Marriage
Marriage is important in Indian culture for the growth of the family and the rise in social status. The theme of Marriage creates a dilemma for Asghar as his passion for Bilqeece drives him to despair and threats of suicide. Marriage also become the source of dissension between Asghar and Mir Nihal. Asghar wants to marry Bilqeece who belongs to a lower status family than Mir Nihal's family, this exploits Mir Nihal anger as he wants Asghar to marry with a high class girl. So, Marriage plays an important role throughout the novel.
Diminishing of Muslim Culture
One of the major themes in "Twilight in Delhi" is Diminishing of Muslim's culture. The effects of shrinking Muslim civilization has been clearly shown in the novel through the example of Asghar. Twilight in Delhi basically deals with the decay of Mughal Kingship and Muslim civilization and culture.
Before the arrival of the British in Hindustan, there had been ruling Muslims and their civilization could be seen everywhere but with the arrival of the British, the whole civilization faced a huge decay. Mir Nihal, who used to live in the Muslim civilization could not gratify with the present situation of Muslim society. His attitude reflects the predicament of Muslims of Delhi, to whom it was about impossible to survive in the changed conditions. Because they felt that this is the most embarrassing condition of the Muslims.
Sex
Sex is one the most important themes of the novel. Ahmed Ali depicts the society of Delhi through his characters portrayal. Almost all the characters are sexually suppressed. If we have a look on Delhi's males society we come to know that almost every male of Delhi went to prostitutes to fulfill their desires and when they become habitual they can not gratify with their wives because they don't know the art of capturing men through sex. So most of men have no longer interest in their wives.
Mir Nihal, the most energetic man, goes to Babban Jan. A young lady who gave him all these pleasures and with her death the whole world of Mir Nihal seems to be destroyed. He had also illegitimate relations with his maid Dilchain and when she got pregnant Megum Nihal was so surprised as she was not married.
Asghar also had a young beautiful lady Mushtari Bai. After seeing Bilqeece he wanted to marry her and succeeded but soon lose interest in her because of her lack sexual understanding. It wasn't her fault because most of Hindustani's women are shy and are not familiar with the art of pleasing men. The whole family represents the society of Delhi: the interest of men in prostitutes and unawareness of women in what is happening in surroundings.
