Bits of Life 2

M-9 Words-1050

knit story. It has a relevant topic and the narration with apt characterization remained in my memory.

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The story of The Home and the World is revealed by the novel’s three main characters, Bimla, her husband Nikhil, and the charismatic but unscrupulous Sandip.

The novel is set against the background of the Indian Swadeshi Movement. It takes place around the early twentieth century when the Indians boycott British goods after the controversial partition of Bengal.

Particularly important to the novel is to understand that the Swadeshi movement is a part of the Indian Nationalist Movement. The Swadeshi movement started in response to the 1905 Partition of Bengal by Viceroy Lord Curzon, which temporarily separated Hindus and Muslims into different geographical areas. The Swadeshi movement was a successful resistance policy against British colonization.

Indian citizens were encouraged to boycott British goods to foster Indian identity and independence. This movement was important in creating "the new spirit in India," and separating India from Britain, which was largely thought to be responsible for the subsequent widespread poverty.

The Home and the World also throws light on the system of Indian traditional family set up. At the opening of the novel, Bimala is a traditional, obedient housewife, who is faithful to her husband, even forcing herself to be respectful towards her nagging sister-in-law.

"I would cautiously and silently get up and take the dust of my husband's feet without waking him, how at such moments I could feel the vermilion mark upon my forehead shining out like the morning star".

However, when she falls "in love" with Sandip, she slowly weans herself from her traditional housewife role. She becomes more daring, more confidently brushing off her sister-in-law's criticisms.

She gets slowly used to crossing outside the women's quarters of the house, and easily conversing with a man, Sandip, who is not her husband. Through her we witness the change from the good housewife to an independent and a more assertive modern woman.

Bimla was a sheltered kind of wife of Nikhil. She was drawn into the political arena by her husband’s friend, Sandip. Sandip was more into radical side of the Movement and was seen involving in aggressive activism.

For Bimla, who was so far within the four walls of her home, life was thrown into the cauldron of national politics and personal involvement with Sandip. Soon, she was infatuated with his aggressive attitude in comparison with her husband, who appears simple, tame and quiet.

She grapples with the conflict between her loyalty to her husband and her infatuation with Sandip's ideals. Nikhil, a rich landlord embodies values of wisdom and seeks to promote a more benevolent and peaceful approach to the political struggles of the time. The novel explores themes of personal freedom, moral integrity, and the complexities of love amidst societal upheaval.

We get to see the poignant drama of personal relationships and larger political conflicts. The novel is written in twenty three chapters. It is told in first person by each character. The first and the last chapters are entitled, Bimla’s Story. This explains the pivotal role belongs to Bimla and she is central character.

We see Nikhil urging Bimla to come out of home and take interest in the outside world. It is not until she meets Sandip to whom she is attracted did Bimla take the big plunge. Sandip was invited to dinner and during the meeting, he conceals his true nature. He feels that the strong men should take whatever they want. But he conceals his ideas from Bimla and calls her “mother” of the Swadeshi Movement and also hails her as “Queen Bee”.

Though Nikhil’s old master, who is visiting, urges him to get rid of Sandip, Nikhil knows that Bimala would not permit him to evict the agitator. However, when he learns that the Muslims are planning to attack his home in order to kill Sandip, Nikhil informs his guest that he must leave.

Heading to ruin, Bimla gives her jewels and a large sum of money to Sandip. She steals the money from her husband Nikhil with the help of Amulya, a young friend and follower of Sandip. Yet, at the time of stealing the valuables from Nikhil, she realizes her fault. the terrible crime she is committing.

"I could not think of my house as separate from my country: I had robbed my house, I had robbed my country. For this sin my house had ceased to be mine, my country also was estranged from me" .

This shows a turning point in Bimala’s character. No doubt she realizes that Sandip is not only corrupting and robbing the nation, but encouraging her and others to do the same.

Sandip, towards the end of the novel, returns the jewelry and money to Bimla saying that for once he feels the pangs of conscience before being attacked by the Muslim gangs in the area.

A few more pages later, Bimla wakes up from her infatuation for Sandip and his political cause and understands the true nature of Nikhil, her dear husband.

She now realizes that Nikhil is not only good but also wise. Before she can ask his forgiveness, however, her chivalrous husband gallops off to protect some women he hears are being mistreated by Muslim looters.

Several hours later, Nikhil is brought back, critically injured. Amulya is dead. The novel ends there. Tagore leaves the novel with an open end. It might be that Bimla is reunited with her husband after repentance and leads a happy life balancing traditions and modern attitudes. we do not know.

The Home and the World is often described as Tagore’s darkest novel.

It is significant that when the noted director Satyajit Ray, filmed The Home and the World in 1984, he changed the ending: In his version, Nikhil’s body is brought back, and Bimala is left with nothing but regrets. That is his way of paying the sinner her wages.

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Gora is another novel of vital importance among the writings of Rabindranath Tagore. Gora was published in nineteen ten. It is set in eighteen eighties Calcutta. It explores the themes of National identity, Nationalism and religious tensions during the British Raj.
Gora is the story of Gauramohan, known as Gora in short. He was a staunch, staunch Hindu nationalist. The story