This Presentation is based on Characterizing Beliefs: Sandip, Nikhil and Tagore- Gandhi Dichotomy.

1. Characterizing Beliefs:
Sandip, Nikhil, and the
Tagore-Gandhi Dichotomy

2. Name: Drashti Joshi
Roll No: 05 Enrolment Number:
4069206420220016
Sem: 3 [M.A.] Batch: 2022-2024
Paper Number: 201 Paper Code: 22406
Paper Name: Indian English Literature- Pre-Independence
submitted To: Smt S.B.Gardi, Department of English, M.K.B.U.
Personal Information

3. Points to Ponder
- Introduction of Author
- Key-facts of Novel
- Purpose of the presentation
- Character Sketch of Nikhil and Sandip
- Ideologies of Gandhi and Tagore
- Sandip - The Gandhi Perspective
- Nikhil - The Tagore Perspective
- Conclusion
- References

4. Introduction of Author
-Rabindranath Tagore (1861-1941) was the youngest son of Debendranath
Tagore, a leader of the Brahmo Samaj, which was a new religious sect in
nineteenth-century Bengal and which attempted a revival of the ultimate
monistic basis of Hinduism as laid down in the Upanishads. He was
educated at home; and although at seventeen he was sent to England for
formal schooling, he did not finish his studies there.
-Tagore had early success as a writer in his native Bengal. With his
translations of some of his poems he became rapidly known in the West. In
fact his fame attained a luminous height, taking him across continents on
lecture tours and tours of friendship. For the world he became the voice of
India’s spiritual heritage; and for India, especially for Bengal, he became a
great living institution.
-"Gitanjali" (Song Offerings) - 1912 - Poetry, "The Home and the World"
(Ghare-Baire) - 1916 - Novel, "Kabuliwala" - 1892 - Short Story, “Chokher
Bali" (The Grain of Sand) - 1903 - Novel, "Muktadhara" - 1922 - Play,
"The Post Office" (Dak Ghar) - 1912 - Play, "Sadhana: The Realization
of Life" - 1913 Essays/Philosophy.
-Rabindranath Tagore died on August 7, 1941.(“Rabindranath Tagore – Biographical -

5. Key-facts of Novel
● Author: Rabindranath Tagore
● Publication Year: 1916
● Setting: Early 20th-century India
● Genre: Fiction, Novel
● Major Characters:
● Nikhil: A calm, rational, and compassionate character who represents
modernity and individual freedom.
● Bimala: Nikhil's wife, who experiences a transformation in her beliefs
and desires throughout the story.
● Sandip: A charismatic nationalist leader who advocates radical
methods to achieve political change.
● Themes:
● Nationalism
● Identity
● Gender and Relationships

6. Purpose of the presentation
- Explore the ideological contrast between
Rabindranath Tagore and Mahatma Gandhi.
- Analyze how characters Sandip and Nikhil represent
these contrasting ideologies.
- Examine short Portion from "The Home and the
World" to illustrate these beliefs.

7. Character sketch of Nikhil and Sandip
According to Subrata Sardar,
The relationship between Sandip and Nikhil, despite being good friends, is one
of extreme duality. Although they are the male protagonists, the essentials of
their character are blatantly contrasting from one another. On one end, Sandip
is a strong and aggressive character who is very much a militant nationalist in
his approach. Being an openly vocal character, Sandip does not hesitate to
declare that "My country … becomes mine on the day when I am able to win it
by force." On the other end, Nikhil is the passive and mature thinker who is
strongly against violence and extreme nationalism. Being a strong believer in
rational thought and action, Nikhil believes that, “To worship my country as a
god is to bring a curse upon it.”(Sardar)
Whereas Nikhil embodies something larger than himself, Sandip operates on
his own motives by cloaking them in the Swadeshi movement. (Sardar)

8. Sandip’s nationalism is a facade of the rich and well to do people. The poor
are only crushed beneath the weight of demands by the nationalists for the
country’s sake. The poor like Panchu and Mirjan in the novel are ample proof
of how the downtrodden are merely doubly exploited in the wake of all the
destruction in the name of nationalism.
Nikhil, on the other hand, is on the whole opposite of Sandip. Through the
character of Nikhil, Tagore highlights his concept of working for the nation. A
positive and more vibrant endeavor for the country’s development is
presented through the portrayal of the character of Nikhil. Nikhil who belongs
to a rich landowning class. Nikhil too wants to work for the nation and is
enthusiastic for the country’s development. His way of nation-building is by
working for the country’s development. His belief is “Let us dedicate our lives
to removing the root of this sorrow in our country.” (Monika)
Continue…

9. Ideologies of Gandhi and Tagore
Gandhi was an ardent nationalist he took up the path of political struggle with the support of
the mass and Tagore was an ardent Universalist condemned naked nationalism with his
vision of universal human unity. Of his equation of nation with the universe.
Tagore believes that in Gandhi's programme of the boycott, there was nothing except the
blind faith of people for Gandhi's concepts. According to Tagore, the question of using or
burning British made cloth is one for economists to decide. Moreover, for a country which
had inadequate clothing such a boycott was nothing but pure superstition. Tagore did not
agree to follow Gandhi blindly because the poorer sections who could not afford like the rich
landowners the luxury of burning cloth: they were forcibly made to burn their cloth at the cost
of their jobs and wages and led them to the brink of starvation.
"I believe it to be my duty to fight the habit of blind obedience; secondly, I feel that the
cloth to be burnt is not mine. It belongs to people who are sorely in need of it. He who
seems to be doing an act of sacrifice through this incendiaries have other sources of
supply; but those who are really hit cannot stir out of doors because of their
nakedness”(Manjula)

10. Continue…
There is no doubt that at times the two were found to be miles apart from each other but at
the same time it was also the spirit of truth, which made them collaborators in a common
task and in this their minds were equal.(Choudhuri,)
Mahatma Gandhi:
● Non-violence: Gandhi's nationalism was centred on non-violence and satyagraha,
advocating for India's independence without resorting to violence. Gandhi believed that
non-violence was the most effective way to achieve Indian independence. He led
several mass movements against the British, including the Non-Cooperation movement
and the Quit India Movement.
Rabindranath Tagore:
● Humanistic approach: Tagore's approach to nationalism was more cosmopolitan and
humanistic. He criticised narrow nationalism, which he believed could lead to
intolerance and chauvinism. His contribution to nationalism is reflected in his
composition of national anthems for both India and Bangladesh.
● Global perspective: He believed that nationalism should be inclusive and should
respect the diversity of cultures and religions. Tagore's internationalist perspective
advocated global cooperation and understanding.

11. Sandip - The Gandhi Perspective
- According Neha Raghav,
Tagore in the present novel presents two ways of working for one's nation. Sandip’s nationalism
seems to have great analogy to Bookman’s description. Through Sandip, Tagore delineates his
criticism of destructive nationalism. Sandip is an unscrupulous man, who boasts of his love for the
country. He is a major propagator of the Swadeshi movement and wants to arouse the common
people in support of the Swadeshi cause. He holds meetings and with his fiery speeches fills the
country men with patriotic fervour. In order to achieve freedom he does not hesitate to adopt
unscrupulous practices. Theft and robbery are not out of his purview and he and his disciples do
not hesitate even before killing anyone. In the name of the nation Sandip takes a large sum of
money from Bimala. His rampant corruption knows no bounds and he uses the sum thus
acquired through theft for personal gains and comfort. The lust of money and selfishness of the
movement activists is critiqued here by the author.(Raghav)
Sandip represents himself as a realist, one who brutally confronts the world. He criticizes Nikhil
for how "he delights in a misty vision of this world" . Sandip describes those who share his views
as "iconoclasts of metre" . He and his fellow iconoclasts are "the flesh-eaters of the world; we
have teeth and nails; we pursue and grab and tear". (Atkinson,)

12. (Ray)

13. For Sandip, the end justifies the means, and he argues that virtually any human
action can be excused if the stakes are sufficiently high. This is the only
fundamental principle of existence. "Nature surrenders herself," he indicates, 'but
only to the robber. For she delights in this forceful desire".(Atkinson,)
Sandip is not, however, an unintelligent or unaware man, and it is this which
makes him especially frightening. Sandip, for example, knows that Nikhil is a man
of principle; of their relationship, he says, 'Then again there is Nikhil. Crank though
he be, laugh at him as I may, I cannot get rid of the idea that he is my friend. At
first I gave no thought to his point of view, but of late it has begun to shame and
hurt me". Sandip recognizes the flaws in his own thinking. Rather than confront
these flaws, however, he perversely chooses to ignore them; the external pressure
of mass action thereby sweeps aside any sense of moral consciousness.(Atkinson,)
Continue…

14. Nikhil - The Tagore Perspective
Early in the novel, Nikhilesh who often functions as a mouthpiece for Tagore’s views in the
novel, says that though he loves his country/nation, he cannot place nationalism over
humanity. Reflecting Tagore’s views, which espouses internationalism and
humanitarianism, Nikhilesh is not understood by his politically immature wife and ignored by
his self-serving and unscrupulous friend.(Malhotra)
Nikhil on the other hand is on the whole opposite of Sandip. Through the character of Nikhil,
Tagore highlights his concept of working for the nation. A positive and more vibrant
endeavour for the country’s development is presented through the portrayal of the character
of Nikhil. Nikhil who belongs to rich landowning class is in no way similar to other
exploitative landowners like Harish Kundu. Nikhil too wants to work for the nation and is
enthusiastic for country’s development. His way of nation building is by working for the
country’s development. His belief is, Let us dedicate our lives to removing the root of this
sorrow in our country. He helps the tenants under his area in every possible way. He knows
the bad consequences of violence, used in the name of the nationalist movement by Sandip
and his fellow workers. Where Sandip believes in division and violence Nikhil believes in the
doctrine of love and freedom of choice.(Raghav)

15. (Ray)

16. Nikhil is the enlightened humanist who asserts that truth cannot be imposed;
freedom is necessary for choice, and is critical to individual growth and
fulfillment. It is this freedom which he insists is necessary if he and Bimala are
truly to know one another. While Nikhil, like Tagore himself, initially supports
swadeshi, he recognizes the value of the "outside world," and he looks to serve
a greater cause than mere national interest. "I am willing," he insists, "to serve
my country, but my worship I reserve for Right which is far greater than my
country. To worship my country as a god is to bring a curse upon it".(Atkinson,)
For Nikhil, however, it is not that the world is chaos; rather, each individual is
given the freedom and the opportunity to participate in the limitless creativity of
world. 'Providence," he remarks, "leaves our life moulded in the rough its object
being that we ourselves should put the finishing touches, shaping it into its final
form to our taste"(Atkinson,)
Continue…

17. Conclusion
In conclusion, Rabindranath Tagore's novel "The Home and the World" offers a profound
exploration of the ideological dichotomy between two of India's most prominent figures,
Mahatma Gandhi and Tagore himself, through the characters of Sandip and Nikhil. The
novel masterfully captures the philosophical and political currents of its time and provides a
rich tapestry of ideas and contrasting perspectives. Through the character of Sandip, the
fervent nationalist leader, we witness an embodiment of some of the more extreme and
radical elements of the Indian nationalist movement, reminiscent of Mahatma Gandhi's
advocacy for direct action and civil disobedience as a means to attain political
independence. Conversely, Nikhil, a character characterized by rationality, moderation,
and a commitment to peaceful methods of reform, aligns more closely with Tagore's own
beliefs in the importance of individual freedom, education, and personal growth.
There are three distinctive views on nationalism presented in this novel through the key
characters, Nikhil, Bimala and Sandip. Nikhil represents the moderate view on nationalism.
He represents the ideology of Rabindranath Tagore. He carries the most perception of the
nation in Tagore’s point of view. On the other hand, Sandip represents the extreme
nationalist view.(Rani)

18. References
Atkinson,, David W. Tagore's The Home and the World: A Call for a New World Order David W. Atkinson, University of
Saskatchewan, https://journals.lib.unb.ca/index.php/IFR/article/download/14184/15266/0.
Accessed 15 October 2023.
Choudhuri,, Indra Nath. “Tagore and Gandhi: Their Intellectual Conflict and Companionship.” Indian Literature, vol. 59,
no. 2 (286), 2015, pp. 146–57. JSTOR,, http://www.jstor.org/stable/44478532.
Accessed 15 Oct. 2023.
Malhotra, Meenakshi. “At Home in the World: Tagore, Gandhi and the Quest for Alternative Masculinities.” Borderless
Journal, 14 April 2021, https://borderlessjournal.com/2021/04/14/at-home-in-the-world-tagore-gandhi-and-the-
quest-for-alternative-masculinities/.

19. Manjula, Reddivari. “(PDF) Tagore and Gandhi: An ideological Study.” ResearchGate, 15 June 2019,
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/333798480_Tagore_and_Gandhi_An_ideological_Study.
Accessed 15 October 2023.
Monika. “Understanding Nationalism through Tagore's Novel The Home and the World.” Upstream
Research International Journal, Jan 2018,
https://eupstream.com/images/journal/jan2018/monika.pdf.
Accessed 15 October 2023.
“Rabindranath Tagore – Biographical - NobelPrize.org.” Nobel Prize,
https://www.nobelprize.org/prizes/literature/1913/tagore/biographical/.

20. Raghav, Neha. “276 A CRITIQUE OF DESTRUCTIVE NATIONALISM: TAGORE'S THE HOME AND THE
WORLD.” Higher Education & Research Society, 2 October 2016,
https://herso.org/?wpdmact=process&did=MTUwLmhvdGxpbms=.
Accessed 15 October
Rai, Saurav Kumar. “(PDF) Nation and Nationalism: Revisiting Gandhi and Tagore | Saurav Kumar Rai.”
Academia.edu, 2017,,
https://www.academia.edu/36441992/Nation_and_Nationalism_Revisiting_Gandhi_and_Tagore.
Accessed 15 October 2023.
Rani, Bindu. “A Research on Ravindra Nath Tagore’S Novel ‘Home and the World’: a Powerful Political Novel.”
Ignited Minds Journals, Apr, 2019, https://ignited.in/I/a/150465. Accessed 15 October 2023.

21. Ray, Satyajit, director. Ghare-Baire. NFDC, 1984, https://youtu.be/MPpma6cKCMA?si=RiQYt5YK53FVQU71.
Accessed 15 October 2023.
Sardar, Subrata. “The Home and the World: Compare and Contrast the characters of Sandip and
Nikhilesh.” Academia.edu,
https://www.academia.edu/40807426/The_Home_and_the_World_Compare_and_Contrast_the_ch
aracters_of_Sandip_and_Nikhilesh. Accessed 15 October 2023.