1.‘Conflict is an integral part of the short story The Babu’s of Nayanjore be it the conflict
between the classes or the conflict between different generations’. Comment citing suitable examples from the text.
Answers
Once upon a time the Babus at Nayanjore were famous landholders. They were noted for their princely extravagance. They would tear off the rough border of their Dacca muslin, because it rubbed against their delicate skin. They could spend many thousands of rupees over the wedding of a kitten. And on a certain grand occasion it is alleged that in order to turn night into day they lighted numberless lamps and showered silver threads from the sky to imitate sunlight.
Those were the days before the flood. The flood came. The line of succession among these old-world Babus, with their lordly habits, could not continue for long. Like a lamp with too many wicks burning, the oil flared away quickly, and the light went out.
Kailas Babu, our neighbour, is the last relic of this extinct magnificence. Before he grew up, his family had very nearly reached its lowest ebb. When his father died, there was one dazzling outburst of funeral extravagance, and then insolvency. The property was sold to liquidate the debt. What little ready money was left over was altogether insufficient to keep up the past ancestral splendours.
Kailas Babu left Nayanjore and came to Calcutta. His son did not remain long in this world of faded glory. He died, leaving behind him an only daughter.
In Calcutta we are Kailas Babu's neighbours. Curiously enough our own family history is just the opposite of his. My father got his money by his own exertions, and prided himself on never spending a penny more than was needed. His clothes were those of a working man, and his hands also. He never had any inclination to earn the title of Babu by extravagant display; and I myself, his only son, owe him gratitude for that. He gave me the very best education, and I was able to make my way in the world. I am not ashamed of the fact that I am a self-made man. Crisp bank-notes in my safe are dearer to me than a long pedigree in an empty family chest.
Explanation:
Answer:
- Simply said, class conflict is a socioeconomic rivalry between the rich and the poor.
- Class strife has been relevant for as long as societies have existed. It is seen in everything from artefacts from the Harrapan civilization to current government regulations.
- Despite not knowing where wealth comes from, most individuals have the innate ability to respect those who are fortunate.
- The tension between inherited wealth and self-made wealth is another component of class conflict that is highlighted in Rabindranath Tagore's "The Babus of Nayanjore."
- We can perceive the author's feelings toward Kailas Babu throughout the novel, as well as his intense pride in "his historic Babu reputation."
- In actuality, this serves as the plot's central concept.
- The Babus of Nayanjore are said to have "princely extravagance" and spend "thousands of rupees on weddings of kittens," according to the author.
- It appeared to him that the Babus, who were previously landowners, tried to maintain their status with nothing but ostentatious shows, with the subsequent generation continuing their lordly habits.
- This was a stark departure from the author's family background.
- He claims that his father worked hard for every dollar he made despite coming from an affluent family himself and "never had any inclination to gain the title of Babu by ostentatious show."
- He was able to enter the world on his own terms as a result, becoming a self-made man.
- Following in his father's footsteps, he says that he prefers to have his crisp cash in the safe rather than on a family relic.
- Although there had never been any overt hostility, the author felt that Kailas Babu looked down on him because of this difference.
- In terms of generational conflict, it is clear from the context that Kailas Babu was much older than the author.
- In my opinion, a lot has changed between Kailas Babu and the author in terms of what constitutes "respect in society."
- In those days, coming from a powerful, wealthy family guaranteed a good reputation, just as we do today when we admire self-made businesspeople.
- These conflicts were therefore clearly noted as being of this nature.
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