The Home and the World

This blog is written as a response to a task assigned by Megha madam, Department of English MKBU. In this blog there is discussion on the novel 'The Home and the World'.

Rabindranath Tagore was an Indian artist who did many things: he was a poet, writer, playwright, composer, philosopher, social reformer, and painter. He was active during the Bengal Renaissance and played a big role in changing Bengali literature, music, and Indian art in the late 1800s and early 1900s. His famous book of poems, “Gitanjali”, was praised for its deep and beautiful poetry. In 1913, Tagore became the first non-European and the first lyricist to win the Nobel Prize in Literature. His songs and poems were known for their spiritual and emotional depth and were loved by many in India.

“The Home and the World” is a novel written by Rabindranath Tagore in 1916. The story shows Tagore's inner struggle between two ideas: one is influenced by Western culture, and the other is about fighting against it. These ideas are represented by two main characters. Nikhilesh is calm and against violence, while Sandip is determined and will do anything to achieve his goals. These two different views help explain the history and issues of the Bengal region during that time.

Summary:

“The Home and the World” is a novel by Rabindranath Tagore about the clash between personal values and political beliefs. The story is set in Bengal during the time of the Indian independence movement. It revolves around three main characters: Nikhilesh, his wife Bimala, and his friend Sandip.

Nikhilesh is a kind and peaceful man who believes in non-violence and rational thinking. Sandip, on the other hand, is passionate about nationalism and will do anything to achieve his political goals, even if it means using violence. Bimala, who has always been devoted to her husband, gets attracted to Sandip's fiery personality and ideas. 

The novel explores how these different viewpoints affect the characters' relationships and lives, and it reflects the larger struggle in India between tradition, modernity, and the fight for freedom.

Critical Analysis:

In the novel the idea of nationalism is so prominent. The Sandip’s character in the novel represents the blind faith in nationalism. He comes with the slogan ‘Vande mataram’ and with the idea of using indigenous goods which are produced in India and that is called the Swadeshi movement. He is a good speaker who has the ability to mesmerise the listener. 

On this side there is Bimala who gets educated and wants to know the world, who wants to come out from the home. Nikhil also promotes the idea that Bimala should come out of the four walls of the home and know the world by her own understanding. 

Nikhil's is a Zamindar there and he is respected in the town a lot. There are a lot of markets that are under the control of Nikhil . He understands the concept of the Swadeshi movement but does not follow it blindly. He care s for the poor people who might not be able to buy and sell the products that are made in India. It might be costly and difficult there . Nikhil has sympathy for those people. 

The plot revolves around these three characters mostly.  Bimala who was following the conservative ideas that husband should be worshipped she also touches Nikhil's feet while waking up in the morning. But slowly and steadily she comes under the spell of Sandip and moves away from Nikhil. There we find that how both Nikhil and Sandip want Bimala to do something, they do not let her think what she should do. And at the end of the novel Bimala realises her mistakes and admits her mistakes. 

In the novel there is also reflection of the idea of Tagore himself because he also was against this swadeshi movement because he knew that on every level this idea could not be implemented. In earlier days Tagore also was supporting the idea of nationalism but in later years he saw the treaty and became the critique of the idea of nationalism. In this Tagore gives his views on the basis of Nikhil's character. 

In the character of Amulya we get to know how the youth of the village are manipulated by the words of the Sandip. Amulya and many other students leave their education for the movement of Swadeshi and Vande Mataram. Through the character of Amulya Bimala also gets to know that hoe Sandip is using other people in the name of nationalism. And then and then she was able to get out of the charm of Sandip and see his real face. 

One can also connect these ideas with the contemporary world also that in the name of nationalism the people are manipulated and how politicians use their language to misguide the mass of citizens. The idea of nationalism still is very commonly used by the people even after so many messages have happened in  the history of nationalism. But still we see the same flare in the ieyes of the people when they say the nation fries. 

In the novel the importance of education is also well explained. In the case of Bimla we get to know that women's education is a must in the contemporary world. Tagore also points out that what is real education, it is not reading or writing or following ideals but it is to think and consider before taking any step. Otherwise there are lots of Sandipa moving even in the contemporary world that would lead by the people in the wrong direction.

In the Nikhil character we find what type of environment women should be given to in the home. Although he tries to educate her as he wants but still the liberty he gives in other matters to Bimala that are hard to find during that time in India, Tagore tries to give what type of relation should be there in married life. 

In feminist reading one can observe the character of Bimala. That does not have any standpoint, she follows what other people believe and say. She reads various things but she is not able to contemplate on that very  reading. She just  becomes the puppet of both male characters Nikhil and Sandip.

Examples:

In the movie ‘Laapataa Ladies’(2024) the character of Phul is the same as the character of Bimala. She also does not have an exposure to the outer world and suddenly she falls into the circumstances that she has to live on her own. But in the movie there is development of the character of Phul but in the novel Bimala is not able to develop herself at that level. 

In many Indian soap operas there is a description of docile women like Bimala. In ‘Saath Nibhana Saathiya’(2010 to 2017) there is a character of Gopi that has a similar characteristic to Bimala. 

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