Nasira Sharma uses this encounter to critique the vast gulf between the "haves" and the "have-nots."
As Rizwan interviews Kasim, he realizes that despite his education, he is in the same state of "hunger" and desperation as the rag-seller. He feels physical hunger pangs during the interview and ultimately writes his own address for Kasim because the latter has no permanent residence. Core Themes Universal Poverty
Born in 1948 in Allahabad (now Prayagraj), Uttar Pradesh, she was raised in a prosperous Shia Muslim family steeped in literature. Her father, a professor of Urdu and a poet of high caliber, ensured that a love for reading and writing was a family inheritance. This foundation was strengthened by her formal education, which included a Master's degree in Persian language and literature, and a command over Hindi, Urdu, English, and Pashto. Hunger By Nasira Sharma Pdf 21
: It critiques a society where natural resources (like petroleum in the setting of Iran) do not necessarily translate to welfare for the common man.
The novel Hunger stands out as a raw, unfiltered look at the socio-economic disparities in modern society. Sharma does not shy away from the harsh realities of survival. 1. The Anatomy of Poverty Nasira Sharma uses this encounter to critique the
It is important to note a scholarly divergence regarding the story's setting. The official ICSE curriculum description, as noted on Wikipedia, states the story is set in Iran during the shift of power from the monarchy to the Islamic Revolution. This aligns with the author's personal experience as a journalist in the region. However, many student-facing study guides commonly place the story in Afghanistan, citing the country's long history of conflict and poverty. Regardless of the specific location, the story's central themes of poverty, hunger, and systemic failure are universally applicable.
The story centers on a conversation between two primary characters, Her father, a professor of Urdu and a
Nasira Sharma is a highly acclaimed Hindi writer, intellectual, and pioneering journalist born in Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh. Armed with a deep understanding of Persian, Urdu, English, and Hindi literature, her journalistic work took her deep into the Middle East. Notably, she was the only woman from South Asia to interview Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini during the historic Iranian Islamic Revolution. Her literature—spanning novels like Paarijat and Kagaz ki Naav —serves as a fearless mirror to structural inequalities, gender roles, and the plight of the marginalized.