IGNOU MEG-14 Block 5 Summary | Short Story-II
- Last Updated On October 15, 2025
Table of Contents
Here you will get the detailed summary of IGNOU MEG 14 Block 5 – Short Story-II.
We have provided the summary of all units starting from unit 1 to unit 4.
Introduction
IGNOU MEG-14 Block 5 – Short Story II continues the study of Indian short fiction with four stories written by prominent authors from different linguistic and cultural traditions. This block highlights themes such as loneliness, social injustice, gender inequality, and moral compromise, while exploring diverse storytelling techniques and emotional tones. Each story presents a slice of Indian life with sensitivity, realism, and psychological insight. The writers — Indira Goswami, Motilal Jotwani, Afsar Ahmed, and Vijaydan Detha — use their narratives to reveal deep human truths and the complexities of modern existenc
Unit 1 – Indira Goswami (Mamoni Raisom Goswami): The Empty Chest
Indira Goswami’s The Empty Chest is a moving story that deals with grief, memory, and the condition of women in a patriarchal society. The story revolves around a widow who, after her husband’s death, struggles to come to terms with emotional emptiness and societal neglect. The “empty chest” becomes a powerful symbol — representing both her physical loss and the emotional void left by love and deprivation.
Goswami’s writing combines tenderness with raw emotional force. She exposes how widows in traditional Indian settings are often reduced to symbols of misfortune, their desires and individuality erased by social customs. Through introspective narration and evocative imagery, The Empty Chest portrays the widow’s quiet resistance and inner strength, asserting the need for compassion and dignity in the face of patriarchal oppression.
Unit 2 – Motilal Jotwani: Very Lonely, She
Motilal Jotwani’s Very Lonely, She examines the inner world of a woman caught in the web of emotional isolation and unfulfilled desires. The story presents the protagonist as someone who outwardly performs her social roles but inwardly suffers from deep loneliness. Her condition reflects the alienation of modern life, where emotional communication is replaced by social formality and pretense.
Jotwani’s narrative is introspective and psychological, delving into the subtle conflicts between individuality and conformity. The story’s quiet tone and restrained language highlight the protagonist’s silent suffering. Ultimately, Very Lonely, She becomes a commentary on the spiritual emptiness that often accompanies social respectability, particularly for women confined by expectations of propriety and duty.
Unit 3 – Afsar Ahmed: Headmaster, Prawn, Chanachur
Afsar Ahmed’s Headmaster, Prawn, Chanachur offers a sharp and humorous portrayal of everyday human weaknesses and moral contradictions. The story centers on a headmaster whose respectable social position masks his hypocrisy and greed. A seemingly trivial incident involving a plate of prawns and chanachur exposes his vanity, selfishness, and desire for recognition.
Through irony and satire, Ahmed paints a vivid picture of middle-class pretensions and the moral decay that hides beneath outward decency. His style combines realism with comic exaggeration, allowing readers to see how trivial actions often reveal deeper truths about human character. The story becomes a social mirror, reflecting both individual folly and the broader ethical confusion of contemporary life.
Unit 4 – Vijaydan Detha: The Compromise
Vijaydan Detha’s The Compromise is a powerful tale rooted in Rajasthani folk tradition but infused with modern social relevance. It narrates the story of a woman who, after being forced into an unjust situation, must make a painful compromise to preserve her dignity and survival. The narrative explores issues of honor, gender inequality, and social hypocrisy in a rigidly patriarchal society.
Detha’s storytelling style blends realism with folklore, giving his narrative a moral and philosophical depth. The story’s central idea — that compromise is both a form of endurance and a quiet rebellion — reflects his nuanced understanding of human nature. Through his vivid language and symbolic imagery, Detha exposes how societal norms compel individuals, especially women, to bear injustice while still asserting their inner strength and self-respect.