phrase, 'veiled in splendour voluminous' mean?
= The phrase, 'veiled in splendour voluminous' means covered with magnificent very loose or full cloth made of much fabric.
4. Find out the name of the river that flows through Hyderabad. Why has it been compared to the tusk of an elephant?
= The name of the river that flows through Hyderabad is Musi.
In the light of the dusk, the river seems differently white as like the tusk of an elephant. It has the identical winding curve like that of the tusk of an elephant. As the city of Hyderabad is called the city of Nawabs(kings) , so the poet very aptly uses the comparison to bring the royal essence of the ancient city of Hyderabad.
5. What has the night been compared to? Which words/phrases have been used in the poem to emphasize the feeling of royalty?
= The night has been compared to a queen.
As of we all know that the city of Hyderabad is the 'city of nawabs', there are many prominent efforts made by the poet from the very beginning of the poem. There are mentions of precious stones and jewels in the first couple of lines. She refers of 'embers of opal and peridot'. She compares the river with 'a tusk'. She compares the call of the muezzin with 'battle-flag'. She refers to the clothes of 'splendour voluminous'. She tells about the elephants with 'their silver bells hung from their silver chains'. She uses the term 'cavalcades' and 'music of cymbals and serenades' while describing the Char Minar. Last of all she compares the night with 'a queen to a sumptuous festival'.