Explore the detailed summary of The Professor by Nissim Ezekiel, a satirical poem highlighting the Indian middle-class mindset through humor and cultural commentary. Perfect for students and literature lovers.
The Professor Summary By Nissim Ezekiel
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Summary of The Professor By Nissim Ezekiel
Introduction: Life’s experience vs. society’s appearance
“The Professor” is a satirical and emotional poem in which a retired professor meets his old disciple and shares his life’s experiences. The tone of the conversation is very simple and domestic, but in it are hidden the layers of our social thinking, which gradually take the poem towards a deep philosophy.
This poem is not just an autobiography of an old man, but gives a glimpse of the mentality, linguistic style and self-evaluation of the entire Indian middle class society. The poet has written it very simply, but very deeply.
Main character: The Indian professor who is found in every street and neighborhood
The main character of the poem is an old professor. He speaks English, but he is completely “Indian”. His language, his thinking, his priorities – everything reminds us of the people around us.
In his words:
There is pride,
There is a little self-admiration,
There is sadness hidden,
And a deep social reality too.
Main points of the poem – The face of society in a casual meeting
1. A casual meeting, but full of depth
At the beginning of the poem, the professor is happy to meet his former student. The conversation is light. He tells that now he has retired, but his memory and energy are still good.
In this short conversation, the professor wants to show that “I am still relevant.”
2. Showing his achievements through children
The professor proudly mentions the achievements of his children.
He has five sons and three daughters.
All the sons are successful – someone is in a bank, someone is an engineer.
The daughters are also married into “good families.”
He repeatedly shows that his family is successful “in the eyes of society.” This indicates that in our society, individual identity is often determined by the “established image” of the family.
3. Grief is also wrapped in “formal language”
At one point in the poem, the professor tells that one of his daughters died — “sudden and silent.”
He also talks about this great grief as if it is just a piece of information.
This shows that in our society, even deep grief is hidden or quickly covered up to maintain the public image.
4. Searching for a hidden identity in ‘Indian English’
The language of the poem is specifically in “Indian English.”
For example:
“Everything is happening with me.”
“I am progressive, also old-fashioned.”
The language is humorous, but it also gives a glimpse of an India that wants to embrace modernity but is unable to let go of its roots.
The language itself acts like a character – where the expressions are being expressed in English, but the thoughts of the heart are still completely indigenous.
5. Modernity vs Tradition: The Professor’s Dilemma
The professor repeatedly tries to show that he is in step with the times – “progressive”, but at the same time he belongs to the “old generation”.
This dilemma in a way reflects the mental state of the society – where people want to look modern, but their attachment to traditions is still intact.
6. Satire in the poem: The truth behind the smile
Nissim Ezekiel creates this entire dialogue in a sarcastic tone, but his satire is not harsh, but compassionate. He makes you laugh, but also forces you to think:
Do we judge our achievements only by appearances?
Do we not share our sorrows because sorrow is considered a ‘weakness’ in society?
Are language, titles and children’s jobs the only things that make life successful?
Poem Features: Extraordinary in the Ordinary
This poem is simple in its form – no difficult words, no heavy emotions.
But there is a deep meaning hidden in every line – evaluation, identity, generation conflict and social artificiality.
The poem brings us in front of the mirror of our own society – and this mirror neither breaks nor lies.
Conclusion: The whole society hidden in one person’s words
“The Professor” is actually the story of a person who tried to live up to the expectations of society throughout his life.
Now that he has grown old, he still wants to show that “I have been successful.”
But in the layers of his words, loneliness, insecurity, and a desire for acceptance are hidden.
✅ Summary in one sentence
“The Professor” is an emotional portrayal of the mentality, language, pretense and hollowness of the entire society through the conversation of an old teacher.
Recommended Reading
The Worm Poem By Nissim Ezekiel
English 
हिन्दी