Clear Light of Day

by

Anita Desai

Hyder Ali Character Analysis

Hyder Ali is the wealthy, politically-connected patriarch of an important Muslim family who lives across the road from the Das family and rents them their house—until he escapes to Hyderabad in the Partition. He becomes Raja’s main father figure after noticing and nurturing the boy’s interest in Urdu poetry. Later, Raja moves to Hyderabad with him, marries his daughter Benazir, inherits all of his property, and dedicates himself to poetry. Notably, while Hyder Ali is a politically significant Muslim with important ties to the movement to create Pakistan, he does not actually go to Pakistan after independence. His significant role in the novel points to Desai’s emphasis on tolerance and religious harmony.

Hyder Ali Quotes in Clear Light of Day

The Clear Light of Day quotes below are all either spoken by Hyder Ali or refer to Hyder Ali . 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:
Family, Love, and Forgiveness Theme Icon
).
Part 1 Quotes

You must remember that when I left you, I promised I would always look after you, Bim. When Hyder Ali Sahib was ill and making out his will, Benazir herself spoke to him about the house and asked him to allow you to keep it at the same rent we used to pay him when father and mother were alive. He agreed—you know he never cared for money, only for friendship—and I want to assure you that now that he is dead and has left all his property to us, you may continue to have it at the same rent, I shall never think of raising it or of selling the house as long as you and Baba need it. If you have any worries, Bim, you have only to tell—Raja.

Related Characters: Raja (speaker), Bim, Baba, The Das Mother, The Das Father, Hyder Ali , Benazir
Related Symbols: The Das House
Page Number: 27
Explanation and Analysis:
Part 2 Quotes

“I have to go. Now I can go. I have to begin my life some time, don’t I? You don’t want me to spend all my life down in this hole, do you? You don’t think I can go on living just to keep my brother and sister company, do you?”

[…]

“Bim, I’ll come back,” he said. “I’m leaving all my books and papers with you. Look after them till I come back.”

“Why should you come back?” Bim asked stonily.

“Bim, don’t be so hard. You know I must come back—to look after you and Baba. I can’t leave you alone.”

Related Characters: Bim (speaker), Raja (speaker), Baba, Hyder Ali
Related Symbols: The Das House
Page Number: 100-101
Explanation and Analysis:
Part 4 Quotes

“Shall I tell Raja—?”

“Yes,” Bim urged, her voice flying, buoyant. “Tell him how we’re not used to it—Baba and I. Tell him we never travel any more. Tell him we couldn’t come—but he should come. Bring him back with you, Tara—or tell him to come in the winter. All of them. And he can see Sharma about the firm—and settle things. And see to Hyder Ali’s old house—and repair it. Tell him I’m—I’m waiting for him—I want him to come—I want to see him.”

As if frightened by this breakdown in Bim’s innermost self, this crumbling of a great block of stone and concrete, a dam, to release a flood of roaring water, Tara unexpectedly let go Bim’s hand and fell forwards into the car.

Related Characters: Tara (speaker), Bim (speaker), Baba, Raja, Hyder Ali , Mr. Sharma
Related Symbols: The Das House
Page Number: 175-176
Explanation and Analysis:
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Hyder Ali Quotes in Clear Light of Day

The Clear Light of Day quotes below are all either spoken by Hyder Ali or refer to Hyder Ali . 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:
Family, Love, and Forgiveness Theme Icon
).
Part 1 Quotes

You must remember that when I left you, I promised I would always look after you, Bim. When Hyder Ali Sahib was ill and making out his will, Benazir herself spoke to him about the house and asked him to allow you to keep it at the same rent we used to pay him when father and mother were alive. He agreed—you know he never cared for money, only for friendship—and I want to assure you that now that he is dead and has left all his property to us, you may continue to have it at the same rent, I shall never think of raising it or of selling the house as long as you and Baba need it. If you have any worries, Bim, you have only to tell—Raja.

Related Characters: Raja (speaker), Bim, Baba, The Das Mother, The Das Father, Hyder Ali , Benazir
Related Symbols: The Das House
Page Number: 27
Explanation and Analysis:
Part 2 Quotes

“I have to go. Now I can go. I have to begin my life some time, don’t I? You don’t want me to spend all my life down in this hole, do you? You don’t think I can go on living just to keep my brother and sister company, do you?”

[…]

“Bim, I’ll come back,” he said. “I’m leaving all my books and papers with you. Look after them till I come back.”

“Why should you come back?” Bim asked stonily.

“Bim, don’t be so hard. You know I must come back—to look after you and Baba. I can’t leave you alone.”

Related Characters: Bim (speaker), Raja (speaker), Baba, Hyder Ali
Related Symbols: The Das House
Page Number: 100-101
Explanation and Analysis:
Part 4 Quotes

“Shall I tell Raja—?”

“Yes,” Bim urged, her voice flying, buoyant. “Tell him how we’re not used to it—Baba and I. Tell him we never travel any more. Tell him we couldn’t come—but he should come. Bring him back with you, Tara—or tell him to come in the winter. All of them. And he can see Sharma about the firm—and settle things. And see to Hyder Ali’s old house—and repair it. Tell him I’m—I’m waiting for him—I want him to come—I want to see him.”

As if frightened by this breakdown in Bim’s innermost self, this crumbling of a great block of stone and concrete, a dam, to release a flood of roaring water, Tara unexpectedly let go Bim’s hand and fell forwards into the car.

Related Characters: Tara (speaker), Bim (speaker), Baba, Raja, Hyder Ali , Mr. Sharma
Related Symbols: The Das House
Page Number: 175-176
Explanation and Analysis: