Welcome readers! This blog is written as a part of my third semester assignment in Paper No. - 201 Indian English Literature ( Pre - Independence era). In this blog, I will explore the topic 'Conflict between Tradition and Modernity in RabindranathTagore's novel "The Home and the World."
● Name :- Hetal Pathak
● Roll No. :- 09
● Semester :- 3 ( Batch 2022 - 2024)
● Enrollment No.- 4069206420220022
● Paper No. :- 201
● Paper Name :- Indian English Literature
(Pre - Independence)
● Topic :- Conflict between Tradition and Modernity in Rabindranath Tagore's novel 'The Home and the World'
● Submitted to :- Smt.S.B.Gardi Department of English, Maharaja Krishnakumarsinhji Bhavnagar University
● Email Address:- hetalpathak28@gmail.com
● Date of Submission:- 1st December, 2023
Conflict between Tradition and Modernity in Rabindranath Tagore's novel - ' The Home and the World '
□ Table of Contents :-
● Introduction
● An Overview of the novel - 'The Home and the World'
● Tradition and Modernity in this novel
● Conflict between Tradition and Modernity
● Tagore's Perspective on the Conflict
● Conclusion
Introduction :-
Rabindranath Tagore (7th May 1861 - 7th August 1941) was an Indian Poet, Writer, Playwright, composer, Philosopher, social reformer and Painter. He reshaped Bengali literature and music as well as Indian Art with Contextual Modernism in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. In his mature years, in addition to his many-sided literary activities, he managed the family estates, a project which brought him into close touch with common humanity and increased his interest in social reforms. He also started an experimental school where he tried his Upanishadic ideals of education. From time to time he participated in the Indian nationalist movement , though in his own non - sentimental and visionary way ; and Gandhi , the political father of modern India, was his devoted friend.
If Tagore had been nothing more than a poet and writer, the quality and output of his Contribution to his People's language and literature would still entitle him to be remembered as one of the world’s truly great immortals. He was an artist in life. His Personal life was as harmonious and noble as his verse is simple and beautiful. He lived as he wrote, not for Pleasure or profit but out of joy, not as a brilliant egoist but as a dedicated Spirit, conscious that his genius was a gift from the divine, to be used in the service of man.
Major Works :-
Tagore's Major Plays are
Rabindranath Tagore also wrote many novels, some of them are ;
The Nobel prize in Literature 1913 was awarded to Rabindranath Tagore " because of his Profoundly sensitive, fresh and beautiful verse, by which , with consummate skill , he has made his Poetic thought , expressed in his own English words, a part of the literature of the west.
Although Nobel Prize - winning poet Tagore Prioritised Poetry, he also made notable contributions to literature as a dramatist, novelist, short story writer , and writer of nonfictional prose, especially essays, criticism, philosophical treatises, journals, memoirs, and letters. In addition, he expressed himself as musician, painter, actor- producer - director, educator, patriot, and social reformer. India's first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru wrote in 'Discovery of India' ;
" Tagore and Gandhi have undoubtedly been the two outstanding and dominating figures in the first half of the twentieth century….
Tagore's influence over the mind of India, and especially of successive rising generations has been tremendous. Not Bengali only, the language in which he himself wrote, but all the modern languages of India have been moulded partly by his writings. More than any other Indian, he has helped to bring into harmony the ideals of the East and the West, and broadened the bases of Indian nationalism."
Tagore began writing Poetry at a very early age, and during his lifetime he published nearly 60 volumes of verse, in which he experimented with many poetic forms and techniques - lyric, sonnet, ode, dramatic monologue, dialogue poems , long narrative and descriptive works, and prose poems. Mary M. Lago Pointed out in Rabindranath Tagore,
" Many of his readers never knew - still do not know - that so many of his poems were written as words for music, with musical and verbal imagery and rhythms designed to support and enhance each other."
Rabindranath Tagore who sobriquets Gurudev was Bengali Polymath. Rabindranath Tagore is best remembered in history for writing the national anthem of the nations of India and Bangladesh. He coined the title 'Mahatma' for Indian Nationalist Leader, Gandhi.
Voice of Bengal :-
Rabindranath Tagore - a towering figure in Indian history. His poetry as well as his novels, short stories, and essays are very widely read, and the songs he composed reverberate around the eastern part of India and throughout Gitanjali, selection of his poetry for which he was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature, in the year 1913, was published in English translation in London in March of that year, and had been reprinted ten times by November, when the award was announced.
Graham Green was able to say;
" As for Rabindranath Tagore, I cannot believe anyone but Mr. Yeats can still take his poems very Seriously."
Tagore is known as ''The Bard of Bengal."
Tagore gave the highest importance that people should be able to live and reason, in freedom. His attitudes towards politics and culture, nationalism and internationalism, tradition and modernity, can all be seen in the light of this belief he appealed to god to change the mindset of the people. He appeals to God to lead the Country to the place of freedom which is heaven. People should know where knowledge is free, which means equal opportunities to all without any discrimination like social status, caste, creed and gender.
Tagore 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. He died on 7th August, 1941.
An Overview of the novel - 'The Home and the World '
The novel " The Home and the World" Originally written in Bengali language under the title Ghare Baire (ঘরে বাইরে) in the year 1916 by Rabindranath Tagore. Later, it was translated and published in English language by the author's nephew, Surendranath Tagore,With input from the author, in 1919. Set against the backdrop of the Swadeshi movement in Bengal, following its sudden and arbitrary Partition by the British viceroy Lord Curzon in 1905.
Rabindranath Tagore's powerful novel, set on a Bengali noble's estate in 1908, is both a love story and a novel of political awakening. The central character of the novel, Bimala, is torn between the duties owed to her husband, Nikhil, and the demands made on her by the radical leader Sandip. Her attempts to revolve the irreconcilable pressures of the home and the World reflect the conflict in India itself, and the tragic outcome foreshadows the unrest that accompanied Partition in 1947.
The book illustrates the battle Tagore had with himself, between the ideas of Western culture and revolution against the Western culture.
● Three major Characters :-
□ Bimala :- Traditional female and Wife of Nikhilesh.
□ Nikhilesh :- Husband of Bimala, described as an educated and gentle man, rational and opposes Violence.
□ Sandip :- Having revolutionary ideas about Nationalist movement, stands nothing in a way to reach his goals.
Particularly important to the novel is an understanding of the Swadeshi movement as a Part of the Indian Nationalist movement. The Swadeshi movement started in response to the 1905 Partition of Bengal by Viceroy Lord Curzon, which temporarily Separated Hindu and Muslims into different Geographical areas.
Tagore and Nationalist Movement:-
Rabindranath Tagore wrote many Patriotic poems and essays encouraging the people to participate in national movement. The Swadeshi Movement, beginning with Partition of Bengal in 1905 and continuing till 1908. In the Swadeshi Movement, a large group of people in Bengal chose to boycott foreign goods instead preferring to buy domestically produced ones. While this seemed an effective Strategy of resistance, the movement failed to take into account the enormous losses that small traders, mainly Muslims, incurred as a result of this, the boycott of foreign goods was but a small part of a more disturbing turn in anti - Colonial politics , the rise of revolutionary nationalism.
Tagore withdrew from the forefront of the Nationalist Movement after an eighteen year old, Khudiram Bose, killed a woman and child by accident, in a botched attempt to assassinate the magistrate of Muzaffarpur , a town in Bihar. His horror of violence and the blinding irrationality that comes with it is portrayed through Nikhil antithesis in 'The Home and the World.'
Tradition and Modernity in this Novel
In Rabindranath Tagore's novel "The Home and the World," the theme of tradition versus modernity is intricately woven into the narrative. The story is set against the backdrop of early 20th-century Bengal during the Swadeshi movement, a time of social and political upheaval. Tagore explores the tensions between traditional values, represented by the protagonist, Nikhil, and the emerging modern ethos embodied by Sandip. Nikhil advocates for a harmonious coexistence of tradition and progress, emphasising individual freedom and critical thinking. On the other hand, Sandip, driven by a fervent nationalism, seeks radical change and rejects established norms. The novel delves into the complexities of navigating this dichotomy, revealing the challenges and conflicts inherent in the collision of tradition and modernity in a rapidly changing society.
Modernity affects the traditional Indian way of life. They are in a dilemma , either to follow the modern way of life or to continue with their own tradition and Customs. It also focuses on how modernity makes man torn between owns and others. Tagore presents the characters who represent the dynamic condition of the people's psychology as well their torn condition due to the impact of modernity.
Rabindranath Tagore presents Bimala as a radical character who tries to cross the traditional Indian role of a housewife. Due to her submissiveness she is unable to know the trick of Sandip who is a totally selfish man. Nikhilesh is also a modernist character. Due to his rationality he suffered and died at the end of the novel.
In the novel, Tagore deeply analyses the twentieth century Indian societgy. Here he depicts the two modes of life of Indian people- one is traditional and another is modern. The story of the novel mainly revolves around the major characters - Bimala, Nikhil and Sandip who are in some way traditional and modern at the same time that is what creates a kind of tension in the novel.
Bimala is presented previously as a traditional Hindu woman.Later on she changes as a modern character. Here the minor characters, Nikhil's grandmother, mother and sister-in-law (Bara Rani) represent traditional characters.
Nikhil is a benevolent, calm, general, forgiving liberal, rational, enlightened and regressive Zamindar who encourages his wife, Bimala to step out of home to better acquaint her with the world and find a new identity for the Indian woman.
Bimla is a submissive, obedient, timid, silent, sacrificing wife. She is previously innocent, and acts according to the wishes of her husband. She is the epitome of a traditional Indian woman who takes her husband as a God. She worships her husband and thinks that this is her duty and responsibility. She also thinks that her home and her husband are the world for her. As she remarks ;
" I distinctly remember after my marriage, when early in the morning I would cautiously and silently get up and take the dust off my husband's feet without waking him, how at such moments I could feel the vermilion mark my forehead shining out like the morning star."
She is totally traditional and only tries to decorate her body rather than to develop her inner talent. She is innocent, submissive, obedient and loyal. These are the qualities of a traditional woman. Bimala believes in sacrifice, which is the great love towards her husband and her family members. So, she herself remarks ;
"To surrender one's pride in devotion is Woman's only Salvation."
Bimala, in the middle part of the novel, is changed into a modern character. She leaves her qualities of submissiveness, loyalty and obedient behaviour. She is turning towards individualism. So, she participates in the Swadeshi movement. This happens as a result of modernity. She is modern which encourages her to reject restraint. She does not hesitate to steal her husband's money.
Sandip, a leader of Nationalist movement, is also a modern character. He is selfish, irrational, oppressive, tyrannical which cultivates an intense sense of patriotism in individuals, threatens to replace their moral sensitivity with national bigotry and blind fanaticism. He appears as greedy and having revolutionary ideas about Nationalist movement. He exploits Bimala without any hesitation,though she is the wife of his friend.
'Sandip involves docile people in Nationalist movement , being a leader himself.'
There we can see individualism in him because everywhere he performs his task in his own decision.
Nikhil is a totally modern character who seeks freedom for every individual. He does not create boundaries for his wife. Bimala remarks that her husband does not dominate her. He also treats all women as equal rights. So, he remarks that ;
Man and Wife are equal in love.
Bara Rani , Sister-in-law of Nikhilesh is a totally traditional character who rejects modern foreign dress. She sits inside the boundary of home. She is conscious about family problems and over conscious about familial responsibility. Nikhil's grandmother is also a traditional character.
Thus , the novel by presenting three major characters in a diary forms presents the internal conflicts and dynamic of Indian society. Tagore presents dilemmas of characters. They are in a dual position due to modernity.
Tension between Tradition and Modernity
The main concern of Tagore's 'The Home and the World' is the tension between Tradition and Modernity. It is a story of an aristocratic Bengali family. Three Major Characters of the novel represent dual mentality in their practical life. One is traditional and the other is modern. The novel is written in autobiographical form. Bimala is happy in serving her husband as a God and devoting her life in household duties. She is an ideal Hindu wife and looks like a typical Indian woman, traditionally dressed in sari. She regards her husband as a prince of her world. She says;
'I had the prince of my real world enthroned in my heart. I was his queen. I had my seat by his side. But my real job was that my true place was at his feet.'
Tagore presents a character named Nikhil who is educated modern man, inspires his wife to come out from the narrow boundary of household duties and involve in the outside world. He wants her to be modern and adjust her environment not with the help of his name rather than her own name. His vision is an enlightened, humanitarian and global perspective, based on true equality and harmony of individuals and nations. Nikhil is calm, gentle, understanding, forgiving liberal, and rational. He never changes in this novel.
Here we find contradictions because on the one hand Tagore presents characters who adopt modernity and on the other hand, they are in a diasporic situation of their tradition. Nikhil represents modern characteristics. But he is also in favour of Indian traditions and culture. Nikhil tries to educate his wife. Nikhil is rational which represents modernity.
Nikhil is not limited within family boundaries, Hindu religion and customs. He wants to go beyond such traditional forms of life. On the one hand he is an individual. Individuality is one of the modern characteristics. And on the other he tries to free all human beings. Here are the two mentalities within the same man, traditional and modern. Sandip is also an individual character. He is the cause of Bimala's tension in the novel. He loots Bimala economically as well as physically. He encourages others to participate in the Nationalist movement , being a leader himself.
Tagore's Perspective on the Conflict :-
In "The Home and the World," Rabindranath Tagore offers a nuanced exploration of the conflict between tradition and modernity. The narrative unfolds against the backdrop of early 20th-century India, grappling with the socio-political changes of the Swadeshi movement and the influence of Western ideals.
Nikhil, one of the central characters, embodies the modern outlook. He advocates for education, individual freedom, and equality, challenging traditional societal structures. His perspective represents Tagore's belief in a harmonious coexistence of the old and the new, emphasising the need for progress without completely discarding established values.
On the other hand, Bimala, the female protagonist, embodies the struggle faced by individuals caught between tradition and the allure of modernity. Her journey symbolises the internal conflict experienced by many during this period of transformation. Bimala is torn between her loyalty to the traditional role assigned to women and the exciting possibilities presented by the modern world.
Tagore doesn't depict tradition and modernity as binary opposites but rather as complex and intertwined elements. The novel suggests that a balanced synthesis of the two is essential for societal progress. Tagore recognizes the value of tradition but emphasises the necessity of adapting to change.
Through the characters and their interactions, Tagore invites readers to contemplate the challenges and opportunities presented by the clash of tradition and modernity, urging a thoughtful reconciliation that preserves cultural roots while embracing the potential for growth and transformation.
Conclusion :-
In Conclusion, we can say that Tagore’s 'The Home and the world' visualises the tension between tradition and modernity which is the cause of dynamics in Indian society. Here also the tension between friends to friends. One is selfish and another is selfless who wants all human freedom. Thus here arises tension. Thus the novel presents the tension between tradition and modernity in different aspects.
References :-
Kripalani, Krishna. Rabindranath Tagore: A Biography, Grove Press, New York, 1962.
“The Nobel Prize in Literature 1913.” NobelPrize.Org, www.nobelprize.org/prizes/literature/1913/summary/ Accessed 27 Nov. 2023.
“Rabindranath Tagore.” Poetry Foundation, Poetry Foundation, www.poetryfoundation.org/poets/rabindranath-tagore Accessed 27 Nov. 2023.
Sita Nepal. “Tension between Tradition and Modernity in RabindraNath Tagore’s The Home and the World.” Tribhuvan University Central Department of English, 2008.
Veeraswamy .T, and N. Shiva Pavan Raj. “Rabindranath Tagore – An Overview.” International Journal on Studies in English Language and Literature (IJSELL), vol. 3, no. 2, Feb. 2015, pp. 162–165.
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Thank you!
Very Impressive 👏👏👏
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