Read a short story by Rabindranath Tagore and write a paragraph on what you
understand about the culture of West Bengal through the story
Answers
I will suggest a few good short stories which you can read by Rabindranath Tagore
1) The Postmaster
2)Mashi ( Aunt)
3)Subha
4)Kabuliwala
The Postmaster’
‘The Postmaster’ can be looked at from two perspectives. First, a city-bred man’s reluctance to adjust in the rural area. Second, a woman’s loneliness and devotion towards her benefactor.
The postmaster was from Calcutta, the capital of Bengal. His posting in Ulapur, a far-flung village is the cause of his distress. Tagore wanted to stress upon the fact that even though Ulapur was a village, it had an indigo factory owned by an Englishman; still, the village could not entice a man from the city. Sadly, the postmaster disliked the rural living and could not even fit in with the local social milieu. He yearned to meet like-minded people. Although he had work at the post office to occupy his days. At home, he had hired the services of Ratan, the orphan from the village to help him with odd household chores.
In his heart, the postmaster desires to swap the serenity of the village with the hustle of the town. On the other hand, Ratan is happy to have found the postmaster who started to teach her to read. Ratan filled the place of a patient listener and a companion for the postmaster but perhaps without an equal level of reciprocation.
“Oh, if only some kindred soul were near – just one loving human being whom I could hold near my heart!”
It is quite a revelation that people despised rural postings even in the pre-independence period. Thematically one would look at this story from the perspective of ‘meetings and partings’ and homesickness. But, the more one looks at the protagonist’s aversion for the village, one understands the divide between urban and rural. A village posting, even then, meant being pushed to the backward areas with lack of amenities and education.
2. ‘Mashi’
‘Mashi‘ is a common term in Bengali used for addressing an Aunt. Though Mashi is the central character, this story touches upon marital relationship and loneliness.
Jotin is married to Mani, a young sprightly girl. Mani and Jotin never really had their way as husband and wife. Mani is a child at heart, who is unhindered by her husband’s serious illness. All she can think of is of going home to her little sister’s annaprashan ceremony.
Mashi is a widow who lost her husband at a young age. With that bitterness inside her, she cannot comprehend Mani’s desire to be happy. This story is understood from Mashi’s perspective. Her affection for Jotin is absolutely on the pedestal.
In her attempt to soothe Jotin’s heart, she tells little lies about Mani’s love for him. The dedication and love of a wife are quantified in terms of spending sleepless nights weaving a shawl, cooking, and sobbing.
This story shows the sad predicament of Mani, a young girl burdened with marriage, her sheer inability to reciprocate Jotin’s love juxtaposed to an older Mashi. Mashi has learned to glorify a woman’s life tragedies and can only think of devoting her affections to a man in every form.
3. ‘Kabuliwala’
‘Kabuliwala’ or the man from Kabul is the story of Abdur Rahman, the seller of seasonal goods from Kabul. Abdur Rahman’s longing for his family, especially his daughter is central to the story. He is poor, hence away from his loved ones unlike the rich narrator of the story living in Calcutta.
The story begins with the details on Mini, the talkative five-year-old daughter of the narrator. The father relishes Mini’s incessant barrage of questions and queries amidst writing his novel while the mother is often vexed with her little girl. Mini reminds Kabuliwala of his daughter. He brings small treats for Mini and soon the two develop a strong bond of affection.
Kabuliwala is all about the love fathers have for their daughters. And, the heartbreaking moment of seeing them grow up and leave parental home after marriage. You get a peek into Tagore’s favourite thematic subjects of fatherly affection and partings.
4. ‘Subha’
‘Subha’ is a poignant story. Tagore brings forth the story of a mute village girl. In a small village called Chandipur by the riverside in West Bengal lived the Banikantha family and Subha was the youngest of their three daughters.
There is loneliness and lack of companionship in Subha’s life. Subha’s mother sees her daughter’s physical handicap as her flaw and is disappointed in her. The parents are also burdened with the responsibility of getting their daughter married.
The only solace for Subha was to either go to the riverside after finishing her household chores or be with her two friends – Sarbbashi and Panguli, the two cows. You find the parallels drawn between the status of domestic animals and that of Subha’s existence.
More than Subha’s sufferings, the story makes one realize the inability of our society to be inclusive of the physically challenged – of their emotional needs and financial standing.
Answer:
Rabindranath Tagore (Bengali: রবীন্দ্রনাথ ঠাকুর), popularly called "Kabiguru", was born on 7 May 1861. His name is written as Rabindranath Thakur in many languages of India. He was a poet, philosopher, and artist. He wrote many stories, novels, poems, and dramas.