The Hungry Tide
The Hungry Tide
by Amitav Ghosh
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Cyclone Shelter Symbol Analysis

Cyclone Shelter Symbol Icon
Cyclone Shelter Symbol Icon

The cyclone shelter symbolizes what Nirmal may have been able to accomplish had he been more willing to compromise on his belief in the importance of pure, unadulterated communist theory. Nilima explains that the Babadon Trust never would've built the cyclone shelter in the hospital had Nirmal not insisted they do so. Notably, Nirmal only insisted because he was so interested in the science and the theory behind cyclones and other storms. Thus, the cyclone shelter becomes both the most lasting thing that Nirmal leaves behind and a reminder of all that he was unable to leave behind.

Cyclone Shelter Quotes in The Hungry Tide

The The Hungry Tide quotes below all refer to the symbol of Cyclone Shelter. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
Language Theme Icon
).

Part 2: Habits Quotes

"Nirmal, you have no idea of what it takes to do anything practical," she said. "You live in a dream world—a haze of poetry and fuzzy ideas about revolution. To build something is not the same as dreaming it. Building is always a matter of well-chosen compromises."

Related Characters: Nilima Bose (speaker), Nirmal Bose, Kusum
Related Symbols: Cyclone Shelter
Page Number and Citation: 178
Explanation and Analysis:
When Nirmal asks Nilima to help the settlers on Morichjhãpi, she insists he doesn't know anything about doing the actual work. Though harsh, Nilima can say this after watching her husband spend the last three decades too wrapped up in theory to acknowledge that in doing so, he hasn't been able to do anything meaningful or tangible. Nilima, on the other hand, was better able to actually get things done because she was willing to compromise on her ideals (which in her youth, she shared with Nirmal) in order to remain on the government's good side and secure funding. It's Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt. Ad dolor at. Quia aperiam eligendi. Ut veniam voluptatem. Aperiam consequuntur mollitia. Provident expedita delectus. Occaecati ea suscipit. Optio ut iste. Voluptas aut occaecati. Accusantium recusandae voluptates. Explicabo minus tempore. Nostrum dolor asperiores. Ut aliquam officiis. Unde e

Part 2: The Wave Quotes

"Yes," said Nilima. "Making us build it was probably the most important thing he did in his whole life. You can see the proof of that today. But if you'd told him that, he'd have laughed. He'd have said, 'It's just social service—not revolution.'"

Related Characters: Nilima Bose (speaker), Kanai Dutt, Nirmal Bose
Related Symbols: Cyclone Shelter
Page Number and Citation: 320
Explanation and Analysis:
As Kanai and Nilima watch people in the hospital's cyclone shelter, Nilima explains that the cyclone shelter itself was Nirmal's greatest accomplishment in life. When Nilima mentions that Nirmal wouldn't have admitted such a thing, it illustrates again just how caught up Nirmal was in pure theory, even if it meant that the theory was never put into practice. In the case of the cyclone shelter, even though Nirmal didn't have a hand in the actual building of it, the shelter becomes a testament to what Nirmal could've done with his life had he been more willing to compromise. The Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt. Ad dolor at. Quia aperiam eligendi. Ut veniam voluptatem. Aperiam consequuntur mollitia. Provident expedita delectus. Occaecati ea suscipit. Optio ut iste. Voluptas aut occaecati. Accusantium r
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Cyclone Shelter Symbol Timeline in The Hungry Tide

The timeline below shows where the symbol Cyclone Shelter appears in The Hungry Tide. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Part 1: Moyna
Man vs. Nature Theme Icon
Idealism and Theory vs. Practicality and Action Theme Icon
...could more easily reach Canning or Kolkata come to Lusibari instead. She points out the cyclone shelter , Nirmal's one contribution to the hospital. (full context)
Part 2: Going Ashore
Man vs. Nature Theme Icon
Idealism and Theory vs. Practicality and Action Theme Icon
...and slowly walks towards the island's compound. There, he sees people heading for the hospital's cyclone shelter . He notices Tutul and asks about Moyna, who suddenly appears. He tells her that... (full context)
Part 2: The Wave
Idealism and Theory vs. Practicality and Action Theme Icon
...the hospital looking at the floodwaters, and Nilima admits that they never would've built the cyclone shelter if Nirmal hadn't insisted. She says it's the most important thing he ever did, though... (full context)