– Rabindranath Tagore
About the Author:
He was a Bengali polymath who reshaped his legion’s literature and music. He is the author of Gitanjali and its “profoundly sensitive, fresh and beautiful verse”, he became the first non- European to win the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1913. In translation, his poetry was viewed as spiritual and mercurial. His seemingly mesmeric personality, flowing hair and other worldly dress earned him a prophetic like reputation in the West. His “elegant prose and magical poetry” remain largely unknown outside Bengal. Tagore introduced new prose and verse forms and the use of colloquial language into Bengali literature, thereby freeing it from traditional models based on classical Sanskrit. He was highly influential in introducing the best of Indian culture to the West and vice versa, and he is generally regarded as the outstanding creative artist of modern India.
A Pirali Brahmin from Calcutta, Tagore wrote poetry as an eight-year-old. At the age of sixteen, he released his first substantial poems under the psendonym Bhanusimha (“Sun Lion”) which were seized upon.by literary authorities as long lost classics. He graduated to his first short stories and dramas under the aegis of his birth name by 1877. As a humanist, universal internationalist and strident anti-nationalist he denounced the Raj and advocated independence from Britain. As an exponent of Bengal Renaissance, he advocated a vast canon that comprised of paintings, sketches and doodles, hundreds of texts and some two thousand songs, his legacy endures also in the institution he founded, Viswa Bharti University.
Summary:
Widowed Abdul Rahmat Khan is an Afghani Pathan, who lives a simple and poor lifestyle with his widowed mom, and daughter, Amina, in Kabul. He owes money to a money lender that he has borrowed for Amina’s medical treatment, and is un-able to repay it. He decides to secretly re-locate to Hindustan, without the knowledge of Amina, and he does so in the dark of the night. Upon arrival in Hindustan, he finds that the locals actually fear him and his kind and blame them for kidnapping young children. A depressed Abdul is unable to get Amina out of his mind, and spends a week without doing any business. After that he sets out to sell dry fruits on the streets. It is here that he meets a young girl, Mini, who lives with her mom Rama, and her dad, a writer. Rama is overly cautious and will not permit Mini to see Abdul, while her dad permits her to do so. Abdul sees Amina in Mini and visits her everyday, pampering her with dry fruits. On her birthday, Mini misses him and goes out to look for him and gets lost. Rama thinks that Abdul has abducted her, so does an angry crowd, who find her with him and beat him. Mini’s dad apologizes to Abdul when he finds out the truth. But this out-going has a serious repercussion on Mini and she becomes very ill, but with prayers from Rama and Abdul she does recover. Then their lives are again turned upside down when Abdul is arrested by police for knifing to death a man named Ram Bharosa. He is sentenced to 10-years in jail. When he is out of jail, he comes to meet Mini but she is a grown-up girl now, is due to get married on the same day. The sight fills him with a deep nostalgia and he realises that it is probably time for his daughter also to get settled in life. He leaves the place with tears in his eyes and decides to return home.
Critical Appreciation:
Kabuliwala is a short story written by Rabindranath Tagore. It is a story which deals with Kabuliwala (Abdul Rahmat Khan) and his customer Mini. Kabuliwala is basically a hawker who comes to Calcutta from Afghanistan. He befriends a small Bengali girl called Mini who used to
remind him of his own daughter Amina back in Afghanistan. Though he was not in touch with his daughter, her memory didn’t fade away from his mind. Later things went wrong and one of Kabuliwala’s customer didn’t return his money. When asked about for returning, the customer starts abusing him which makes Kabuliwala aggressive and he stabs the customer when he refuses to stop abusing him. This brings imprisonment upon Kabuliwala for 10 years. On the day of his release he goes to see Mini, but discovers that Mini has grown up and is about to get married, Her parents were reluctant to let a murderer see their daughter. The sight of Mini in a bridal wear kindled in him the memories of his daughter, who he never thought would grow up like Mini. He had tears in his eyes. Her dad identified Rahmat, as a father and gave him a bank note, so that he could go back to his country and see his daughter, whose finger prints he carried all the time. The story is all about the beautiful relation between the daughter and her father. Though separated physically, the memories sustain our love for oua child. Only we need a spark to light up those memories. Such was the case with Mini who woke up the affection in Kabuliwala, for his long-forgotten daughter in a far away land.
Characterisation:
Mr. Abdul Rehmat Khan :
z Rahmat is displayed with a powerful presence that is indicated underneath the surface. On face value, he is a fruit seller and Tagore describes him with an almost wanderer like quality. The impression of him at the first description is that he is one that causes an immediate sense of fear in Mini, the child who is afraid because he captures children and places them in his large bag that he has across his shoulder. Other times, Tagore draws out his character as one who forges a bond with the little girl. He is committed to seeing her every day, “bribing” her with almonds and raisins. Tagore plays with the reader in this description, almost trying to tease the reader into believing something sinister in Rahmat’s actions in expressing the concerns that the wife of the narrator has in the story. The familiar question that helps to forge the bond between Rahmat and the girl involves him asking her when she’s going to her fatherinIaw’s house. The fact that he returns after he was imprisoned and asks the girl the same question on the eve of her marriage helps to allow a fuller understanding of the new aged fruit seller. His bond with the girl is representative of the bond he wished to have with his own daughter in his native Afghanisthan When he asks the girl the same question on the eve of her wedding, it is a moment, a reflection, of his own life and how his own girl would be preparing for marriage, while Rahmat could not be there for his own daughter, he is there for this girl. The sentiment of yearing for what he cannot be and seeking to bring it into existence with what is in front of us is heightened when Rahmat takes out a small piece of paper with handprints his daughter. It is at this moment that the speaker, and the reader, understand the pain and yearing that exists in this man. His wandering is not as physical as much as it is emotional, to find some resemblance of personal contentment the world and the condition that is predisposed to not giving it.
Mini :
z Mini is a little five year old girl when we first meet her in the story. She is an extremely talkative girl who prattles all the time. When we meet her first, she is sitting under the table of her father and asking her father numerous questions one by one, without letting her father answer any them. She sees the Kabuliwaia from the window and calls him and immediately runs away as she is fearful of the Kabuliwala. She thinks that Kabuliwalas catch children and put them in large bags which they carry on their shoulders. All these aspects present Mini as a sweet natured child. Her nature finds its beauty when we see her befriending Kabuliwala very soon after the initial fear is over.
z But as happens with children, she forgets everything about the Kabuliwala once he vanishes from her sight when the Kabuliwala was sent to prison for stabbing a customer who abused him. And after some years when the Kabuliwala returns on her wedding day, she is not able to recognize him.
The Narrator :
z The Narrator: The narrator is another major character in the story. He is the ‘I’ in the story, through whose point of view, the entire story is narrated. The narrator is an author by profession, and right in the beginning we are told that when the Kabuliwala arrives, he is busy writing the seventeenth chapter of his new novel.
z The narrator is rather a busy man, and he does not like being interrupted in his work. Although he does not mind his daughter’s presence, when it comes to the Kabuliwala, he feels that the peddler’s visit certainly would disturb him in is work.
Mini’s Mother :
z Mini’s Mother: Mini’s mother is also an important character in the story. She is a typical housewife from the aristocratic Bengali family. Describing her, the narrator says. ‘Mini’s mother is unfortunately a very timid lady. Whenever she hears a noise in the street, or sees people coming towards the house, she always jumps to the conclusion that they are either thieves, or drunkards, or snakes, or tigers.
z She is paranoid about the Kabuliwala’s relationship with Mini. She suspects that the man is trying to befriend her little daughter, with the intention of kidnapping her and taking her away to Kabul. She has heard tales of child lifting and slavery in the far away land called Afghanistan.
COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS:
1) Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow:
Stopping her game abruptly Mini ran to the window which overlooked the main road, and began calling out on the top of her voice.
i) Whose room is being referred to in these lines ? What does he do ? Is he a significant character in the story ? How?
Ans: The room of Mini’s house is being referred to in these lines. He is an Afghan who sells dry fruits. He is the main character in the story.
ii) What was the child doing in her room ? Who would ‘prattle’ in her room ? how does the prattling person’s parents react to it ?
Ans: The child was playing a game in her room. Mini was prattling in her room. The parents were in dire straits to see the Kabuliwala.
iii) What is the significance of the window in the story?
Ans: The window has a great significance in the story. Everytime Mini saw the Kabuliwala from the window of the house, she would react in a very indifferent way to meet him.
iv) Who was the child? What was her age ? Whom does she meet in the story and become a friend ? What is unusual about their friendship?
Ans: Mini was the child. She was five-years old. She met the Kabuliwala in the story and became a friend. Their friendship was everlasting.
v) Why was the child fearful of the person whom she befriends later? Is there anyone else in the story who is similarly fearful of the person?
Ans: She feared that the person might take her to his land by packing her in his bag. Her mother was also fearful.
vi) What are the reasons of such a fear? Is the fear justified? Give reasons for your answer.
Ans: The fear was created due to the fact that the Afghan named Kabuliwala might put her in his bag and take her away. Her fear is not justified because every person is not the same, and exceptions are always there.
2) Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow:
The Kabuliwala took out some raisins and apricots from inside the bag and gave it to Mini, but she refused to take them and remained pressed against my knees with a redoubled suspicion. That was how their first meeting ended.
i) Why did the Kabuliwala offer nuts and raisins? Is there any profit-making motive in offering nuts and raisins? Why do you think so?
Ans: He fell in love with Mini in the first meeting and offered her nuts and raisins. There is no profit making motif. He is reminded of his own daughter after seeing the girl and treat her like that.
ii) Why did she refuse to take it? Is temptation a natural phenomenon in such a circumstance?
Ans: She refuses to take it because she is afraid of the Kabuliwala. Yes, temptation is a natural phenomenon in such a circumstance because many times some of the Afghans had shown these items to snatch children away.
iii) Who is “my” in these lines ? What importance does the person “my” have in the story ?
Ans: “My” in these lines is Mini’s father. He is a central figure in the story who makes the bond of friendship between them, everlasting and increasing their fondness and love for each other.
iv) What were her ‘suspicions’? Is she the only one having such suspicions? Why do you think so?
Ans: She has a suspicion that the Kabuliwala might take her away from her parents. It is because such mishappenings had occurred quite often in their street; that Afghans had taken or stolen the children.
v) Describe the first meeting in your own words.
Ans: When the Kabuliwala entered the compound of their house, her parents were afraid. He offered some raisins and nuts to Mini. But Mini refused to take those dry fruits from him.
3) Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow:
In her short five-year life, Mini had never found a more intent listener before other than her father. I also noticed that she bad lots of nuts and raisins tied up at the loose end of her small sari. Upon discovering this, I asked the Kabuliwala, ‘Why did you give all these to her? Please don’t do it again.’ With that, I took out a half-a-rupee coin and gave it to him.
i) Who was a more intent listener? Why?
Ans: The Kabuliwala was an intent listener other than her father because he spent much time with her and listened to her and offered her some nuts and raisins.
ii) Whose small sari was stuffed with dry fruits and why ?
Ans: The small sari is of Mini that was stuffed with dry fruits which she got from the Kabuliwala.
iii) What was the “half-a-rupee” for?
Ans: The father of Mini, gave “half-a-rupee” to Kabuliwala for the dry fruits he had given to Mini.
iv) Who handed half-a-rupee to whom ? Why?
Ans: Mini’s father handed half-a-rupee to Kabuliwala in return for his dry fruits.
v) What happened to the half-a-rupee in the story?
Ans: The Kabuliwala took the money without hesitation and put it in his hag.
vi) Comment briefly on the character of the person who receives the half-a-rupee.
Ans: Kabuliwala did not want to give his dry fruits by taking money. It was his gratitude to take some money from her father as a token of love.
4) Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow:
Making a huge first with his hand, Rahamat would pretend to punch at his imaginary in-law and say, ‘I’ll wallop my in-law.’
i) Why would Rahamat pretend to punch ? Whom would he pretend to punch?
Ans: He would pretend to punch his imaginary in-laws because he thought that in-laws were bad
ii) Who is the “lmaginary in-law”?
Ans: The ‘imaginary in-law’ was Rahamat’s Mini was given an idea by Rahamat that the in-laws were bad ard cruel.
iii) What did “in-law’s house” mean to the two people?
Ans: The “in-law’s house” to the two people meant that the house where one has to go after his/her marriage.
iv) Can you think of any other word which has double meaning like the phrase “in-law’s house”?
Ans: The other phrase like “in-law’s house” can be a “sister-in- law or a brother-in-law’ or it might be father-in-law “brother-in-law”.
v) Comment on the relationship between the Kabuliwallah and Mini.
Ans: Kabuliwala and Mini shared a relationship of friendship and they adored each other. Mini liked to spend her time with him and he would give her raisins and nuts in return. It was a father- daughter relationship.
5) Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow:
He had to rush from house to house to raise the collections and yet he found time to visit Mini. It appeared as if the two were involved in a mischievous plot. The day when he couldn’t come in the morning he came in the evening.
i) Who is he ? What ishis profession? Where does he beIong to?
Ans: “He” is the Kabuliwala and he is a dry fruit seller. He belongs to Afghanistan.
ii) Why would he come to meet Mini always? Is there an hidden reason for it?
Ans: He would come to meet Mini always. He saw the figure of his daughter in Mini whom he had left in Afghanistan and come to India to earn money and get rid off the debts in Afghanistan.
iii) What is the mischievous plot referred to in the above lines ‘Why would people think it as a mischievous plot ? Is it a stereotypical notion?
Ans: The mischievous plot referred to in the above lines is the plot of the meeting of Mini with the Kabuliwala. It is mischievous because there is tragedy involved in it about the small children. been taken away by Afghani people and the likes.
iv) Did their relationship change with the progress of time?
Ans: No, their relationship did not change with time and went on strengthening further with time.
6) Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow:
Looking out, I saw our Rahamat in handcuffs, escorted by two polcemen, with a whole host of street urchins trailing after them.
i) Who is “I” in these lines ? Is the person “I” of any significance in the story as far as characterisation is concerned ? Why do you think so ?