IGNOU MEG-14 Block 4 Summary | Short Story-I

  • Last Updated On October 15, 2025

Table of Contents

Here you will get the detailed summary of IGNOU MEG 14 Block 4 – Short Story-I.

We have provided the summary of all units starting from unit 1 to unit 5.

Get MEG Solved Question Papers

CLICK HERE

Introduction

Block 4 of IGNOU MEG-14 focuses on Short Story – I, presenting five significant Indian short stories translated into English from different regional languages. Each story captures diverse social realities, emotional experiences, and cultural settings, reflecting the richness of Indian literary traditions. The writers — Mahasweta Devi, Vaikom Muhammad Basheer, Nirmal Verma, Ismat Chughtai, and Gopinath Mohanty — belong to different linguistic and cultural backgrounds, yet their stories share a deep concern with human suffering, morality, and social change. The block explores each story’s plot, themes, style, and deeper moral vision.

Get MEG Solved Question Papers

CLICK HERE

Unit 1 – Mahasweta Devi: Salt

This unit introduces Mahasweta Devi’s story Salt, which focuses on the struggles of marginalized tribal communities in rural India. The narrative centers on a tribal couple, Jetha and Marya, who live in extreme poverty and exploitation under the oppressive social and economic structures of postcolonial India. When their village is struck by famine, they are forced to depend on salt as their only means of sustenance.

Through stark realism and compassionate storytelling, Mahasweta Devi exposes how exploitation, hunger, and social neglect continue even after independence. Salt becomes a symbol of survival and endurance — representing both the physical need for sustenance and the metaphorical bitterness of oppression. The story reflects Devi’s lifelong activism and her commitment to portraying the resilience of India’s poorest and most neglected people.

Get MEG Solved Question Papers

CLICK HERE

Unit 2 – Vaikom Muhammad Basheer: Birthday

Vaikom Muhammad Basheer’s Birthday is a warm and humorous story that celebrates simplicity, love, and the absurdities of daily life. The narrator recounts how his wife, despite their poverty, insists on celebrating his birthday — an event he himself considers meaningless. The small domestic episode unfolds into a touching reflection on affection, companionship, and human dignity amid hardship.

Basheer’s characteristic wit and gentle irony shine through as he transforms an ordinary day into a moment of quiet joy. The story highlights the beauty of small gestures and emotional connection rather than material wealth. In doing so, Basheer portrays the universality of human emotions and the moral richness of ordinary life.

Unit 3 – Nirmal Verma: Birds

Nirmal Verma’s Birds is a deeply introspective story that captures the mood of alienation, memory, and silence. Set in a quiet, lonely apartment, the story revolves around the relationship between a man and a woman who share the same space but are emotionally distant. The recurring motif of birds symbolizes freedom, transience, and the desire to escape confinement — both physical and emotional.

Verma’s prose is lyrical and understated, evoking a sense of melancholy and psychological depth. Through subtle dialogue and imagery, he explores themes of communication, solitude, and the fragility of human connection. Birds exemplifies Verma’s modernist style, where meaning often lies between the lines, in what is left unsaid.

Unit 4 – Ismat Chughtai: Tiny’s Granny

Ismat Chughtai’s Tiny’s Granny combines humor, irony, and social critique to portray the contradictions of family life and gender roles. The story revolves around Tiny, a mischievous child, and her grandmother, a dominating and eccentric woman whose authority rules the household. Through their interactions, Chughtai offers a sharp yet affectionate look at generational conflict, hypocrisy, and social expectations in traditional Indian families.

Beneath the comic surface, the story questions patriarchal values and the rigid social hierarchies that limit both women and men. Chughtai’s narrative style — bold, conversational, and satirical — exposes the complexities of domestic spaces while highlighting women’s resilience and individuality. Tiny’s Granny showcases her talent for turning everyday incidents into profound commentaries on society.

Get MEG Solved Question Papers

CLICK HERE

Unit 5 – Gopinath Mohanty: Tadpa

Gopinath Mohanty’s Tadpa (meaning “The Sufferer”) is a poignant story set among tribal communities, depicting the harsh realities of poverty, hunger, and moral conflict. The protagonist, Tadpa, is a poor man whose life is marked by struggle and deprivation. Yet, despite his suffering, he embodies deep human compassion and dignity.

The story vividly portrays the relationship between humans and nature, showing how traditional tribal life is intertwined with the environment. Mohanty’s realistic style combines sensitivity and social awareness, capturing both the physical hardship and the inner strength of marginalized people. Tadpa becomes a narrative of endurance, illustrating the resilience of those who live on the edges of society but retain their moral core.