When we are young, we run against time. As you are old, we stop. Time also stops. Only death runs towards us. When I ask myself, what did such a long life teach me? Then it seems that we have not started our life yet! ( Dhundh se uthati dhun i.e. The tune arising from the mist.) We are among those who wait for their birth till the moment of death. Writer Nirmal Verma says through his novel "Antim Aranya" that none of us had time to live the real plays of our life, which were written in our destiny. The same thing makes us old, nothing else. The wrinkles and salves of our faces indicate those dense fancies, addictions and internalises who came to meet us and we were not at our house. By the time knowledge comes, it is too late. Then the man is not capable of himself! Then, he does not have pleasure from his tongs, comes to raise his ashes.
Among the writers of Hindi literature, Nirmala Verma always expands the vision and attitude with her words, thoughts and faces. His novel "Antim Aranya" is not only represented as time, but he himself transforms Time from the eternal sky. The nature of his writing takes its shape from memory- nothing is bound by chronology in that memory, in which everything is together. This is a new transformation of ancient Indian fiction. Almost every chapter gives an independent story reading experience and every new chapter will appear to be coming out of its previous chapter. The memory of his stories also becomes independent in itself and also creates a bird's memory. Nandkishore Acharya has said that Nirmal Verma is known for his imaginary works and in it.
The ” Antim Aranya” is a slow and intoxicating story about the discovery of meaning in a life that has no meaning. In the backdrop of the hills, the co-reliance and fascination of the Himalayas has been engraved in this novel in a better manner. People come to the latter part of their lives in the Himalayas and such natural places in Indian life. The hero of this novel has come there because he has no life. No means of life in life raises questions on our existence. The hero of the novel read an advertisement and came there to take care of an old man. The woman who released the advertisement is now dead. The question is that she is dead? When we read the novels, and move forward, we find out that she is not really dead, but she is divided among those who knew her. After his death, he is broken into memories and these memories have been shared among those who knew him. His presence can be felt not in the pages and words of the novel, but in the fishes and its surroundings. This is the quality of Nirmal Verma. Gradually, it is revealed that the hero of the novel struggles to find meaning in his life. Meaning in a life that has no meaning. Perhaps such things make us old in life.
This novel is the story of self-realization. A question arises with life as to what we need. We always keep looking for something. What ? Don't know that? But something that can tie life. Then the question arises whether the freedom of life is not tied! How is our existence different from bondage when we are under self? The question in the novel is whether someone actually happens? What is the remembrance that is remembered after going to any one? Even after the death of someone, what is over? ... This story is about living in a hill village of some people who are not included in any picture. People living here are looking for another life and are looking for another life, where they find themselves and find the meaning of life. Each character mentions in his past that he is outside and almost unlikely. These people live in a place from where the world around them is visible, if it is not visible, then it is not visible. Actually, it is also ignored by us. Everyone is waiting here. Some are waiting for their own understanding, some are waiting for the meaning of life.