Thinking activity:-Home and the World by Rabindranath Tagore

Helloo readers…

So this blog is the part of my thinking activity in classroom. And in this blog I would like to talk about one famous novel " Home and the World" by Rabindranath Tagore. 

So First we throw some light on the novel and plot afterwards we will discuss about the questions which is given by our professor.

About Novel:-

The Home and the World is a novel by Rabindranath Tagore, set against the political and logistical nightmares of India’s 20th century caste system. Although the story focuses on the dynamic of a marriage—which shifts when a shadowy outsider enters the lives of the couple—much of the novel reads like a philosophical treatise. There are shifting viewpoints between the characters Bimala, Nikhil, and Sandip, and much of the book comprises their internal and external dialogues as they consider serious issues such as tradition, the roles of men and women in Indian culture, the nature of political change, the occasional need for violence in political activism, and other rhetorical exercises such as the weighing of the public good.

As the novel begins, Bimala is happy with her life. She has married a good, kind man who is educated and generous. She is content to worship him and accept his support in all things. What she does not feel, however, is excitement. When the political firebrand Sandip begins making speeches in their village, she is infatuated by his words, but also stirred by some of his political ideas. She thinks of him constantly. Sandip, who is only interested in pursuing his own desires and climbing the social strata, does nothing to discourage her interest in him.

Her husband, Nikhil, sees what is happening, but is unwilling to intervene. Nikhil believes that, if one is committed to living morally and thoughtfully, one can accept whatever arises. He is sad that he feels like a burden to Bimala, but is determined to let her make her own choices.

Bimala’s choices lead her to steal from Nikhil to raise money for Sandip’s cause, money that he keeps for himself. Overcome with shame at how she has allowed a man who now disgusts her to cause such havoc in her life, Bimala must try to save her marriage, support her country, and recommit herself to living by her conscience, not her passions. As village unrest turns to outbursts of violence, the characters are all changed by the decisions they must make.

Published in 1916, The Home and the World is a critically celebrated work with themes that its author knows intimately. The novel is a striking example of the power of art (and artifice) to edify—or destroy—causes, relationships, and possibly an entire country. 

Answeres:-

If we talk about the growth of the character Sandip that he is the third major character in the novel, complet- situatio ing the kove triangle. He is a guest in the home of Nikhil and Bimalaand his revolutionary ideas and speeches have and pa a significant impact on Bimala. He is very vocal in his compa anti-imperialistic views and is a skilled orator. Sandip as any represents characteristics that are directly opposite to ment a those Nikhil possesses, thus drawing Bimala to Sandip. level, s Bimala gets caught up in the ideas that Sandip presents cult by as well as the man himself. Her seemingly increasing pa- accepts triotism causes her to spend more and more time with actions Sandip, thereby solidifying the love triangle conflict. Where her hushand is reserved and proper, Sandip is im- Particu passioned and stirs the emotions not only of Bimala, but the people of Bengal. He spreads the notion of Swadeshi - using goods made locally and boycotting British ones. He was a very philandering kind of a person trying to use Bimala and her money. However, his character is far from the ideal patriot. His motivations are selfish at times, prompted by the need to better himself socially. He fools people with his mask of goodness, something Whik t that Nikhil sees through at the beginnings of Sandip's ment, relationship with his mother. "I have been noticing for rather some time that there is a gross cupidity about Sandip.

Physiological growth of character:-

 His movem fleshly feelings make him harbor delusions about his reli- seemin gion and impel him into a tyrannical attitude in his patri- sive nai otism. His nature is coarse, and so he glorifies his selfish more h lusts under high-sounding names". At one point he vivacio convinces Bimala to steal from her house and herhusband his mo for the "cause". Sandip's presence in the novel concludes believe with him flecing whike his speeches and ideas result communal riots. money. by the Bhaga of the Sandip's first name is translated to "with dipa (light fire flame)". According to the notes in the novel this is used to describe him as "in flaming, exciting, arousing". Sandip's last name "Babu" originated as an aristocratic titk that has come to describe Bengalis educated in the west or comparable settings. The British used "Babu" as a patro- Indian nising tem; its use as an honorific title survives in India his dut of the trates t for nati poem u Indepe yiekd in today. cause, clearly Nation.

Write about Rabindranath Tagore's art of characterization:-

Tagore very significantly characterised all the characters of the novel.if we talk about characterization of Tagore, a worshipper of universal humanism, depicts two different streams of Nationalism in his novel The Home and the World. The first stream may be termed as Moderation that articulates essentially pure patriotism without showing the aggressiveness of the Extremism that is the other stream. Both these streams surely are built on the basis of ideals and the followers are motivated according to their beliefs. In this novel Nikhil is a personification of moderate politics whereas Sandip represents the aggressive nationalism throughout the novel.

Thank you...