Abhiley by Abdul Gani Sheikh
Genre: Short Story
(Drama/Prose)
Setting: A small village in Ladakh, Jammu and Kashmir
🧑🏫 About the
Author: Abdul Gani Sheikh
- Abdul Gani Sheikh is a renowned
Ladakhi writer, historian, and scholar.
- He writes mainly in Urdu and
Balti, focusing on Ladakh’s culture, history, and social changes.
- His works highlight the tension
between tradition and modernity in Ladakhi society.
- Abhiley is one of
his best-known stories, celebrated for its realistic portrayal of
village life and women’s emotions.
📝 Summary of
“Abhiley”
The story “Abhiley”
is about a simple Ladakhi woman who dreams of going to Leh, the
main town of Ladakh. The title “Abhiley” literally means ‘the elder
daughter-in-law’ in the Ladakhi context.
Abhiley lives
in a remote village. Her life is confined to household chores, taking care
of cattle, and serving her family. She has never been outside her village.
One day, her son decides to take her to Leh, and she becomes extremely excited
— preparing for days, asking everyone about the place, and imagining it as a
wonderful city full of marvels.
When she
finally reaches Leh, however, she is disappointed and confused. The
noise, dust, and unfamiliar surroundings make her uncomfortable. Her excitement
turns into fear and nostalgia. She realizes that the happiness she
was searching for was actually in her own village, where she understood
everything and everyone.
Through this
simple incident, Abdul Gani Sheikh beautifully depicts the emotional world
of rural women, their innocence, and the gap between dreams and reality.
🌄 Setting
- The story takes place in a small
Ladakhi village and partly in Leh, the capital of Ladakh.
- It shows the contrast
between rural simplicity and urban modernity.
- The harsh terrain, cold
climate, and isolation of the village are key elements of the backdrop.
💡 Themes
- Tradition
vs. Modernity
- The story
contrasts the traditional rural life with modern city life.
- It shows
how modernization can be alienating for traditional people.
- Dreams and
Reality
- Abhiley’s
dream of visiting Leh reflects the human tendency to imagine distant
happiness.
- Reality,
however, proves disappointing.
- Motherhood
and Simplicity
- Abhiley’s
motherly love and simple heart form the emotional core of the story.
- Change and
Nostalgia
- The story
reflects on how change brings both excitement and loss — of familiarity
and comfort.
🗝️ Important
Vocabulary and Meanings
|
Word |
Meaning |
|
Abhiley |
Elder
daughter-in-law |
|
Leh |
Capital town
of Ladakh |
|
Yak |
A long-haired
animal found in cold mountainous regions |
|
Monastery |
Buddhist
place of worship |
|
Nostalgia |
Sentimental
longing for the past |
|
Modernity |
The state of
being modern or up-to-date |
|
Simplicity |
The quality
of being simple, innocent, and natural |
✍️ Important Quotations (for reference/study use
only)
“For years she
had dreamt of Leh — the land of marvels, of light and laughter.”
“But when she
reached there, she felt lost — as if she had come to a foreign land.”
(Quoted in
summary style — wording may vary depending on edition.)
🏔️ PLACES IN
“ABHILEY”
|
Place |
Description / Importance |
|
Village
(Abhiley’s home) |
The main
setting of the story — a small, remote village in Ladakh. It represents
simplicity, peace, and traditional life. Abhiley spends her entire life here
doing household work and looking after her family. |
|
Leh (the
town) |
The capital
of Ladakh and a symbol of modernity, change, and progress. It’s the place
Abhiley dreams of visiting. When she finally reaches there, she feels lost
and uncomfortable, realizing how different it is from her simple village. |
|
House /
Kitchen (in the village) |
Represents
the domestic world of Abhiley — her daily space where she works, cooks, and
interacts with family. It’s a symbol of warmth and belonging. |
|
The Road /
Journey to Leh |
The road
connecting the village and Leh symbolizes the bridge between tradition and
modernity. The journey marks a turning point in Abhiley’s emotional
experience — from excitement to realization. |
|
Market in Leh |
A noisy,
crowded, and unfamiliar place that confuses and frightens Abhiley. It shows
the contrast between the peaceful village and the bustling modern city. |
👩👦 CHARACTERS IN
“ABHILEY”
|
Character |
Description / Role in the Story |
|
Abhiley
(Elder Daughter-in-law) |
The main
character and title figure of the story. A simple, innocent, traditional
Ladakhi woman who dreams of visiting Leh. Her emotional journey — from
excitement to disappointment — is the central focus of the story. She
symbolizes the older generation and the simple, contented life of rural
women. |
|
Abhiley’s Son |
A young man
who takes his mother to Leh. He represents the younger generation —
familiar with modern life and change. He acts as a bridge between the old
world (village) and the new (city). |
|
Abhiley’s
Husband (briefly mentioned) |
Represents
traditional Ladakhi men — hardworking and tied to the rural lifestyle. Not
central to the plot but helps depict the family structure. |
|
Other
Villagers / Neighbours |
Appear
briefly — they talk about Leh, share stories, and contribute to Abhiley’s curiosity
and excitement. They represent the collective rural mindset that sees
the city as a dreamland. |
|
People of Leh
(city crowd) |
Not
individual characters but important for contrast. They represent the modern
world — busy, strange, and confusing to Abhiley. |
🌍 Summary
Connection (Places + Characters)
- The story moves between two
main worlds — the village (home, simplicity, emotional warmth)
and Leh (modernity, change, and confusion).
- Abhiley’s
character travels physically from the village to
the city, but emotionally, she travels from dream to disillusionment.
- Through these places and
people, Abdul Gani Sheikh contrasts rural innocence with urban
modernity, showing the emotional depth of simple village life.
✳️ IMPORTANT QUESTIONS
Q1.
Who is Abhiley?
Ans:
Abhiley is the main character of the story — a simple, innocent, and
traditional Ladakhi woman. She spends her life doing household chores
and looking after her family in a remote village. Her character represents the simplicity,
purity, and emotional depth of rural women.
Q2.
What was Abhiley’s long-cherished dream?
Ans:
Abhiley’s long-cherished dream was to visit Leh, the capital town of
Ladakh. She had heard a lot about it from others and imagined it as a wonderful
and magical place. This dream becomes her greatest desire in life.
Q3.
How did Abhiley prepare for her visit to Leh?
Ans:
Abhiley became very excited and joyful when her son promised to take her
to Leh. She prepared her clothes carefully, asked people what Leh looked
like, and imagined the beauty of the town. Her innocent excitement shows
her childlike curiosity and simplicity.
Q4.
What was Abhiley’s reaction when she reached Leh?
Ans:
When Abhiley finally reached Leh, she was disappointed and frightened.
The town was crowded, noisy, and dusty — very different from her imagination.
She felt lost and out of place, realizing that her peaceful village was
far more comforting and familiar.
Q5.
What does the story “Abhiley” symbolize?
Ans:
The story symbolizes the contrast between dream and reality, and between
tradition and modernity. Abhiley’s journey reflects how people often
idealize distant things, only to discover that true happiness lies in
simplicity and home.
Q6.
What message does Abdul Gani Sheikh convey through this story?
Ans:
The author conveys that contentment and peace exist in one’s own
surroundings. The story teaches that chasing imagined happiness often leads
to disappointment. It also highlights how modernization can make traditional
people feel alienated.
Q7.
How is the theme of “Tradition vs. Modernity” shown in the story?
Ans:
The story contrasts the simple rural life of Abhiley’s village with the modern
city life of Leh. While Abhiley represents tradition and simplicity, Leh
represents modernity and change. Her discomfort in Leh shows how modernization
can break the emotional connection people have with their roots.
Q8.
What kind of woman is Abhiley?
Ans:
Abhiley is innocent, emotional, hardworking, and full of curiosity. She
symbolizes the traditional Ladakhi woman who finds joy in small things and
values her family and village life deeply.
Q9.
Why was Abhiley disappointed in Leh?
Ans:
She was disappointed because Leh was not the beautiful place she had
imagined. Instead, it was noisy, crowded, and confusing. The people and
surroundings felt strange to her, and she realized she belonged to her peaceful,
familiar village.
Q10.
What role does Abhiley’s son play in the story?
Ans:
Abhiley’s son acts as a bridge between the old and new generations. He
fulfills his mother’s wish by taking her to Leh, but also shows how the younger
generation has adapted to change more easily than the older one.
Q11.
What is the significance of the journey in the story?
Ans:
The journey from the village to Leh is both physical and symbolic.
It represents the emotional and cultural journey from tradition to modernity,
and from dream to realization. Through this journey, Abhiley learns that
happiness is not found in distant places but within familiar surroundings.
Q12.
Describe the contrast between Abhiley’s village and Leh.
Ans:
- Village: Peaceful,
familiar, traditional, and emotionally rich.
- Leh: Crowded,
noisy, modern, and emotionally cold.
This contrast highlights the emotional comfort of simple rural life versus the alienation of modern urban life.
Q13.
What lesson does “Abhiley” teach the readers?
Ans:
The story teaches the lesson of contentment and self-realization. It
reminds readers that happiness does not depend on modernity or distant dreams
but on being satisfied with what we have and where we belong.
Q14.
What does Abhiley realize at the end of the story?
Ans:
At the end of the story, Abhiley realizes that her home and village are where
she truly belongs. She understands that peace, love, and comfort
come from familiar surroundings, not from imagined places.
Q15.
How does the author use simplicity to convey deeper meaning?
Ans:
Abdul Gani Sheikh uses a simple plot and plain language to express deep
emotions and ideas — such as longing, change, and belonging. Through
Abhiley’s simple dream, he explores the complex feelings of identity,
modernity, and nostalgia.
