Home and the world
by
Rabindranath Tagore
Introduction
"Home and the World" is one of the famous novels written by Rabindranath Tagore. This novel was originally published in Bengali with the title Ghare Baire in 1915. It was further translated in English by Surendra Nath Tagore with some help from the author Rabindra Nath Tagore. When this novel was published it was praised by W.B.yeats. It is allegorical in nature as the two characters Nikhil and Sandip stand for two different and opposing visions for the whole nation. Bimala is a character who is not sure whom to follow ? It seems that she is torn between Nikhil and Sandip. She is in search of her guiding principle. Nikhil represents a global perspective of enlightenment. On the other hand Sandip’s view is radical. His dialogues are fierce and it represents an extreme form of nationalism which is a kind of threat for the nation.
In the novel's end Nikhil died unfortunately. Bimala also understands the true colors of patriotism and she is back to her senses. She was infatuated with Sandip and his belligerent nationalism. The condition of Bimala is like the condition of Bengal where there is a great lack of leadership. In the absence of leaders like Nikhil she is unable to make decisions. It seems that Bengal is also divided and tormented and further it becomes motionless.
Rabindranath Tagore
Rabindranath Tagore (1861-1941) was an Indian poet, writer, playwright, composer, philosopher, social reformer and painter. He reshaped Bengali literature and music as well as Indian art with Contextual Modernism in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Author of the "profoundly sensitive, fresh and beautiful" poetry of Gitanjali, he became in 1913 the first non-European and the first lyricist to win the Nobel Prize in Literature.
Tagore was born in Calcutta, India, into a wealthy and prominent family. He was educated at home by private tutors and at the Oriental Seminary in Calcutta. In 1878, he traveled to England to study law, but he returned to India after just two years.
Tagore began writing poetry and short stories at a young age. His first collection of poems, Manasi, was published in 1890. He also wrote plays, novels, essays, and songs. His most famous work is Gitanjali, a collection of poems that were translated into English by W.B. Yeats.
Tagore was a versatile artist who experimented with different forms and styles. He was also a social reformer who spoke out against poverty, injustice, and British rule in India. He founded a number of schools and educational institutions, and he was a strong advocate for women's rights.
Tagore's work has been translated into over 50 languages and has had a profound impact on world literature. He is considered one of the greatest writers of the 20th century and his works continue to be read and performed around the world.
Here are some of Tagore's most famous works:
Gitanjali (Song Offerings)
Gora (Fair-Faced)
Ghare-Baire (The Home and the World)
Chitrangada (Chitra)
Sonar Tari (The Golden Boat)
Manasi (The Ideal One)
Rabindra Sangeet (Tagore Songs)
Tagore's legacy is immense. He is considered one of the greatest writers of the 20th century and his works have had a profound impact on world literature. He is also a national icon in India, and his birthday is celebrated as a national holiday.
Characters
Nikhil-
Nikhil is the husband of Bimala. He is a highly educated man with a gentle way about him. Amongst rioters of the West, Nikhil remains calm and uninterested in joining their militant ways. While trying to bring his wife from a traditional woman role and into the modern world's ways, he inevitably aids his wife into a romantic relationship with his friend and revolutionary Sandip.
Bimala
Bimala is the wife of Nikhil. She loves her husband and enjoys being fully devoted to him as any other Indian woman would be of her time. She has no desire of entering into the real and modern world, but when she attends a political rally with Nikhil her mindset is changed. At the rally Bimala meets Sandip, a man devoted to the Swadeshi movement, and ends up falling in love. She is eventually torn between the traditional Indian ways as well as the lavishing Western goods her husband brings her. This leads to her struggle of identity and ultimate confusion.
Sandip is a man devoted to the revolutionary Swadeshi movement against the West. He is conniving and only does things for his own personal gain. He creates a love affair with Bimala to use her for her money, steals from his nation, as well as leads revolutionaries to help him gain what he desires most, power.
Bara Rani-
Bara Rani is Nikhil's sister. She is a minor character in the story. Bara is a cause of tension in Nikhil and Bimala's household because of her dislike for Bimala as well as her usage of her brother to gain Western material goods she desires.
Amulya-
Amulya is not a main character in the story, yet he holds a fairly important role. As being a member of the Swadeshi movement under Sandip, he is used as Sandip and Bimala's pawn to help them gain whatever they need for the revolution; be it stealing or killing, he is willing to do whatever it takes.
Themes
Love and marriage
The novel explores the complex relationship between love and marriage, and how these two things can be both complementary and conflicting. Nikhil and Bimala's marriage is initially based on love and mutual respect, but it is eventually challenged by the forces of nationalism and modernity.
When Sandip entered Bimla's life, she started to love him, and started to follow him, but at the end of the novel she realized that Sandip is not the right person for her.
Nationalism and patriotism
The novel examines the rise of nationalism in India and the impact it has on individuals and society. Nikhil is a moderate nationalist who believes in non-violence and cooperation, while Sandip is a more radical nationalist who believes in violence and confrontation. The novel explores the question of what it means to be a patriot and the dangers of blind nationalism.
Tradition and modernity
The novel explores the clash between traditional and modern values in India. Nikhil is a man of modern ideas who believes in equality and social reform, while Bimala is a traditional woman who is bound by the expectations of her society. The novel explores the challenges of reconciling these two different ways of life.
Gender roles
The novel challenges traditional gender roles and explores the ways in which women are often marginalized and oppressed. Bimala is initially confined to the domestic sphere, but she is eventually awakened by Sandip's nationalist rhetoric and comes to realize her own potential. The novel suggests that women must play an active role in shaping their own destinies.
The individual and society
The novel explores the relationship between the individual and society, and the ways in which individuals can be both shaped by and resist the forces of society. Nikhil is a man who is deeply committed to his own personal beliefs, but he is also aware of the importance of working for the common good. The novel suggests that the individual must find a balance between these two competing forces.
The novel is a complex and nuanced work of literature that offers a wealth of insights into the human condition.
Critical Analysis of The Home and the World
Because of this novel there is much controversy over whether or not Tagore was attempting to represent Gandhi with Sandip. This is owing to Gyorgy Lukacs's 1922 review of the novel in the Berlin periodical, Die rote Fahne (that is typically translated into English as "Tagore's Gandhi novel") where he makes this mistaken suggestion. The novel could not have been based on Gandhi as it was published in 1916 (and written before) when Gandhi had just moved to India from South Africa (1915) and was not a known political figure. Gandhi gained political prominence in India in the context of the Khilafat movement of 1919, which was long after the novel's publication, and took over the leadership of the Indian National Congress in 1920.
Most of the characters in this novel are one dimensional and flat. Nikhil possesses all the traits of ‘sattvic’ as mentioned in Bhagavad Gita. His element of dominance is lighter than Sandip. This is one of the reasons that he is wise and pure. He truly believes in serving society honestly. Sandip is rajasik that is to say a person who has fallen fire inside his heart. So, he is destructive, greedy and violent. His character matches with a true Machiavellian character who can think only about his own benefits. He believes in the theory that – “Every man has a natural right to possess, and therefore greed is natural.
Sandip represents himself as a realist, one who brutally confronts the world. He criticizes Nikhil for how "he delights in a misty vision of this world". Sandip describes those who share his views as "iconoclasts of meter". He and his fellow iconoclasts are
"the flesh-eaters of the world; we have teeth and nails, we pursue and grab and tear".
For Sandip, the end justifies the means, and he argues that virtually any human action can be excused if the stakes are suffi-
ciently high. This is the only fundamental principle of existence. "Nature surren-ders herself," he indicates, 'but only to the robber. For she delights in this forceful desire".
Tagore and his character Nikhil reflects the ideology that everyone is part and parcel of Brahman that is to say everyone is like strings of the almighty or in other words microcosm is reflected through the macrocosm. We are like the petals of a flower attached to a central stem which can be humanity through the bond of love. So, human kind should work for a global society. It should be further based on the concepts of equality, mutuality and inclusiveness. It should encompass all human beings and we should think beyond nationalism as it cultivates xenophobia, binaries and parochialism. It entraps people in egoism and trifle triumphalism
bring the entire human community together to search for God. Thus there are differences in thinking and approach.
conclusion
In conclusion, "The Home and the World" is a complex and nuanced novel that explores the themes of love, tradition, and nationalism in the context of India's struggle for independence. Tagore's novel is not a simple allegory, but rather a multi-layered work that offers a variety of perspectives on these complex issues.
The novel's central characters, Nikhilesh, Bimala, and Sandip, represent different aspects of the Indian nationalist movement. Nikhilesh is the embodiment of the traditional ideals of love, compassion, and non-violence. Bimala represents the awakening of Indian women and their desire for greater freedom. Sandip is the embodiment of the more radical and aggressive elements of the nationalist movement.
Here are some additional points that could be included in the conclusion:
- The novel's setting in Bengal during the Swadeshi movement provides a historical context for the story.
- Tagore's use of symbolism, such as the imagery of the home and the world, adds depth and meaning to the novel.
- The novel's exploration of gender roles and the emancipation of women was groundbreaking for its time.
- The novel's critique of nationalism is still relevant today, as we grapple with the challenges of globalization and international conflict.
Ultimately, "The Home and the World" is a powerful and moving novel that offers a thought-provoking exploration of the human condition. It is a novel that will continue to be read and studied for many years to come.
For basic information for this novel this youtube video might be helpful for readers.
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