CU-BA- English Literature- VI

["I started making a list of the employees who had joined us from Calcutta and dividing up their responsibilities. Before I could finish, Bimala interrupted me and hurriedly remarked, \\\"Leave it now; I will join you again this evening.\\\" She was obviously in no condition to handle anything. She needs some time alone with herself. Perhaps she should lay in bed and cry for a bit. My intoxication deepened after she went, just as the colors of the clouds get richer when dusk falls. I believed I had lost the opportunity to enjoy the moment. What a terrible coward I once was! She was correct that she must have left me out of pure hatred at my reservations. One of our males, Amulya, was introduced by a servant as I was feeling tingly all over from these thoughts. He entered before I could decide whether or not to send him away for the time being. Then we started talking about the conflicts that were happening all over the place over things like fabric, sugar, and salt, and the air quickly cleared of any traces of intoxication. I had the sensation of waking up from a dream. I jumped to my feet, feeling well prepared for battle\u2014 Bande Mataram! Diverse news was reported. The majority of the traders who were Harish Kundu's tenants had come to visit us. Many of Nikhil's employees were also working behind the scenes to pull the strings in our favor. The Marwari business owners offered to pay a fine in exchange for being permitted to sell off their current inventory. Only a few Mahomedan tradesmen remained stubborn. One of them was bringing some shawls produced in Germany for his family home. One of the young men in our village took these and burned them. This had caused problems. We promised to replace them with Indian woollen items. But where could one find inexpensive Indian woolens? We simply could not spoil him with Cashmere shawls! He came to Nikhil with his complaint, and he gave him legal advice. Naturally, Nikhil's men made sure the trial was a sham, even if his law agent was on our side! The question is, where will the money come from if we always need to replace burned-out foreign clothing with Indian clothing while also fighting a legal battle? The best part is that, much like what happened to the fortunate shopkeeper whose chandeliers the nabob enjoyed destroying, thrilled by the tinkle of the broken glass, is that this damage of foreign goods is increasing their demand and sending up the foreigner's profits. 251","The second issue is whether we should be strict in our boycott of foreign flannels and memoranda or make an exception in their favor given that there is no such thing as inexpensive and garish Indian woollen clothing. Regarding the first point, I exclaimed, \\\"Look here! We are not going to keep giving presents of Indian goods to people who had their overseas purchases seized. They are supposed to receive the punishment, not us. We must respond by setting their grain bins on fire if they file a lawsuit! \u2014Amulya, what startles you? What excites me is not the idea of a magnificent illumination! Keep in mind that this is war. You will never succeed at this profession if you are frightened of creating misery, so try your hand at making love instead! By deciding to never compromise with foreign goods under any circumstances, I was able to tackle the second issue. Our peasantry used to get by with simple cotton quilts in the good old days when these brightly colored foreign shawls were unheard of; they must once more learn to do so. Although they might not look as beautiful, this is not the time to focus on appearances. The majority of the boatmen had decided not to transport foreign products, but Mirjan, the leader of the group, remained disobedient. \\\"Couldn't you sink his boat?\\\" I questioned our local manager. Nothing is simpler, sir, he answered. But what if I end up being blamed later? Why would you be so careless as to allow room for responsibility? But if there must be any, it shall be carried on my shoulders. After its cargo was transferred to the market-place, Mirjan's boat was moored close to the landing-place. The manager had planned some amusement to which everyone had been invited, so nobody was on it. The boat, which was filled with trash, was holed and set adrift after dusk. Midstream, it went under. Mirjan was able to comprehend everything. He came to me in tears, pleading for forgiveness. I was mistaken, sir, he started. What suddenly makes you recognize that? I scoffed. He didn't directly respond. He stated that the boat was worth 2,000 rupees. He threw himself at my feet and said, \\\"I now recognize my mistake, and if excused this time I will never. 252","I invited him to visit after 10 days. We could buy him up body and soul if we could just pay him that two thousand rupees all at once. This is the kind of man who, if persuaded, could be of great use to us. Without being able to obtain enough of cash, we will never be able to advance. In the evening, as soon as Bimala entered the sitting room, I greeted her by standing up and saying, \\\"Queen! Everything is set up for success, but we need money. \\\"Money? What sum of money?\\\" \\\"Not that much, but we have to have it by all means necessary!\\\" However, how much? \\\"Just 50,000 rupees will suffice for the time being.\\\" Bimala struggled to hide her internal clench as she stared at the figure. How could she concede defeat once more? I said, \\\"Queen! You alone can make the impossible possible. Yes, you've already done that. Oh, how I wish I could demonstrate the breadth of your success so that you would be aware of it. But that is not appropriate at this time. We now want payment! You're going to get it, she said. I could see she had considered offering her diamonds for sale. I so commanded: \\\"Your diamonds must stay in reserve. One never knows when they could be needed. Then, while Bimala remained motionless and expressionless toward me, I continued, \\\"This money must come from your husband's treasury.\\\" Bimala was even more surprised. She paused before responding, \\\"But where does Ito get his money from?\\\" Isn't his money also yours? She exclaimed, her wounded pride stinging once more, \\\"Ah, no!\\\" If not, it is not his, but rather his country's, which he has deprived of it in her hour of need, I sobbed. But how is Ito getting it, she said again. 253","\\\"Get it, you must and shall. You can do it the finest. It belongs to Her, thus you must obtain it for her. Oh, Bande Mataram! These are the magic words that will unlock the iron safe's door, scale the walls of the strong chamber, and frighten the living daylights out of anyone who defies its call. Bee, chant \\\"Bande Mataram\\\" Sing \\\"Bande Mataram!\\\" Because we are men and kings, we are entitled to our dues. We have been robbing the Earth ever since we first landed here, and the more we demanded, the more she gave in. Since the beginning of time, men have been harvesting fruits, felling trees, removing dirt, and killing fish, birds, and other animals. No strongbox in Nature's storeroom has been respected or left unrifled; it has all been grabbing, snatching, grabbing from the bottom of the sea, from beneath the earth, from the very jaws of death. The fulfillment of men's claims is the only joy this planet has to offer. Her unending sacrifices for children have made her fertile, attractive, and whole. If not for this, she would be alone in the woods, unable to recognize herself, her heart's doors closed, and her gems and pearls hidden from view. Similarly, we men have unlocked all of women's hidden potential by the sheer power of our claims. They have always attained their genuine glory by giving themselves over to us. They have discovered their true richness as a result of having to bring all the pearls of their grief and diamonds of their joy into our royal treasury. Therefore, accepting is genuinely giving for males, whereas giving is truly receiving for women. But the request I just made of Bimala is a substantial one! I initially had doubts because, isn't it the human mind's inclination to engage in pointless fight with itself? I believed I had set the task's demands too high. My initial reaction was to call her back and explain that I would prefer not to make her life miserable by including her in all of these problems. For a little period, I forgot that man's purpose was to be aggressive, to make woman's existence productive by causing unrest in the depths of her passivity, and to bless the entire universe by creating an immeasurable depth of agony. Man's hands and grasp are so powerful and hard because of this. Bimala yearned for me, Sandip, to ask her to make a significant sacrifice or to be killed with all of her heart. Why else would she be content? Because she was so bored with the sameness of her calm bliss, had she not waited all these exhausting years for the chance to cry herself to death? So, at the very sight of me, the rain clouds of her impending days of suffering began to gather 254","over her heart. What good was it for me to be born a man if I could feel sorry for her and spare her pain? My reluctance is actually caused by the fact that I am asking for money. That smells like beggarly since money belongs to men, not women. I had to make it large for that reason. A thousand or two might seem like small-time larceny. There is all the romantic brigandage in 50,000. Ah, but I should have had the riches! In order to fulfill so many of my goals, I have often had to put them on hold due to a lack of funds. This is not who I am! If my fate had simply been unfair, it may have been excused, but its foulness is inexcusable. A man like me having trouble paying his rent or having to meticulously count out the change for an Intermediate Class train ticket is not just difficult; it is disgusting! It is also obvious that Nikhil doesn't need his paternal holdings. Being poor wouldn't have been at all unseemly for him. With that priceless master of his, he would have gladly pulled in the double harness of penniless mediocrity. I would adore the opportunity to spend 50,000 rupees, just once, in the service of my nation and for my own delight. Being a nabob by birth, it is a huge goal of mine to shed this poverty-related mask, if for only one day, and to come to terms with who I really am. However, I have serious doubts that Bimala would ever be able to get those 50,000 rupees; in reality, only a thousand or two will likely become available. So be it. The sensible man would rather have half a loaf\u2014or any fraction\u2014of bread than none at all. I'll come back to these introspective thoughts of mine later. I learn that I am immediately wanted. There has been a problem. The individual who sank Mirjan's boat for us may now be known thanks to information the police have. He has a history of crime. They are pursuing him, but he should be too skilled to be overheard babbling. One can never be sure, though. Nikhil's manager might not be able to have his way now that Nikhil's back is against the wall. When I saw him, the manager replied, \\\"I shall have to pull you in if I get into trouble, sir.\\\" Where is the noose that you may use to round me? I queried. 255","\\\"I have numerous of Amulya Babu's letters, as well as one of yours.\\\" I was rushed into sending a response to a letter marked \\\"urgent,\\\" but I was unable to see that it was only urgently needed for this reason. I am picking up a lot of new information. The key aspect at this time is that Mirjan's yacht requires hush money to be paid to the police as well as bribes. It is also becoming clear that a significant portion of the money spent on this patriotic endeavor of ours will end up in the manager of Nikhil. I must, however, close my eyes to that for the time being because, after all, is he not singing Bande Mataram with the same lust I am? This type of work must always be done using leaky containers that let as much through as they collect. We all have a hidden reserve of moral judgment stashed somewhere inside of us, so I was about to become angry with the manager and write in my diary about how unreliable my countrymen were. But if there is a deity, I must express my thankfulness to him for giving me a sharp mind that makes nothing inside or outside of it unclear. I might fool people, but never myself. As a result, I lost my temper. Science is the study of what is true, which is neither good nor bad but merely true. A lake is merely the remaining body of water that has not been absorbed by the earth. As is true of all mundane activities, the cult of Bande Mataram has a zone of slime beneath it whose absorbing power must be taken into consideration. The manager will get what he wants, and I have my own desires as well. These smaller needs are a component of the larger ones; if we are to make the best progress, the horse must be fed, and the wheels must be kept in good working order. The long and short of it is that we urgently need money. Since we cannot wait, we must accept whatever is offered first. I am aware that sometimes the urgent trumps the long-term; the 5,000 rupees of today might snuff out the 50,000 rupees of tomorrow. But I have to take the punishment. Have I not frequently remarked to Nikhil that those who follow the road of restraint have no concept of sacrifice? We avaricious people are the ones who must constantly renounce our avarice! Desire is one of the seven deadly sins of man, but Delusion, which is reserved for cowards alone, hinders men who are men. Delusion keeps them mired in the past and the future, yet it is the precise thing that causes them to stumble in the present. Like Sakuntala [19], who was engrossed in the recollections of her beloved, those who are constantly straining their ears for the sound of 256","the distant, to the neglect of the call of the imminent When the visitor is ignored, a curse is cast, robbing them of what they wanted most. Bimala's thoughts is still stirred by the contact I gave her hand the other day, just as mine is. Repeating it will kill its excitement and turn what is now song into plain arguing. She currently has no space in her thinking for the inquiry \\\"why?\\\" So I can't take away Bimala's entire supply of illusion as she is one of those creatures who needs it. As for me, I have so much stuff to accomplish that I'll have to settle for the wine cup of passion's foam for the time being. O you desirer! Reduce your hunger and keep practicing your harp of illusion skills until you can fully capture all the subtle shades of suggestion. The cup should not be drained to the bottom at this time. Our work moves along quickly. But despite our best efforts to convince the Muslims to support us, we have come to the conclusion that we will never be able to win them over completely. Therefore, they must be completely subdued and made aware that we are in charge. They are currently exhibiting their teeth, but one day they will dance to our music like trained bears. \\\"Musulmans are a necessary component of it,\\\" counters Nikhil, \\\"if the vision of a United India is a true one.\\\" I agreed, but added, \\\"But we must keep them there and know where they belong, or else they would always cause difficulty. Do you intend to cause problems in order to avoid difficulty? Then, what is your strategy? Nikhil remarked seriously, \\\"There is just one well-known strategy of avoiding arguments. I am aware that Nikhil's conversations always finish in a moraL, just like stories written by wonderful people. The peculiar thing about it is that despite his acquaintance with moral rules, he nevertheless adheres to them. He is a troubled young man. His genuineness is his primary asset. The problem with individuals like him is that they refuse to accept that death is inevitable and instead maintain a constant focus on the afterlife. I've been mulling over a strategy that, if I could only execute it, would ignite the entire nation. If our citizens cannot picture the motherland, they will never feel true patriotism. She needs to 257","become a goddess. My coworkers immediately understood the point. Let's create a suitable image, they exclaimed. I warned them, \\\"It won't do if you devise it. The worship of the people must flow towards one of the current images as the nation, following the deeply carved grooves of tradition. However, Nikhil's needs must still object to this. He once told me, \\\"We must not seek the aid of delusions,\\\" \\\"for what we think is the real cause,\\\" I explained, \\\"Illusions are required for lower intellect, and the majority of the world belongs to this class. Because men are acutely aware of their frailty, divinities are created everywhere to maintain the illusions of the populace. No, he answered. God is required to dispel our illusions. False gods are the deities that keep them alive. \\\"How about that? In order to avoid letting the job suffer, even fake gods may need to be called. Unfortunately, despite the fact that our illusions are still very much alive, we do not know how to use them to our advantage. Just observe the Brahmins. They are a force going to waste even though we treat them like demi-gods and relentlessly tread on their toes. There will always be a sizable class of grovelers who won't do anything unless they're doused in someone else's foot dust, whether it's on their heads or their backs! What a shame if the Brahmins we have kept in reserve in our arsenal for all these years, bright and useful, cannot be used to rally the troops against this mob when we are in need. But it is impossible to make Nikhil understand all of this. He exhibits such bias in favor of the truth, as if there were such a thing as an objective reality! How many times have I attempted to convince him that truth exists only where lies genuinely exist? As a result, they had the audacity to state that for those with limited comprehension, lying is the truth in earlier times in our nation. Her representation will serve as a witness to the reality for those who genuinely feel that their nation is a goddess. Our nature and our traditions prevent us from understanding our nation as she is, but we can easily convince ourselves to believe in how she should be. Those who aspire to engage in meaningful work cannot disregard this reality. Nikhil merely became ecstatic. You continue to wait for some miraculous blessing to fall from the clouds because you no longer have the ability to go in the path of attaining truth, he cried. 258","Because of this, all you can think of when your country duty is millennia behind schedule is to create an image of it and hold out your hands in hope of receiving undeserved favors. I answered, \\\"We want to accomplish the impossible. \\\"So our nation needs to be transformed into a deity.\\\" Nikhil retorted, \\\"You mean you have no heart for feasible work.\\\" There must be a supernatural outcome, yet whatever is already there should be left alone: I said at length, completely frustrated, \\\"Look here, Nikhil. \\\"What you've been saying is sufficient to serve as a moral lesson. These concepts once served as breast milk for babies, but now that man has developed teeth, they are no longer appropriate. \\\"Do we not see right before our eyes how things are growing in every direction that we would have never even dreamed of sowing the seed for? What authority? that of the manifesting national divinity in our nation. The image of that deity will be created by the artistic genius of the time. Rather than arguing, genius builds. I merely give the nation's ideas form. \\\"I'll let everyone know that the goddess has granted me a dream. I'll inform the Brahmins that they were chosen to serve as her priests and that their failure to ensure the appropriate conduct of her worship led to their doom. Do you think I'll be telling lies, then? I disagree, saying that it is the truth\u2014moreover, the truth that the nation has been longing to hear from my lips for a very long time. You would witness the astounding outcome if I could just get the chance to give my word. The possibility that my lifetime is finite and the outcome you speak about is not the ultimate outcome is what worries me, Nikhil added. It will have consequences that might not be immediately noticeable. I stated, \\\"I merely seek the outcome that pertains to today.\\\" Nikhil responded, \\\"The outcome I seek belongs to all time.\\\" Despite the fact that Nikhil possessed some of Bengal's finest talent\u2014imagination\u2014he has allowed an alien conscientiousness to overpower it and even threaten to kill it. Just take a look at how Bengal elevated the devotion of Durga. One of her most notable accomplishments is that. I will swear that Durga is a political deity who was created as a representation of the Shakti of 259","patriotism during the time Bengal was fervently pleading to be freed from Musulman rule. What other Indian province has been successful in providing the aim of its pursuit such lovely aesthetic expression? Nothing more clearly revealed Nikhil's loss of the sublime gift of imagination than his response to me. \\\"The Maratha and the Sikh begged for fruit from the arms which they themselves took up during the Mussulman reign,\\\" he remarked. The Bengali was willing to place weapons in the hands of his goddess and chant incantations to her; yet, since his nation did not actually have a goddess, the only reward he received was the goat and buffalo heads that had been amputated during the sacrifice. He who is larger than our country will give us true fruition on the day that we seek the good of the nation along the path of justice. Unfortunately, Nikhil's statements sound so good when they are written down. But instead of being scrawled on paper, my remarks are intended to strike a chord deep within the nation. While the cultivator at the point of his plough imprints his efforts deeply in the soil, the Pandit writes his Treatise on Agriculture in printer's ink. Bimala's Story: Come, please! The river of love must now meet the sea of adoration as we set sail for that magnificent confluence. All of the muddiness' weight sinks and vanishes in that brilliant blue. I no longer have anything to fear, not even myself or anyone else. I have traversed fire. What remains is lifeless since everything that was flammable has been reduced to ashes. I have devoted myself at his feet because he has taken all of my sin and buried it in the depths of his own suffering. We travel to Calcutta tonight. My internal struggles have long kept me from taking care of my possessions. Let me now organize and package them. After some time, I discovered that my husband had entered and was helping with the packing. This is unacceptable, I said. Did you not say you would get some rest? He said, \\\"I may have made the vow, but my slumber did not, and it was nowhere to be found. \\\"No, no, this won't do,\\\" I emphasized. At least for a bit, lie down.\\\" But how are you going to handle everything by yourself? 260","\\\"I can, of course.\\\" \\\"You may certainly brag about being able to live without me. However, I really can't live without you. In that room by myself, not even sleep would come.\\\" He resumed his work after that. A servant then entered and announced that Sandip Babu had called and wished to be announced, causing an interruption. I was afraid to inquire about his preferences. The sky's light appeared to abruptly dim, much like the sensitive plant leaves. Bimal, come,\\\" my husband said. \\\"Let's head over there to hear what Sandip has to say. He must have something important to say since he returned after taking his leave.\\\" Simply because staying would have been more awkward, I left. Sandip was fixated on a photo hanging on the wall. When we arrived, he said: \\\"You must be wondering what brought the man back. As you are aware, the spirit is never laid until all the rites have been performed.\\\" With these comments, he pulled something bound in a handkerchief from his pocket and loosened the knot before setting it on the table. They were the sovereigns. Don't misunderstand me, Nikhil, he pleaded. \\\"You must not think that your business has somehow miraculously made me honest; I am not the type of person who return stolen money in a slobbering act of repentance. But. . .\\\" His speech was left unfinished. He turned to face Nikhil after a little pause, but first whispered to me: \\\"Queen Bee, the ghost of compunction has finally gained access to my previously clear conscience after all these years. I cannot refer to it as a phantom of my imagination because I have to struggle with it every night after my first sleep is over. Until its due is paid, neither I nor anyone else can escape. Let me thus make amends into the hands of that spirit. Goddess! I won't be able to take anything away from you, the only person in the entire universe, alone. I won't let go of you till I'm bankrupt. Return these!\\\" He simultaneously removed and set down the jewel-casket from beneath his tunic before hurrying away from us. Sandip, pay attention to me,\\\" my husband called after him. Sandip hesitated near the door and remarked, \\\"I have not the time, Nikhil. \\\"I've been told that the Mussulmans view me as a priceless treasure and are planning to steal me and bury me in their cemetery. However, I believe that I must continue to live. I only have 25 minutes to catch the 261","train headed north. I must therefore leave for the time being. At the earliest feasible chance, we'll have our conversation. If you follow my advice, don't wait to leave either. You deserve my respect, Queen Bee, Queen of the Bereaved, Queen of Desolation!\\\" Then Sandip almost ran away. I froze in place because I had never previously recognized how pointless and meager this gold and these gems were. I was so preoccupied with deciding what to pack and what to take with me just a short while ago. I now believed that there was absolutely no need to take anything. The most crucial thing was to depart and move forward. My husband got up from his chair, came over, and grabbed my hand. He said, \\\"It's getting late.\\\" We don't have much time left to finish getting ready for the trip. Chandranath Babu abruptly entered the room at this point. When he saw us both together, he briefly recoiled. Later, he said, \\\"My little mother, please pardon me if I interrupt. The Muslims have gotten out of control, Nikhil. They are robbing the bank account of Harish Kundu. That is not particularly important. But the brutality that is being committed against the ladies in their home is inexcusable.\\\" My husband said, \\\"I'm going. What are your options there? Holding him by the hand, I begged. I pleaded his case to his boss, \\\"Oh, sir.\\\" \\\"Won't you please tell him not to leave?\\\" He retorted, \\\"My little mother, there is no time for anything else.\\\" My husband told Bimal not to be concerned as he walked away from us. I rushed to the window and saw my husband riding away on a horse without holding anything in his hands. The Bara Rani entered the room in a further minute. She sobbed, \\\"What have you done, Chotie darling? How were you able to let him go? She turned to a butler and said, \\\"Call the Dewan immediately.\\\" The Ranis never appeared before the Dewan, but the Bara Rani didn't care about appearances on that particular day. As soon as the Dewan stood up, she commanded, \\\"Send a mounted soldier to bring back the Maharaja immediately.\\\" 262","The Dewan stated, \\\"We have all pleaded with him to stay, Rani Mother, but he refused to turn around. My sister-in-law wailed angrily, \\\"Send news to him that the Bara Rani is unwell, that she is on her death-bed.\\\" She had a rage-filled outburst when the Dewan had left and turned on me. \\\"Oh, witch, you monster, you couldn't pass away yourself, but circumstances forced you to send him to his death!\u201d The day's light started to diminish. The Sajna tree, which was in bloom, had fluffy foliage as the sun sank. Even now, I can still make out every hue of that sunset. It appeared to be a large bird with outstretched fiery-feathered wings because of two cloud masses on either side of the sinking orb. I had the impression that this momentous day was setting off to cross the nighttime sea. It got progressively darker. A far-off din rose in repeating waves into the night, like the flames of a distant village on fire, shooting up every now and then above the horizon. From our temple, the bells of the evening service sounded forth. I was aware that the Bara Rani was seated there, her palms interlaced in stillness. I was unable to leave the window, though. The roads, the settlement beyond, and the still farther-off tree fringe became increasingly hazy. The lake on our property had a lifeless sheen that resembled a blind man's eye as it gazed upward into the sky. The tower appeared to be craning its neck to the left in an attempt to view what was going on. The noises of the night can be heard in many different ways. When a twig breaks, one assumes that someone is fleeing for their lives. One hears the sudden heartbeat of a startled universe when a door slams. Under the cover of the far-off trees, lights would abruptly flicker and then go out once more. Every now and again, horses' hooves would make a noise before riders would emerge from the royal gates. I kept thinking that if I could just pass away, all of this agony would disappear. My sins would continue to run rampant as long as I was still alive, causing havoc on all sides. I could see the gun in my box in my mind. My feet, however, balked at leaving the window to find it. Did I not wait for my end? 263","The watch's gong solemnly struck ten. A short while later, clusters of lights were visible in the distance, and a sizable crowd was moving toward the palace gates along the roads in the dark like a huge serpent. At the sound, the Dewan sprinted to the gate. A rider suddenly galloped in. The Dewan questioned Jata, \\\"What's the news?\\\" The response was \\\"Not good. These words were audible outside my window. However, after that, something was whispered that I missed. A palanquin and a litter then arrived. Alongside the palanquin was the doctor. The Dewan asked the doctor, \\\"What do you think?\\\" Can't say yet, the physician said. A major head injury has occurred. How about Amulya Babu? \\\"He's been shot in the heart. He is defeated.\\\" 11.3 SUMMARY \uf0b7 Rabindranath Tagore wrote a book titled Home and the World that is set against the caste system's logistical and political horrors in 20th-century India. Much of the book reads like a philosophical essay, despite the fact that it centers on the dynamics of a marriage, which change when a mysterious stranger enters the couple's lives. \uf0b7 The perspectives of the characters Bimala, Nikhil, and Sandip change throughout the story, and a large portion of the book is made up of their internal and external dialogues as they reflect on important topics like tradition, the roles of men and women in Indian culture, the nature of political change, the sporadic use of violence in political activism, and other rhetorical exercises like weighing the public good. \uf0b7 At the start of the book, Bimala is content with her existence. She married a decent, nice, intelligent, and generous man. She is content to take his assistance in everything and to worship him. She does not, however, experience excitement. She is enthralled by 264","Sandip's comments and aroused by some of his political beliefs when he starts giving talks in their village. She can't stop thinking about him. She shows no signs of losing interest in Sandip, who is just concerned with satisfying his own goals and moving up the social ladder. \uf0b7 Nikhil, her husband, observes what is taking place but chooses not to take action. Nikhil thinks that if one is dedicated to leading a moral and considerate life, one can accept whatever occurs. He regrets that he makes Bimala feel burdened, but he is determined to let her make her own decisions. \uf0b7 Because of her decisions, Bimala steals from Nikhil in order to give money to Sandip's cause\u2014money that he then keeps for himself. Bimala must attempt to salvage her marriage, support her country, and dedicate herself to living by her conscience rather than her passions since she is overcome with shame over how she let a man who she now finds repulsive to cause such chaos in her life. \uf0b7 The characters all undergo changes as a result of the choices they must make when villagers begin to engage in violent outbursts. \uf0b7 The Home and the World, which was first published in 1916, is a widely acclaimed book on subjects that its author is very familiar with. The book is a powerful illustration of the ability of art (and artifice) can uplift\u2014or demolish\u2014causes, relationships, and perhaps an entire nation. 11.4 KEYWORDS \uf0b7 Outbursts: sudden release of strong emotion. \uf0b7 Violent: using or involving physical force intended to hurt, damage, or kill someone or something. \uf0b7 Demolish: comprehensively refute (an argument or its proponent). \uf0b7 Artifice: clever or cunning devices or expedients, especially as used to trick or deceive others. \uf0b7 Sporadic: occurring at irregular intervals or only in a few places; scattered or isolated. \uf0b7 Palanquin: (in India and the East) a covered litter for one passenger, consisting of a large box carried on two horizontal poles by four or six bearers. 265","11.5 LEARNING ACTIVITY 1. Who wrote the home and the world? 2. Who narrates the story? 3. When was The Home and the World published? 4. Who is Nikhil? 5. Who is Bimila? 6. Who is Sandeep? 11.6 UNIT END QUESTIONS A. Descriptive Questions Short Questions: 1. What does Amulya do to get the money Bimala asked for? 2. What role does religion play in the novel? 3. Why is Bimala susceptible to Sandip\u2019s charms?\u201d 4. What is the theme of the home and the world? 5. What is the significance of the title the home and the world? 6. Who is Bara Rani? Long Questions 1. What are the three protagonists in the book? 2. Explain in brief about Surendranath Tagore? 3. Explain in brief about the Bimala\u2019s story? 4. Explain in brief about Nikhil\u2019s story. 5. Explain Sandip\u2019s story in your own words. 6. Who was Panchu? Explain the role of the character. B.Multiple Choice Questions 1. 'Ghare Baire (The Home and the World)' is written by _____. a. Rabindranath Tagore b. Surendra Tagore c. Devendranath 266","d. Aurobindo 2. The 'Ghare Baire\u2019 was translated to English by ________ a. Rabindranath Tagore b. Surendra Tagore c. Devendranath d. Tr. Surendranath Tagore 3. When was The Home and the World published? a. 1916 b. 1907 c. 1908 d. 1999 4. __________was an educated and gentle man. a. Nikhil b. Rani c. Bimala d. Tanu 5. The wife of Nikhil was _______ a. Bimila b. Sandip c. Rani d. Women Answers: 1-a, 2-d, 3-a, 4-a, 5-a. 11.7 REFERENCES \uf0b7 Aggarwala, R.N. Indian National Movement. Delhi: Metropolitan Book Co., 1971. \uf0b7 Aikant, Satish C. \u201cReading Tagore: Seductions and Perils of Nationalism.\u201d Asiatic. 4.1 (2010): 52-64. 267","\uf0b7 Anderson, Benedict. Imagined Communities: Reflection on the Origins and Spread of Nationalism. 2nd ed. London: Verso, 1991. \uf0b7 Anita, Desai. Introduction. The Home and the World. By R. Tagore. Hammondsworth: Penguin Book, 2005. xxi-xxxii. \uf0b7 B\u00f9i Quang Chi\u00eau. \u201c\u00dd ki\u1ebfn c\u1ee7a B\u00f9i Quang Chi\u00eau v\u1ec1 Ph\u1ee5 n\u1eef.\u201d Ph\u1ee5 n\u1eef T\u00e2n v\u0103n 29 (June 1929): 9-11. \uf0b7 Iyengar, Srinivasa K.R. Sri Aurobindo: A Biography and a History. Pondicherry: Sri Aurobindo International Centre of Education, 1985. Website \uf0b7 https:\/\/www.enotes.com\/topics\/home-world\/themes \uf0b7 https:\/\/www.cse.iitk.ac.in\/users\/amit\/books\/tagore-1919-home-world-gharebaire.html \uf0b7 https:\/\/www.ibiblio.org\/eldritch\/rt\/hw.htm 268","UNIT \u2013 12 THEME AND SUMMARY OF THE NOVEL- THE HOME AND THE WORLD STRUCTURE 12.0Learning Objectives 12.1 Introduction 12.2 Summary of the Novel \u2013 The home and the World ( Tr. Surendranath Tagore) 12.3 Theme of the Novel 12.4 Summary 12.5 Keywords 12.6 Learning Activity 12.7 Unit End Questions 12.8 References 12.0 LEARNING OBJETIVES In this poem we will study, \uf0b7 Bimala's tale: Excerpts \uf0b7 Moderation vs extremism \uf0b7 Tradition versus development \uf0b7 The roles of women in society \uf0b7 The summary of the Novel \uf0b7 The significance of the Novel 12.1 INTRODUCTION Rabindranath Tagore wrote a book titled Home and the World that is set against the caste system's logistical and political horrors in 20th-century India. Much of the book reads like a philosophical essay, despite the fact that it centers on the dynamics of a marriage, which change when a mysterious stranger enters the couple's lives. The perspectives of the characters Bimala, Nikhil, and Sandip change throughout the story, and a large portion of the book is made up of their internal and external dialogues as they reflect on important topics like tradition, the roles of 269","men and women in Indian culture, the nature of political change, the sporadic use of violence in political activism, and other rhetorical exercises like weighing the public good. At the start of the book, Bimala is content with her existence. She married a decent, nice, intelligent, and generous man. She is content to take his assistance in everything and to worship him. She does not, however, experience excitement. She is enthralled by Sandip's comments and aroused by some of his political beliefs when he starts giving talks in their village. She can't stop thinking about him. She shows no signs of losing interest in Sandip, who is just concerned with satisfying his own goals and moving up the social ladder. Nikhil, her husband, observes what is taking place but chooses not to take action. Nikhil thinks that if one is dedicated to leading a moral and considerate life, one can accept whatever occurs. He regrets that he makes Bimala feel burdened, but he is determined to let her make her own decisions. Because of her decisions, Bimala steals from Nikhil in order to give money to Sandip's cause\u2014 money that he then keeps for himself. Bimala must attempt to salvage her marriage, support her country, and dedicate herself to living by her conscience rather than her passions since she is overcome with shame over how she let a man who she now finds repulsive to cause such chaos in her life. The characters all undergo changes as a result of the choices they must make when villagers begin to engage in violent outbursts. The Home and the World, which was first published in 1916, is a widely acclaimed book on subjects that its author is very familiar with. The book is a powerful illustration of the ability of art (and artifice) can uplift\u2014or demolish\u2014causes, relationships, and perhaps an entire nation. 12.2 SUMMARY OF THE NOVEL- THE HOME AND THE WORLD One of my most moving stories is about an unphysical relationship. The conversations (and the sparks) between the innocent bimala and the earthy, selfish Sandip\u2014as well as the language used to describe them\u2014are early indicators of the imaginative fireworks of Shesher Kabita. The quiet bimala who falls for the flamboyant sandip but later discovers a quiet strength in her spouse is really perceptive. The entire story is psychologically very compelling. \\\"Man can never give as much as a woman. women sacrifice for themselves.\\\" by Sandip In my opinion, Tagore's female characters are considerably more psychologically developed than any other writer's female characters. Men who understand women are also important; to use Sandip's words once more, \\\"Women have a weakness towards greedy men since it is this greed of ours that gives them the upper hand.\\\" Surendranath, his nephew, provided a very subtle translation that transports you to Tagore almost transparently. While Tagore was living in England in 1878\u20131889, he and his sister Indira developed close ties with Tagore, who was only 10 years older. Unquestionably one of Tagore's best translators is Surendranath; two of his outstanding translations are Four Chapters (chAr adhyAy) and My Remembrances (, Jivansmriti). 270","[Bimala's tale] Excerpts My early experiences have taught me that commitment is beauty in and of itself. My mother's service would become lost in a beauty that transcended external forms as she set the various fruits\u2014all lovingly peeled by her\u2014on the white stone dish and delicately swung her fan to fend off the flies as my father sat down to his meals. I remember feeling its might even when I was a baby. It was pure music, above all discussions, questions, or computations. I clearly recall how, after my marriage, I could feel the vermilion mark on my forehead blazing out like the morning star when I would softly and carefully rise up early in the morning to dust my husband's feet without awakening him. He woke up one day and grinned as he questioned me: \\\"Bimala, what is that? What do you have to say?\\\" I'll never forget how humiliated I felt when he caught me. He might have believed that I was making covert efforts to gain favor. However, no! That was unrelated to merit. It was the heart of my wife, who needed to worship in order to love. My husband wasn't a drinker and wasn't easily distracted. This abstinence was so alien to the family that many people didn't even think it was appropriate! They believed that those who had not been fortunate were the only ones who were gaining purity. Not the stars, but the moon has space for stains. However, my husband would not allow me to participate in any worship. That was his superiority. They are cowards if they want complete devotion from their wives; that would be humiliating for both of them. His affection for me seemed to go beyond my capacity because of the wealth and assistance it brought. However, I needed to give more than I needed to receive since love is a wanderer who can make his flowers blossom better in the roadside dust than in the crystal jars maintained in the drawing room. Sandip's tale: \\\"That which has come to my portion is mine,\\\" the impotent man declares. And the feeble guy concurs. However, the universal lesson is that \\\"That is actually mine which I can grab away.\\\" Just because it is where I was born doesn't make it my country. On the day I am able to forcefully win it, it becomes mine. Moral principles should only be reserved for those starving, malnourished creatures with feeble grasps. The chosen of Providence are those who possess the capacity to desire with all their heart and enjoy with all their soul, as well as those who act without reservation or reservation. For their advantage, nature lays out her richest and most beautiful treasures. They traverse streams by 271","swimming, jump over obstacles, and kick through doors to gain access to valuable items. One can exult in such an obtaining since such wresting gives the object taken value. Only the robber receives Nature's surrender. Because she enjoys using force to get what she wants or to kidnap someone. As a result, she does not drape the ascetic's slender, scraggly neck with the garland of her approval. The wedding march's melody is played. I must not allow the wedding's time go by. Consequently, my heart is eager. Who is the bridegroom, after all? It is I. Whoever can arrive in time with a torch in hand will take the bridegroom's position. In Nature's wedding hall, the groom shows up unannounced and uninvited. Ashamed? No, I never feel humiliated. I always ask for what I want, even if I don't always have to wait to ask for it. Those who suffer from their own indifference elevate their suffering under the guise of modesty. The reality-based world is the one into which we are born. \\\"It is true that the only way to obtain something is by force, he said. What then is this force, though? What is this going to receive, then, as well? The power of renunciation is the strength I believe in \\\"So you are obsessed with the glory of bankruptcy, I said. He responded, \\\"Just as desperately as the chick is obsessed with the bankruptcy of its shell. \\\"The shell is given up in return for immaterial light and air, despite the fact that it is real enough. Would you describe that as a regrettable exchange? \\\" There is no chance of convincing Nikhil that he is only dealing with words and not realities once he starts using metaphor. Women notice a masterful passion in my appearance, my behavior, my gait, and my voice. This passion is full-blooded and not one that has been dried out by asceticism or that has its face turned away at every turn out of uncertainty. I want, I want, I want, it roars and rolls on like a flood. Women believe in their depths of hearts that this unquenchable passion is the world's lifeblood, accepting no authority but itself and therefore triumphant. They frequently let themselves be carried away by the flood-tide of my desire as a result, giving no thought to whether it would bring them life or death. This power that triumphs over these ladies is the strength of strong men, the power that triumphs over reality. People who think about how much more desirable another world might be just switch their preferences from the earth to the skies. It remains to be seen how long and how high their flowing fountain will play. But one thing is for certain: women were not made for these pale beings, these lotus-eating idealists. \\\"Affinity!\\\" Why does there need to be just one? It's possible to have affinity with thousands. Nature and I had never agreed that I should ignore all of my numerous affinities in favor of just one. Even if I've made a lot of discoveries in my own life thus far, one more remains to be found, and it's right in front of my eyes. She has also realized how much she likes me. Then what? If I lose, I will be a coward. 272","What could have happened to my sense of shame, I wonder. The truth is that I didn't have time to consider myself. With myself in the center, my days and nights were passing in a swirl similar to an eddy. There was no room for caution or subtlety. \u2014-[Bimala] [Sandip] once stated to my husband: \\\"Do you know, Nikhil, that when I first came across our Queen Bee, she was seated so subtly in her sari with the gold border. She appeared to have been standing on the edge of some darkness for a very long time, keeping an eye out for something unknown, as her eyes were staring into space with a curious curiosity like lost stars. But when I looked at her, I started to tremble. I had the impression that the gold border of her sari represented the flames and tangles of her inner fire. We want a flame that is clearly visible. Look here, Queen Bee, you really must do us the favour of \\\\sdressing once more as a living flame.\\\" I had resembled a little river at a village's edge for a very long time. When compared to now, my language and rhythm were different. However, as the tide rose from the sea, my chest heaved; my banks collapsed, and the loud drumming of the waves echoed in my raging current. I was unable to comprehend the significance of the sound in my body. Where had that previous version of myself gone? Where did this rushing stream of splendour pouring into me come from? Sandip had eyes that burned like the lamps of adoration in front of my shrine. His entire body language declared that I was a marvel of beauty and strength, and the volume of his vocal and silent adoration drowned out all other voices in my environment. I wondered if the Creator had started over with me. Did he want to make up for his long-term neglect of me now? I had instantly changed from being plain to becoming lovely. I suddenly experienced all of Bengal's splendor, despite the fact that I had before been of no consequence. Sandip Babu would ask my opinion on everything pertaining to the Cause. I would initially hang back out of awkwardness, but that soon subsided. Any suggestion I made seemed to surprise him. He would break out in raptures and declare: \\\"All en can do is ponder. You women comprehend things without having to ponder. God made women out of his own voluptuousness. He had to be hammered into shape, man.\\\" Sandip Babu used to receive letters from all over the nation that were addressed to me and asked for my opinion. He sometimes disagreed with me. However, I wouldn't debate him. Then, after a day or two, as if a startling revelation had occurred to him, he would send for me and state: \\\" \\\"It was my fault. Your recommendation was the right one.\\\" He would frequently admit to me that he had made mistakes in every situation where he had gone against my counsel. As a result, I gradually began to believe that Sandip Babu, and her plain common sense, were the driving forces behind everything that was happening. My being was overwhelmed by the glory of a huge responsibility. Sandip \u2014- 273","The image of her rage will never leave me! I found out on my own that Bee is gorgeous. Most of our population would not be impressed by her. These scum would describe her tall, trim physique as \\\"lanky.\\\" But it's really her litheness that I admire; it's like a life-giving stream that is leaping up from the depths of the Creator's heart. Although she has a black complexion, it is the shiny, sharp, dazzling darkness of a sword-blade. Sandip \u2014- She was giving me a strange look the other day during supper, not recognizing what such looks meant. She flushed and turned away as my eyes met hers. I said, \\\"You are astonished at my hunger. \\\"Everything is a secret from me, but my greed! Anyhow, because I am shameless, why bother to blush for me? \\\" Her fury only increased as she stutter-talked, \\\"No, no, I was only...\\\" \\\"I know,\\\" I jumped in. \\\"Women have a weakness for avaricious males since it is our avariciousness that gives them the upper hand. I've become even more shameless as a result of the tolerance I've always received from them. You witnessing the nice things slip away doesn't bother me in the least. I intend to savor each one individually.\\\" I was aware that awaking a sleep walker suddenly is dangerous. But because I have such an impulsive temperament, I don't look good walking slowly. I was aware that day that my overconfidence was showing. I was aware that the initial shock to such beliefs is often nearly excruciating. But when it comes to women, daring always triumphs. \\\"Women know that men enjoy delusions, so they use their own words to give them full measure. They attempt to pass themselves off as an intoxicant because they are aware that man, the drinker, values drunkenness more than food. In actuality, a woman doesn't require any make- believe; she only needs it for the benefit of a guy \\\" \\\"Passion is the street lamp that guides us,\\\" I retorted. To say it's false would be as futile as saying we can see better if we remove our natural eyes \\\" Nikhil could see his excitement rising. \\\"Only when I understand the truth of restraint, he continued, do I accept the truth of passion. By forcing what we desire to see directly into our eyes, we simply harm them and become blind. The objective is also defeated by the violence of desire, which would close off all space between the intellect and its target \\\" \\\"I retorted, \\\"It is merely your intellectual foppishness that causes you to indulge in moral delicacy while neglecting the brutal side of truth. This only serves to make things more enigmatic for you, which prevents you from carrying out your duties effectively \\\" \\\"The use of strength where it is not necessary may hinder your ability to complete your task, stated Nikhil impatiently. But why do we disagree about these issues? Arguments that are pointless merely obscure the truth's new growth \\\" 274","Suddenly, Nikhil got up. \\\"Man may be injured to the point of death, but he will not perish, he added. I am prepared to endure it all, knowing everything, and with my eyes wide open, for this reason \\\" He quickly departed the room after saying these comments. When I heard a book fall from the table and turned to look, Bee was nervously following him and taking a detour to avoid coming too close to me. I was standing there, staring blankly at his receding form. What a strange being, Nikhil! Why does he not alert the authorities when he perceives a threat to his home? I am aware that he is awaiting Bimal's cue. He will lower his head and acknowledge that their union could have been a mistake if Bimal informs him that it wasn't meant to be. He lacks the mental fortitude to comprehend that admitting fault is the worst kind of error. He is a classic illustration of how thoughts lead to weakness. He is the only one like him I've ever seen; he's a naturally occurring oddity! He would be difficult to relate to as a fictional or dramatic figure, let alone in real life. My heart is breaking, and every nerve is hurting. Little touches, glances, and comments dart around and fill the darkness after I turn out the light and get into bed. When I get up in the morning, I am filled with vivacious anticipations, and the sounds of music make my blood seem to flow through me. I had finished writing and was getting ready to leave for bed when, through the window in front of me, I noticed a large star shining through the heavy pall of July clouds. \\\"Dreamland ties are made, and dreamland ties are severed, but I am here for ever \u2014 the perpetual lamp of the bridal night,\\\" it seemed to be saying to me. Let me now visit my Bimala. She must have fallen asleep after spreading her drained, limp, from her struggles limbs over the bed. Without awakening her, I will kiss her forehead, and that will serve as my floral tribute. In my opinion, even after I pass away, some vibration of the memory of that kiss would endure because the wreath that is being made from the kisses of numerous succeeding births will be used to crown the Eternal Beloved. Before I got married, I used to find it repulsive to witness my now-deceased brother-in-law, who was intoxicated to the point where he beat his wife, cried and howled in maudlin repentance, swore he would never drink again, and then sat down the very next evening to continue drinking. But I'm still more afraid of my intoxication today. The substance springs from within my veins and I am powerless to stop it. It does not need to be obtained or poured out. Is this supposed to go on forever? Every now and then, I catch myself staring at myself and believe that my life is a nightmare that will suddenly end with all of its lies. It has turned into something so horribly absurd. It has nothing to do with the past. I have no idea what it is or how it could have ended up in this situation. 275","One day, my sister-in-law said, laughing sharply: \\\"What a gracious and welcoming Chota Rani we have! Her guest is unmovable and won't move \\\" I didn't move a muscle for the entire two days. Then, for the first time, I discovered how far I had travelled. My life felt utterly tasteless. Whatever I touched I wanted to thrust away. I felt myself waiting -- from the crown of my head to the tips of my toes \u2014 waiting for something, somebody; my blood kept tingling with some expectation. I tried busying myself with extra work. The bedroom floor was clean enough but I insisted on its being scrubbed over again under my eyes. Things were arranged in the cabinets in one kind of order; I pulled them all out and rearranged them in a different way. I found no time that afternoon even to do up my hair; I hurriedly tied it into a loose knot, and went and worried everybody, fussing about the store-room. The stores seemed short, and pilfering must have been going on of late, but I could not muster up the courage to take any particular person to task \u2014 for might not the thought have crossed somebody's mind: \\\"Where were your eyes all these days!\\\" In short, I behaved that day as one possessed. It is now four years since I framed a photograph of my husband in ivory and put it in the niche over there. If I happen to look that way I have to lower my eyes. Up to last week I used frequently to put there the flowers of my adoration, every morning after my wash. My husband has repeatedly reprimanded me about this. One day he said, \\\"It shames me to see you set me on a height to which I do not belong. What foolishness! \\\"I'm not just embarrassed; I'm also envious!\\\" \\\"Listen to him! Who, oh who, is jealous?\\\" \\\"Those fake me. It just demonstrates your desire for some great man who can dominate you via his superiority rather than me, which is why you feel the need to create another \\\"me\\\" for yourself \\\" \\\"I want!\\\" This was the primordial word at the foundation of all existence, Sandip said one day. It had no guiding principle, but it transformed into fire and worked itself into suns and stars. It has severe partiality. It brutally sacrificed millions of animals over the course of millions of years in order to satisfy its thirst for man. Because women are the embodiment of that awful statement \\\"I desire,\\\" cowardly men are doing everything they can to build earthen dykes to stop this ancient torrent. They worry that while they are laughing and dancing, the water will wash away all the hedges and decorations in their pumpkin field. Men in every age flatter themselves into believing they have 276","contained this force within their comfort zones, but it only gathers and grows. Currently it is peaceful and deep like a lake, but with time its pressure will rise, the dykes will collapse, and the force that has lain motionless for so long will roar, \\\"I demand!\\\" Sandip's words make my heart beat like a war drum. Sandip \u2014- I am convinced that the Great is cruel thanks to my theory of life. Being unjust is the domain of the great; being just belongs to regular men. The earth's surface was level. The volcano rammed into it with its scorching horn and discovered its own greatness; justice was served not to its opponent but to itself. Only successful injustice and true cruelty have ever produced a millionaire or a monarch for an individual or a country. Because of this, I advocate for the great discipline of justice. I declare to everyone that justice is the foundation of deliverance. Injustice is like a fire that needs to keep burning in order to prevent itself from going out. When a person or a country can no longer commit injustice, they are cast into the world's trash bin. But the fact that I'm being knotted is what is making me laugh. Am I not a king by birth? \u2014 to mount the crowd, my proper steed, and steer it in my direction with the reins in my hands, the destination unknown to anyone else, and for it the thorns and mud on the road? This horse is now standing in front of the entrance, neighing loudly and pawing and champing its bit. But why am I letting day after day of prime chance pass by, and what am I doing? I once believed that I was like a hurricane and that the ripped flowers I strewn across my road would not stand in the way of my progress. However, I am not in a storm; rather, I am circling a flower like a bee. \\\"I want it; it's here; give it to me.\\\" This is a plain, unambiguous policy. Those who can vigorously pursue its course must prevail in the end. The gods, however, did not want such a journey to be simple, so they sent the siren Sympathy to divert the traveler and obstruct his vision with her weeping mist. I can tell that Bimala is struggling like a deer that has been captured. What a pitiful alarm is in those eyes of hers! She is tearing at her bonds in such pain! Of course, a true hunter should be delighted by this sight. I'm happy about that, but I'm also touched, so I hesitate to tighten the noose while I'm still standing on the edge. I'm aware of times when I could have charged up to her, grabbed her by the hands, and held her against my chest without flinching. She wouldn't have said anything if I had done it. She was aware that a crisis was about to occur that would instantly alter the way the world was perceived. Her face turned pale as she stood in front of the cavern of the unfathomable yet still anticipated, 277","and her eyes shone with a frightful joy. When that time comes, an eternity will begin to take shape, holding its breath in anticipation of our fate. But I let this opportunity pass me by. I refrained from pressing the virtually certain into the completely assured with unyielding strength. I can now clearly see how certain secret aspects of my character have exposed themselves as roadblocks in my way. It's August, and the sky has broken into a fierce downpour. Sadly, my house is empty. the Vidyapati The struggles and problems of the \\\"lower classes\\\" are measured on a lower scale. Though it is unavoidable in their life, want does not always equate to \\\"want\\\" for them. Like the banks of a pool, their small size shields them from harm; when the boundaries are opened, only the slime is left exposed. The death-draught of immortality is what I seek. Sandip \u2014- Woman can understand a man while he is weak, but she finds it very difficult to understand him when he is strong. The truth is that both men and women have many unanswered questions. If it weren't for that, the sex divide would have merely been a waste of Nature's efforts. My attraction to myself is so great because I am such a mystery to myself. If I ever realized who I truly was, I would throw everything away and achieve beatitude. We need our tribute because we are men and kings. We have been plundering the Earth ever since we first landed here, and the more we demanded, the more she gave in. Since the beginning of time, men have been harvesting fruits, felling trees, removing dirt, and killing fish, birds, and other animals. No strong-box in Nature's storeroom has been respected or left unrifled; it has all been grabbing, snatching, grabbing from the bottom of the sea, from beneath the earth, from the very jaws of death. The fulfillment of men's claims is the only joy this planet has to offer. Her unending sacrifices for children have made her fertile, attractive, and whole. If not for this, she would be alone in the woods, unable to recognize herself, her heart's doors closed, and her gems and pearls hidden from view. But it is impossible to make Nikhil understand all of this. He exhibits such bias in favor of the truth, as if there were such a thing as an objective reality! How many times have I attempted to convince him that truth exists only where lies genuinely exist? When we are able to cast our desires from our minds, he continued, we truly become our own masters. \\\"We think that we are our own masters when we get the object of our desire in our hands,\\\" he said. Bimala \u2014- I was unable to remove my foot since I had put it on quicksand. I would just sink further if I struggled. 278","Sandip asked, looking at Amulya and asking if a man could ever give as much as a woman. They are goddesses, Amulya enthusiastically agreed. Sandip continued, \\\"We men can at best offer of our might. \\\"Women, however, give to themselves. They give birth and provide for their families using their own lives. These are the only genuine presents.\\\" turning to face me, \\\"He exclaimed, \\\"Queen! If all you had given us was money, I wouldn't have touched it. But you have given that which is more to you than life itself!\\\" Men must contain two distinct individuals. One of these parts of me can see that Sandip is trying to trick me, while the other is happy to be duped. His audacity was enormous; it was audacity without a veil, naked as fire. It is impossible to stop it since it moves so quickly that any attempts to do so would be futile. What an idea juggler Sandip is. He has no interest in learning the truth, but he enjoys making an absurd exhibition of it. He would have spent a beautiful amount of time creating argument after argument to support the claim that cannibalism is the finest strategy for encouraging genuine communion between men had he been born in the African bush. But people who deal in delusion eventually convince themselves that they have discovered the truth. I have no doubt that Sandip does the same, even though his inventions may be incompatible with one another. Sandip watches as Nikhil dismisses him. The moment has arrived for me to go from you, goddess. All is good. Your proximity's job has been completed. Staying any longer would simply cause things to gradually unravel once more. If we attempt to devalue the greatest thing on earth out of greed, all is gone. When extended out across time, what is momentarily everlasting only becomes frail. When we were ready to ruin our limitless moment, your raised thunderbolt saved the day. [Nikhil, seeing the influence Bimala had over Amulya] I pondered that all I could do was preach endlessly and pay for it by having my effigy burned. I had not yet been successful in resurrecting a single soul from the grave. Those in positions of authority can act with just a sign. My words don't convey that elusive meaning. I am merely a dark coal that has burned out; I am not a flame. I cannot turn on a lighting. That is what my life's narrative demonstrates\u2014my row of bulbs has remained unlit. This is unacceptable, I said. Did you not say you would get some rest? He said, \\\"I may have made the vow, but my slumber did not, and it was nowhere to be found. 279","12.3 THEME OF THE NOVEL Moderation vs extremism, tradition versus development, and the roles of women in society are the key topics of The Home and the World. Nikhil and Sandip stand for different perspectives on how to bring about change: moderation versus fanaticism. The novel examines the conflict between ingrained values and recently emerged ones. Tradition vs. progress. Women's positions in society are shown in the novel in a variety of ways, some of which are problematic. Extremism vs. Moderation: In the course of the story, characters like Chandranath and Nikhil almost religiously adhere to the idea of moderation in all parts of life, while others like Bimala and Sandip adopt more extreme stances. Bimala, for instance, declares early on in the narrative that she will burn her foreign clothing in support of the Swadeshi movement. Nikhil proposes that she put them away and concentrates on creating rather than destroying, but Bimala counters that the thrill of destroying would help them create. This exchange seems to capture the central tension of the narrative: Sandip feels that the only way to obtain what is properly his is by violence, whereas Nikhil seeks change through gradual advancement and moderation. This is evident when Sandip contrasts poetry and prose. He claims that Nikhil is drawn to poetry because it explores the world of aspirations and abstractions. Poetry can be read in a number of different ways. Sandip, on the other hand, describes writing as tools that will enable people to succeed. Sandip's strategy leaves no place for relativism or other viewpoints. Sandip may be the antagonist of the novel, but Nikhil's dedication to what he believes to be the truth despite Sandip's zeal is still troublesome. Nikhil is accused of cooperating with the enemy since he refuses to forbid the sale of European items in his markets. It's not quite apparent at the end of the story if he was killed, although it's hinted that he was seriously hurt. When Nikhil tries to stop the mistreatment of women, this happens. While his efforts to assist were undoubtedly heroic, it was eventually his (possible) death that was brought on by his moral adherence to a form of moderation. Tagore may be cautioning us against the dangers of extremism through the figure of Sandip, but he may also be implying that taking a position that is too relative and 280","moderate might also be problematic because it becomes difficult to determine what one's true ideals are. Tradition versus Progressivism: The issue of tradition versus progressivism is also explored in The Home and the World. In the early 1900s, at the height of British colonialism, as India was only starting to reclaim its freedom from the British, this story takes place. As a kind of civil disobedience that aimed to improve Indian infrastructure, Gandhi's Satyagraha campaign is foreshadowed in the narrative by Nikhil's method of resistance. This can be observed in Nikhil's own investment in Indian banks or in Bimala's early offer to burn her British clothing when she still shares her husband's viewpoints. Another emerging nonviolent protest tactic at the time was burning clothing. This less impassioned attitude, which is motivated by symbols, politics, and the economy, is in line with a postcolonial style of thinking, we may argue. Sandip, on the other hand, is a strong supporter of violence and contends that conquest following conquest is how history is recorded. This mentality is more colonial. The approaches of resistance taken by Nikhil and Sandip also display a juxtaposition of ideas that stands for the new ways of fighting against the traditional methods. The Novel's Multiple Comments About Women and the Roles They Play: There are numerous statements about women and the roles they play throughout the book, many of which are contradictory and may be upsetting. As Sandip refers to Bimala as the Shakti of the nation early on in the text\u2014that is, as someone who embodies all of femininity in India\u2014she develops into a sort of \\\"everywoman\\\" figure. Although Bimala begins to hate Sandip, her feelings for him are confused, and his captivating personality frequently makes her question her own judgment. While Bimala's husband wants her to be his equal, she believes she must worship him despite his \\\"modern\\\" beliefs because women's duties are typically presented in terms of subservience. She also reconciles with her sister-in-law via submission, and she frequently bows to her husband and other men, wiping the dirt off their feet. It's unclear to what extent Tagore and the book endorse this conception of women's roles. 281","It's significant to note that many of the text's assertions are stated from a male perspective. Sandip, whose views on women are noticeably misogynistic, is the one who really identifies Bimala as the Shakti. He makes a number of unsettling claims regarding women's impulsivity and the notion that a woman must give to the men in her life in order to actually be fulfilled: \\\"For men to accept is truly to give: for women to give is truly to gain.\\\" It appears that Bimala symbolizes Sandip's concept of what a woman should be rather than an effort to represent women in general in light of his racist remarks. In the last chapter, Rani says, \\\"I would not live my life again\u2014not as a woman!\\\" She implies that doing so would be a curse. This book makes the case that women's life were challenging at this time in Indian history, in part because of the numerous social obligations they were under. Given this situation, it falls to the reader to decide whether the novel's comments about the nature of women represent the character in question or the values of the larger culture\u2014or both. 12.4 SUMMARY \uf0b7 Together, the three major characters tell the tale while making a variety of admissions along the way. \uf0b7 The same as Tagore, Nikhil is a peace-loving Indian noble who desires the best for his family, community, and country. However, he refuses to use force or inspire nationalist sentiment in his quest for independence because \\\"To tyrannize for the country is to tyrannize over the country.\\\" \uf0b7 His boyhood buddy Sandip, who belongs to a lower caste, temporarily dwells in his home and is regarded as the \\\"Enlightened\\\" movement's leader for Bande Mataram. The story reveals his intense desire for wealth and power as well as his rebellious behavior in the vein of \\\"We shall want all we can obtain.\\\" Our talks also focused on whether his conduct, while reprehensible, could perhaps be justified in some way. \uf0b7 Nikhil's wife Bimala was drawn to Sandip's magnetism and rhetoric (comparisons with the enchanting force of the magic mountain of the same-titled novel of two weeks ago are welcome). In Sandip's eyes, Bimala, who had before been seen as unattractive and common, suddenly transformed into a lovely muse; a goddess, while ungodly; and a mother, though childless. 282","\uf0b7 \\\"I perceive that you are that lovely spirit of fire that burns the house to ashes and lights up the greater world with its blaze,\\\" the speaker said. \uf0b7 Bimala's enthusiastic glorification is only one of many reasons to recognise the Romantic influences on the plot, which may be defined as being more European in style yet having local color. While the websites on Tagore went straight for the Romantic dream, it was described in our session as romanticizing the political reality. The book includes a love story, a homage to all things nature, and a moral at the conclusion, as if the national theme weren't enough. A loner in love who is prepared to sacrifice himself for what he believes to be good and honorable, even if it means defying his buddy and maybe losing his wife, Nikhil is, in my opinion, the epitome of a gigantic hero: \uf0b7 \\\"I can now understand that despite the fact that you two do not rhyme, your rhythm is the same. \uf0b7 \\\"In my case, fate appears set on composing Paradise Lost in blank verse and doesn't need a rhyming mate!\\\" \uf0b7 An investigation of the status of women in early 20th-century India was made possible by the historical reading of the text. Prior to the advent of Sandip, Bimala played no significant role in the public realm, but she and her sister-in-law engaged in a power struggle there. Bimala depended on the fact that she was Nikhil's wife, while Bara Rani relied on the fact that she was the elder. In a quick comparison of widows (widowed sisters-in-law) in family hierarchies, we discovered parallels to early Jewish, Chinese, and West African societies. \uf0b7 Nikhil wanted to eliminate both the physical and psychological barriers between the sexes, in contrast to the house Bimala's family resided in, which was customarily split into the inner and outside apartments. He promoted \\\"amphibious\\\" areas in the home and freedom and openness in his marriage. This stood in stark contrast to Bimala's fervent devotion to and submission to her husband and nation. We discussed the risk that Nikhil's zeal for independence would come across as intimidating rather than modern because of this, at least in Bimala's eyes. \uf0b7 There wasn't much discussion of the book's title, but here are various interpretations: 283","\uf0b7 The Home and the Globe is a novel about the colonization of the market and nation that explores the complicated bond between a person's personal neighborhood and the rest of the world. While some of us viewed Nikhil's persona favorably and his libertarian viewpoint as progressive, others regarded it negatively because of the way he acted as a friend of the colonial powers. Sandip, on the other hand, had a different perspective on power and believed that the only way to save his country was to become exactly like the \\\"all-powerful\\\" world: \\\"The greatest weapon of those who govern the world, Sandip Babu has taught us, is the hypnotism of their show. They would commit suicide if they took the vow of poverty since it would be more than just a penance. \uf0b7 The gender conflict as it relates to the home and the world. The novel addressed the issue of men and women's roles and responsibilities, which changed based on the personal and global settings they occupied. The status of a homemaker was also reassessed throughout the narrative. What does a wife do? A big name bubble that you inhaled, meticulously guarded day and night, yet ready to pop at the slightest prod from the outside \uf0b7 A story about violence called The Home and the World. Nikhil's home provided protection from the upheaval outside during times of revolution. The level of protection a residence should have was questioned by robberies and bandits breaking in. Since Bimala was the culprit, this is especially true: \\\"I could not think of my house as being separate from my country: I had looted my house, I had plundered my country. Because of this sin, both my country and my house had become foreign to me. In general, though, Nikhil's luxurious estate was far safer in the India of the revolution than, say, the home of his aide Panchu, which was in peril. 12.5 KEYWORDS \uf0b7 Revolution: a forcible overthrow of a government or social order, in favour of a new system. \uf0b7 Plundered: steal goods from (a place or person), typically using force and in a time of war or civil disorder. \uf0b7 Progressive: happening or developing gradually or in stages. \uf0b7 Amphibious: relating to, living in, or suited for both land and water. \uf0b7 Bandits: a robber or outlaw belonging to a gang and typically operating in an isolated or lawless area. 284","\uf0b7 Glorification: the action of describing or representing something as admirable, especially unjustifiably. 12.6 LEARNING OBJECTIVES 1. What does the novel illustrate? 2. In which language was the novel initially written in ? 3. What is Moderation? 4. What is extremism? 5. What is fanaticism? 6. Who is the narrator of the home and the world? 12.7 UNIT END QUESTIONS A. Descriptive Questions Short Questions 1. Name the characters in the novel. 2. Who is Nikhil? 3. What do you mean by gender conflict? 4. The home and the World is a story of _________. 5. What do you mean by nationalization with respect to the novel? 6. What is tradition? Long Questions 1. Please write in detail about the \\\"concept of nationalism\\\" in The Home and the World. 2. Examine the competing characterizations between Nikhil and Sandip in The Home and The World. 3. Justify the significance of the title of The Home and the World by Rabindranath Tagore. 4. Identify a theme of The Home and the World. 5. What aspects of patriotism do the novel The Home and the World present? 6. What is the function of the character amulya in the home and the world? 7. What is the main conflict in home and the world? 285","B.Multiple Choice Questions 1.The novel is am illustration between the ideas of _____________ a. Western Culture b. Eastern Culture c. Southern Culture d. Indian Culture 2. The Home and the Globe is a novel about the __________ a. aspects of patriotism b. colonization of the market and nation that explores the complicated bond between a person's personal neighborhood and the rest of the world. c. Examine the competing characterizations between Nikhil and Sandip in The Home and The World. d. A forcible overthrow of a government or social order, in favour of a new system. 3. Rani says, \\\"I would not live my life again ___________ a. Not as a woman! b. Not as a human c. Not as an animal d. Not as a mother 4. It's August, and the sky has broken into a ______downpour. a. Fierce b. Happy c. Sad d. None of the above 5. In the course of the story, characters like ___________and Nikhil almost religiously adhere to the idea of moderation in all parts of life. a. Chandranath b. Chandrakanth c. Sushant d. Farooq Answers 1-a, 2-b, 3-a, 4- a, 5-a. 12.8 REFERENCES \uf0b7 Aggarwala, R.N. Indian National Movement. Delhi: Metropolitan Book Co., 1971. \uf0b7 Aikant, Satish C. \u201cReading Tagore: Seductions and Perils of Nationalism.\u201d Asiatic. 4.1 (2010): 52-64. 286","\uf0b7 Anderson, Benedict. Imagined Communities: Reflection on the Origins and Spread of Nationalism. 2nd ed. London: Verso, 1991. \uf0b7 Anita, Desai. Introduction. The Home and the World. By R. Tagore. Hammondsworth: Penguin Book, 2005. xxi-xxxii. \uf0b7 B\u00f9i Quang Chi\u00eau. \u201c\u00dd ki\u1ebfn c\u1ee7a B\u00f9i Quang Chi\u00eau v\u1ec1 Ph\u1ee5 n\u1eef.\u201d Ph\u1ee5 n\u1eef T\u00e2n v\u0103n 29 (June 1929): 9-11. \uf0b7 Iyengar, Srinivasa K.R. Sri Aurobindo: A Biography and a History. Pondicherry: Sri Aurobindo International Centre of Education, 1985. Website \uf0b7 https:\/\/www.enotes.com\/topics\/home-world\/themes \uf0b7 https:\/\/www.cse.iitk.ac.in\/users\/amit\/books\/tagore-1919-home-world-gharebaire.html \uf0b7 https:\/\/www.ibiblio.org\/eldritch\/rt\/hw.htm 287","UNIT \u2013 13 PLOT OF THE NOVEL- THE HOME AND THE WORLD STRUCTURE 13.0 Learning Objectives 13.1 Introduction 13.2 Plot of the Novel \u2013 The home and the World 13.3 Summary 13.4 Keywords 13.5 Learning Activity 13.6 Unit End Questions 13.7 References 13.0 LEARNING OBJECTIVES In this chapter we will learn, \uf0b7 The stories in the novel \uf0b7 The major events that take place in the story \uf0b7 The social and political changes that the characters adopt \uf0b7 The plot of the novel \uf0b7 Some information on the Swadeshi movement. \uf0b7 The realization of Nikhil\u2019s wife. 13.1 INTRODUCTION In his 1916 book The Home and the World, Rabindranath Tagore tells the story of Bimala and Nikhil, an affluent couple coping with social and political change in early 20th-century India. Bimala is seduced by Sandip, a radical supporter of the Swadeshi movement, and falls for his charms. Sandip moves in with Nikhil and Bimala despite having disagreements with Nikhil's more moderate, albeit still progressive, political ideas. As Bimala grows to understand Sandip's deceptive tactics, she makes an effort to avoid his influence and make amends with her husband. Rabindranath Tagore's novel The Home and the 288","World is set in Bengal, India, at the height of the Swadeshi independence movement in the early 1900s. Bimala, Nikhil, and Sandip are three distinct characters, and their points of view are alternated throughout the narrative. The majority of the story takes place in Nikhil's estate, where Nikhil and his wife, Bimala, reside alongside Bara Rani, Nikhil's sister (Rani). 13.2 PLOT OF THE NOVEL- THE HOME AND THE WORLD Bimala describes her relationship with Nikhil at the start of the narrative. She almost worships Nikhil, but she hates her sister-in-law since she constantly makes fun of and taunts her. Nikhil ignores the way his sister mistreats Bimala. Nikhil would prefer it if Bimala saw them as equals and occasionally went out with him. Nikhil participates sporadically in the Swadeshi movement and frequently funds initiatives to boost the local economy. Sandip Babu, an Indian nationalist speaker who Bimala believes is taking advantage of her husband, is also supported by him. Sandip speaks in front of Bimala and Nikhil, and she is incredibly moved by his charisma. While having dinner with Bimala and Nikhil, Sandip and Nikhil disagree on how much nationalism will benefit India. In a rare display of independence, Bimala supports Sandip and argues with her husband because she thinks that sometimes movements must be guided by passions rather than restraint. All through the evening, Sandip praises Bimala and declares that she embodies India. After a further dispute that had a similar effect, Nikhil began to feel unworthy of his wife. Chandranath, a friend and former schoolmaster of Nikhil, shows over and urges Nikhil to expel Sandip, but Sandip thinks that Nikhil's land is the ideal location for his business. He also wants Bimala to be his Shakti, the woman who will stand in for all Indians. Sandip often meets with Bimala in the sitting room to get her opinion. He thinks about how he would continue to control and take advantage of her. He is once prevented from entering the sitting area by a guard. Rani had given the guard instructions to prevent Sandip from entering. Bimala demands that the guard be fired after Sandip punches his way through, but Nikhil just transfers him to another area of the estate. Later, Bimala is deeply embarrassed when Sandip interrupts her when she is reading a book about sexuality. Sandip pretended not to notice, but when Nikhil entered the room, he announced that Nikhil needed to read it. He then made an attempt to make Nikhil feel uncomfortable by suggesting that Bimala read it, but Nikhil was unfazed by this. 289","Bimala finds herself drawn to Sandip more and more. She decides to surrender to him, but as they are together, her maid enters the room, demanding payment and threatening to leave. Bimala's maid had been humiliated by Rani's servant. When Bimala confronts Rani, she is chastised, which infuriates Bimala uncontrollably. She returns to her room and breaks down in tears as she sees mementos that remind her of Nikhil. Sandip, who is worried that he is softening, decides to have sex with Bimala in order to establish his control. The populace begins to despise importing products created in Europe as the Swadeshi movement gains traction. Nikhil notices that Bimala is losing her grip on reality and decides that he must set her free for the sake of both of them. He recalls a poor man named Panchu visiting his home to return coconuts he had earlier taken from the estate. Nikhil's response was to alter the system that had first made Panchu poor, but Bimala was more worried about their own safety and fortune. This reminiscence serves to highlight the ideological differences between Nikhil and Bimala. Nikhil is argued with over the foreign goods being sold in his market by nationalist students who have returned for the summer and joined Sandip's cause, but he refuses to impose sanctions against his vendors. Panchu's wife passes away from an illness in the meantime, and he has to purify himself with the Brahmins but lacks the funds to do so. While Chandranath takes care of his children, he departs to explore the earth. Chandranath extends a loan to Panchu when he returns, but Panchu soon faces eviction and is forced to burn his belongings when he decided to sell some foreign-made items he had found for extra cash. Panchu worries there may be further protests against him, so Nikhil offers to buy some land and allow Panchu remain there. When Bimala challenges her husband about the European products he permits to be sold at his market, he refuses to impose an embargo. Sandip begins supporting domestic terrorism, advising Amulya, one of his comrades, to sink the boat of a merchant who is importing foreign goods. He also asks Bimala to secure money for their cause: fifty thousand rupees. He suggests stealing it from her husband\u2019s treasury. Even though he does not need this much, he believes this will give Bimala a sense of purpose, and costs are mounting: he must pay bribe money to the police, and he is further working to suppress the Muslim population. Bimala comes back to him to tell him that she cannot get that much money, and he lowers the sum to five thousand rupees. Bimala knows that her husband keeps money that is to be donated in Rani\u2019s name in a safe in his room. Bimala steals the key and takes packages of gold worth six thousand rupees to deliver to 290","Sandip. Amulya is there, and she feels disgust at herself and Sandip. Sandip goes to embrace her, but she pushes him into a table, briefly knocking him out. Sandip regains his senses and gathers the money, and Bimala is no longer seduced by him. News articles about Nikhil are being published in the interim. In addition, Panchu's unidentified aunt shows up to demand any fortune that was legitimately his. No one is willing to speak in Panchu's stead, therefore this is all a fake. Even when Chandranath successfully persuades the alleged aunt to go, Panchu is still in risk of being pursued by others. Bimala tries to replace the money she stole out of intense guilt. Amulya is hired by her to sell her jewelry, and she warns him about following Sandip. Sandip, however, catches Amulya and returns with the gems, giving them spitefully to Bimala. Amulya gives Bimala 6,000 rupees because he previously took them from a treasury, but he won't tell her where he obtained them from. She demands that he give her the money back. He claims that this is not feasible but then pledges to make it right for her before leaving. Sandip makes another verbal appeal to Bimala, but he is unable to influence her. He is informed by Nikhil that he must depart because Nikhil has made up his mind to transport Bimala to Calcutta the following day. They can no longer feel comfortable there because of tales of Muslim riots. Nikhil packs with his sister, and Bimala bakes cakes to feed the family. Amulya, who attempted to deposit money back into the treasury, is accompanied by an inspector. Amulya clarifies that Bimala's dream has come true. Nikhil is hesitant to inquire about the robbery since he doesn't want to learn Bimala's involvement. Nikhil and Rani question Bimala about seeing the safe key later, after supper. She casually acknowledges that she took the money, and the conversation ends there. When Chandranath arrives to inform them that Muslims are attacking a neighbor's home and raping the ladies, they are about to flee. While Rani and Bimala eagerly await his return, Nikhil leaves to assist. With a possibly deadly head wound, he returns, and Bimala discovers that Amulya has been shot in the heart and is dead. Major Events: 291","1. The Rally: In an effort to get his wife Bimala out of the house and closer to \\\"reality,\\\" Nikhil takes her to a political rally near the book's opening. This was the first time Bimala had heard Sandip speak, despite the fact that she had heard of him previously and had grown to have a fairly unfavorable opinion of him. She now has a different perspective on both Sandip and her life overall, both at home and in the outside world, as a result of this incident. I was no longer the lady of the Rajah's house; instead, I was the solitary embodiment of Bengali womanhood, according to Bimala. 2. Bimala's realization:Sandip persuades Bimala to steal from her husband, Nikhil, toward the end of the book. She becomes aware of the horrific crime she is performing as she is stealing 6,000 rupees \\\"My house and my country were inextricably linked in my mind because I had both been plundered. Because of this sin, both my home and my country were no longer my \\\". The moment when Bimala realizes that Sandip is not only corrupting and plundering the country but also inciting her and others to do the same marks a turning point in her character. She ultimately decides to give the money to Sandip and is showered with praise for her newly realized sin from both Sandip and Amulya. Bimala tries to get Amulya to sell off some of her jewelry to replace the money after realizing that she made a mistake by taking it from Nikhil. Sandip snatches the box and returns it himself when Amulya tries to return it. Amulya and Bimala are able to escape a portion of Sandip's web thanks to this incident, which makes it clear to them that he just cares about himself. Bimala realizes her control over Sandip at this point as a result of her ability to quickly arouse his jealousy. 13.3 SUMMARY \uf0b7 In the early stages of the anti-colonial fight, the Swadeshi movement in India is criticized in the political allegory The Home and the World. More especially, the Swadeshi movement's foundational nationalism is criticized in the novel. What does Tagore's book's depiction of the Swadeshi movement entail? Give an example from the book of Tagore's criticism of Swadeshi or a specific point of his criticism. Describe how Tagore's criticism is demonstrated in the passage. The Swadeshi movement is mediocre and opportunistic. The movement isn't much better than colonial authority, according to Nikhil, who wants to establish \\\"something higher than Swadeshi.\\\" 292","13.4 KEYWORDS \uf0b7 Colonial: of or relating to a period when an area is being colonized and especially to the period of European colonization in U.S. history between the early 17th century and the late 18th century \uf0b7 Criticism: the expression of disapproval of someone or something on the basis of perceived faults or mistakes. \uf0b7 Plundering: steal goods from (a place or person), typically using force and in a time of war or civil disorder. \uf0b7 Demonstrates: give a practical exhibition and explanation of (how a machine, skill, or craft works or is performed). \uf0b7 Anti-colonial: opposed to colonial rule of one country by another : opposing or resisting colonialism anti-colonial movements. \uf0b7 Embodiment: a tangible or visible form of an idea, quality, or feeling. 13.5 LEARNING ACTIVITY 1. What is the main conflict in home and the world? 2. Who is the narrator of the home and the world? 3. What is the Theme of the Home and the World? 4. What do you mean by Colonial? 5. What do you mean by Anti-colonial? 6. What is the name of the movement mentioned in the novel? 13.6 UNIT END QUESTIONS A.Descriptive Questions Short Questions 1. _________ changes when a mysterious stranger enters the couple's lives. 2. Who is the husband of Bimala? 3. What does Nikhil regret for? 4. What does Bimala steal? 5. Who was Sandip? 6. What is the meaning of Embodiment? Long Questions 1. Explain Bimala's realization? 2. Explain \u201c The rally\u201d. 3. Explain the story in brief. 293","4. Explain the role of Rani in the story. 5. Explain about Sandip in your own words. 6. Explain about Nikhil as per the story. B.Multiple Choice Questions 1. The Home and the World, Rabindranath Tagore tells the story of a. Bimala and Nikhil b. Nikhil and Rani c. Sandip and Nikhil d. Rani Bai and Sandip 2. Sandip was a supporter of ______ movement. a. Swadeshi b. Bharati c. Afgani d. Parasi 3. Who was Bimala\u2019s sister-in-law? a. Rani b. Rani Saheb c. Divya d. Himani 4. Nikhil began to feel _________of his wife. a. Unworthy b. Worthy c. Hatred d. Misunderstand 5. The poor man is named as _______ a. Panchu b. Manchu c. Ganchu d. Tanchu Answers 1-a, 2-a, 3-a, 4-a, 5-a. 294","13.7 REFERENCES \uf0b7 \\\"Rabindranath Tagore\\\" poetrabindranathtagore.tripod.com. Retrieved 17 May 2021. \uf0b7 \\\"Bengali\\\" www.visvabharati.ac.in. Retrieved 17 May 2021. \uf0b7 Lukacs, Gyorgy. \\\"Tagore's Gandhi Novel by George Lukacs\\\". Marxist Internet Archive. \uf0b7 Quayum, Mohammad. \\\"Ghare Baire\\\". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 22 April 2005 \uf0b7 \\\"10 best Asian novels of all time\\\". The Telegraph. 22 April 2014. Retrieved 6 December 2020. Website \uf0b7 https:\/\/www.enotes.com\/topics\/home-world \uf0b7 https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/The_Home_and_the_World#:~:text=The%20Home%20and% 20the%20World%20(in%20the%20original%20Bengali%2C%20%E0%A6%98%E0%A6 %B0%E0%A7%87,revolution%20against%20the%20Western%20culture. \uf0b7 https:\/\/gutenberg.org\/ebooks\/7166 295","UNIT \u2013 14 CHARACTERS OF THE NOVEL STRUCTURE 14.0 Learning Objectives 14.1 Introduction 14.2 Characters of the Novel \u2013 The home and the World 14.3 Summary 14.4 Keywords 14.5 Learning Activity 14.6 Unit End Questions 14.7 References 14.0 LEARNING OBJECTIVES In this chapter we will learn, \uf0b7 The characters involved in the novel \uf0b7 Detail information about Nikhil and Bimala. \uf0b7 The original title of the Novel \uf0b7 The role of Sandip \uf0b7 The significance of Nikhil\u2019s sister 14.1INTRODUCTION Rabindranath Tagore published The Home and the World in 1916; its original Bengali title is Gh\u00f4re Baire, which translates to \\\"At home and without.\\\" The conflict between concepts of Western culture and revolt against Western culture that Tagore had with himself is shown in the novel. Two of the key characters, Nikhil, who is logical and rejects violence, and Sandip, who will stop at nothing to achieve his objectives, represent these two ideas. Understanding these two conflicting philosophies is crucial for comprehending the history of the Bengali region and its current issues. Whether or not Tagore was trying to symbolize Gandhi with Sandip is a subject of intense debate. Many contend that though Tagore had a deep admiration for Gandhi, he would never even attempt to personify Gandhi in his characters. 296","Gandhi was opposed to violence, whereas Sandip would use it to achieve his goals. In India and southern Asia, the book depicts \\\"the battle between new and old, reality and idealism, the means and the end, good and evil\\\". The novel is set in early 20th century India. The story l line coincides with the National Independence Movement taking place in the country at the time, which was sparked by the Indian National Congress. There were various national and regional campaigns of both militant and nonviolent ideas which all had the common goal of ending British colonial rule. Militant nationalism had a strong showing in the early part of the 20th century, especially during the World War I period. Some examples of this movement are the Indo-German Pact and Ghadar Conspiracy, unfortunately both of these failed. Throughout the movement's stages, a change from violent forms of resistance led by Mohandas Gandhi. India remained a British colony till 1947, when Pakistan (14 August) and India (15 August) gained their freedom. On 26 January 1950, India adopted a constitution and became its own republic. At the time of Indian Independence, the Muslim dominated north west and eastern . West Pakistan was created after the country's regions were divided. And Pakistan East (which later became Bangladesh). Understanding the Swadeshi movement as a component of the Indian Nationalist movement is especially crucial to the novel. The Swadeshi Movement started in response to the Partition of Bengal by Lord Curzon which occurred in 1905. The Swadeshi movement was a successful resistance policy against the British colonisation. Indian citizens were encouraged to boycott British goods to foster Indian identity and independence. This movement was important in fostering \u201cthe new spirit in India,\u201d and separating India from Britain, which was largely thought to be to blame for the widespread poverty that follows. Family structures in traditional India consist of not only besides the immediate family, grandparents, in-laws,as well as unmarried sisters-in-law. Though the jointfamily is tied to ancient India, it is still common inmodern day India. Boys were traditionally preferred to girls because they could earn money andsupport the family. Girls on the other hand, were expensive to raise. In addition to being unable to work for aliving, the girl\u2019s marriage dowry required a hefty amountof money and other luxury goods such as valuable jewelries and saris. Girls used to be married off to each other families, they would have to address their new parentsin-law as 297","\u201cfather\u201d and \u201cmother\u201d. Being the mother of thefamily, the wife\u2019s duty was to supervise the household andtaking care of the children, she also had to try hard to pleaseher new in-laws. The Home and the World tells us not only the personalchallenges of the three major characters, but also minor aspects of the family structure and how traditional Indianhouses looked like. In the novel, Bimala begins as atraditional, obedient house wife who is faithful to her husband and even forces herself to be respectful towards hernagging sister-in-law. \\\"I would approach quietly and cautiouslyup and touch the dust of my husband\u2019s feet without awakening him, how at such occasions I might feel the vermilionmark upon my forehead shining out like the morning star But as she begins to \\\"fall in love\\\" with Sandip, shegradually weans herself off of her traditional housewife role. She grows bolder and more assured as the role off the criticisms from her sister- in-law and exits thewomen\u2019s quarter of the house, and easily converses withSandip is a different man, not her husband.Her dilemma, the readers are able to learn about the traditional ways of the Indian household through Bimala\u2019schange from the good house wife to an independent, more current female. 14.2 CHARACTERS OF THE NOVEL Nikhil: Nikhil is regarded as an intelligent and kind individual. He comes from an aristocratic family of landlords in the kulin, and his family takes great pride in their attractive women. Nikhil, on the other hand, is unique in that he married a less attractive woman in addition to being destitute. As evidence of how much he loves his wife, Nikhil frequently buys her contemporary clothing and other presents. Additionally, he makes an effort to expose her to the outside world and remove her from the Indian stereotype of what it means to be a woman. But because of his kind and sensitive nature, he is powerless to intervene as a romance between his wife and his old friend Sandip develops. Because he has not joined them and has stated, \\\"I am not running amok crying Bande Mataram,\\\" he is equally unpopular in the town. Due to this, 298","the police also believe he may be engaging in \\\"secret protest.\\\" Nikhil actually believes that he is more aware of his nation's duty in a broader sense and rejects taking part in Swadeshi. Bimala: Nikhil's spouse is Bimala. She is regarded as being less attractive than Nikhil and coming from a far worse upbringing. She appreciates being wholly devoted to her husband because she loves him so much. She initially appears to be stuck in the stereotypical female role and shows no signs of wanting to leave it, despite her husband's efforts to convince her otherwise. With the advent of the Swadeshi movement, her emotions quickly alter. \\\"The passion of this new age turned my sight, my thinking, my hopes, and my desires red.\\\" She develops a fiery, ruthless side when she meets Sandip, and his fanatical personality fuels her new ideas. She becomes more involved in the Swadeshi movement over time, and it is at this point that she begins to fall in love with Sandip. Bimala literally translates to \\\"without mal or defect.\\\" It frequently denotes things that are pristine, pure, and clean. The name is frequently abbreviated to Bimal. Despite the fact that Bimala and Nikhil have been married since she was a little child and that their union was prearranged, Nikhil thinks Bimala has the right to live her life as she sees fit. \\\"I was wed into the household of a Rajah. The description of the Prince from the fairy tale was one I was pretty familiar with as a kid. Bimala is therefore highly committed to her family values, her marriage, and most significantly, her spouse. Nikhil, though, occasionally challenges her perception of him, which is essentially that of a traditional woman. She despises her husband's laziness and lack of interest in more \\\"patriotic\\\" activities. Bimala lacks tolerance for patience. She enjoys finding the turbulent, furious, and unjust in men. There must be some element of terror in her regard. Bimala was not reared in a wealthy and educated environment as her husband was. She is aware of the social inequalities between herself and her spouse, though. \\\"Both my husband's mother and grandmother were known for their beauty... I had no right to be here until I was granted the fortunate marks that allowed me admittance into this family. Sandip: 299","The novel's third main character, Sandip, completes the love triangle. He is a visitor in Nikhil and Bimala's home, and Bimala is greatly impacted by his revolutionary beliefs and words. He is an accomplished orator and is outspoken about his opposition to imperialism. Sandip attracts Bimala because he embodies qualities that are the exact opposite of those that Nikhil exhibits. Both the concepts that Sandip puts forward and the man himself captivate Bimala. She spends an increasing amount of time with Sandip as a result of her apparent growing patriotism, which intensifies the conflict in the love triangle. In contrast to her husband, who is reserved and proper, Sandip is passionate and affects not only Bimala but the entire Bengali population. He propagates the idea of using locally produced items instead of British ones (Swadeshi). He was a highly promiscuous man who was attempting to take advantage of Bimala and her resources. But he is hardly the ideal patriot in terms of character. He occasionally acts out of selfishness in an effort to advance his social standing. He deceives others with his fa\u00e7ade of goodness, which Nikhil recognizes at the start of Sandip's mother-son connection. \\\"I've been seeing for a while that Sandip exudes a grotesque cupidity. His fleshly emotions drive him into a despotic attitude in his patriotism and cause him to hold delusions about his faith. Because of his crude nature, he uses high-sounding names to mask his self-serving lusts . He once persuades Bimala to commit theft from her home and her spouse for the \\\"cause.\\\" Sandip's appearance in the book ends with him running away, as his statements and concepts spark rioting among different communities. The meaning of Sandip's first name is \\\"with dipa (bright fire flame)\\\". This is used to describe him as \\\"inflaming, provocative, and stimulating,\\\" according to the novel's notes. Sandip's last name, \\\"Babu,\\\" was once an aristocratic title that has come to denote Bengalis who have had an education in the west or in environments similar to it. \\\"Babu\\\" was a derogatory name employed by the British, but it is still used in India as an honorific title today. Bara Rani: Bimala's sister-in-law is Bara Rani. At best, her friendship with Bimala is tenuous. She is a major source of conflict in the home. She also employs Nikhil to help her acquire the material 300"]