Analysis

An analysis of the short story “Chokra” by Numair A. Choudhury shows that it follows a chronological structure, focusing on the narrator and his sister, Munmun. The narrative also presents a flashback on how Munmun was intentionally disabled to have an advantage when begging.

The main character is the narrator, who is an eight-year-old boy. His sister, Munmun, and the woman who takes pity on them and helps them are also important characters. Other characters, such as the children’s mother or the man who crippled Munmun, are only briefly mentioned in the story. 

The physical setting is South Asia, most likely Bangladesh. The events take place on the streets of an unnamed town and in the house of the woman who helps the children for a night. The social setting focuses on poverty and child exploitation, and on the extreme measures poor people might have to take in order to survive. 

The story is told by a first-person narrator, who is also the main character. The narrator presents a detailed account of what happens to him and his sister. 

The language is neutral and easy to understand, as the story is told from the perspective of a child. The Hindi words used in the story give the text authenticity.

A full analysis of the short story can be found in the following pages.