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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:
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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."
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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.'"
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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
...could more easily reach Canning or Kolkata come to Lusibari instead. She points out the cyclone shelter , Nirmal's one contribution to the hospital.
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Part 2: Going Ashore
...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...
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Part 2: The Wave
...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...
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