Question

friendship goes beyond caste, Creed, religion and age. discuss with close reference to Kabuliwala and god lives in the panch

Answer 1

Friendship is the meeting of hearts. It is bonding that defies all rational thought. Caste, creed, religion or age doesn’t matter when two people think alike, respect and love each other. A very good example of this is found in the short stories by Rabindranath Tagore and Munshi Premchand, ideally titled Kabuliwala and God lives in the Panch respectively.

In Kabuliwala, the little girl Mini strikes an unusual friendship with the man from Kabul, a street vendor. They take a liking to each other inspite of the difference in caste, creed, religion and age. This shows that friendship is a bond that goes beyond. Similarly, in God lives in the Panch, Jumman, a Muslim, and Algu, a Hindu, are best friends first and then become enemies. But ironically, both do not take each other’s side when it came to do justice - just like it is meant to be.  

Answer 2

Among Rabindranath Tagore’s writings, Kabuliwala stands out as a wonderful story written about Rahmat, a middle –aged fruit seller who comes to Calcutta, present day Kolkata. He befriends Mini, a little Bengali girl, who reminds Rahmat of his daughter who he has left back home in Afghanistan. The two friends despite their differences in age, caste, creed and religion meet each single day and share their stories so much so that the two of them yearn   for their next meeting. Kabuliwala lovingly gives little Mini nuts and raisins which she fondly waits to have.

One day, Rahmat receives the news of his daughter’s illness, so he takes the decision of going home. But, before doing so, he has to collect money from people  who have bought dry fruits from him on credit. When he goes on his collection drive , he has a fight with one of his customers and stabs him to death. In the court case that ensues, he owns up to the crime without any hesitation. The judge pronounces him guilty but sends him to ten years in jail instead of giving him death penalty.

Rahmat spends ten years in jail. When he is released, he goes to visit Mini, who does not recognize him. Mini is 14 years old now and is about to get married. Mini’s father talks kindly to Rahmat although her mother feels the Kabuliwala’s presence is inauspicious on her wedding day. The father does not pay heed to this, instead gives him money out of the wedding budget so that he can go back home. Mini appreciates this and gives Rahmat a present for his daughter. Tagore’s story highlights the fact that God lives in every one of us and so this kind of reaching out through love and friendship takes us one step closer to Him.

The friendship between Jumman Shaikh and Alagu Chowdhury, bosom friends from the same village, of Premchand’s story,‘God lives in the Panch’ is yet another example where friendship stands out singularly leaving behind caste, creed, religion and age. Despite their strong  friendship, Alagu’s verdict, as the acting village Panch,  goes against Jumman and in favour of his aunt. This infuriates him and their friendship ceases. However, as luck would have it, a time comes when there is a role reversal. Jumman, as the Panch this time, has to judge Alagu’s case. Fear and nervousness engulfs Alagu as he is sure that Jumman would  now pay him back in his own coin. To his utter surprise, Jumman gives the ruling in Alagu’s favour stating that he should get back the money due to him.

Alagu and Jumman, have both respected the sanctity of the Panch and never let their personal friendship nor their enmity influence their decision making. As an outcome, they unite as wiser friends and  better human  beings.