The Home and the World by Rabindranath Tagore group task

1. M. K. Bhavnagar University
Department of English
Sem : 3 (M.A)
Paper : 201
(Indian English Literature –
(Pre-Independence)
Topic Name : The Home and the World
by Rabindranath
Tagore
Given By : Prof. Heenaba Zala
Prepared by : Riddhi Bhatt
Pina Joshi
Khusbu Lakhupota
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2. Character of Nikhilesh
• Male protagonist of Tagore’s novel 'The Home and the World'
• Good man who prides himself on being generous and thoughtful.
• Refinement and education, the sensibility and taste of the Bengali aristocratic
household, and such a person popularly known as the ‘bhadralok’ .
• When he wants Bimala to step out of the house, and know a little more about the
outside world, when he sets his mind to free her for the sake of her happiness, his
urge to educate her by employing a British tutor Miss Gilby, we see Nikhil as a
‘modern’ man.
• His plunge into the disturbed area under his jurisdiction by the Dacca Muslims also
shows that he was not scared to move to any extent whenever the safety of his
subjects was concerned.

3. Nikhil's Narrative Technique (in brief)
• Nikhil’s narratives are less emotive, more theoretic, idealistic- and fully
introspective.
• In these narratives is marked his approach to life and the world around him, and
this seldom seems practical. He is found to speak out his heart, diagnoses his own
pang and realizes his own error in understanding and judgment.
• His statement is quite frank and self-analytical: "Men, such as I, possessed with
one idea, are, indeed, at one with those who can manage to agree with us; but
those who do not, can only get with us by cheating us.
• It is our unyielding obstinacy, which drives even the simplest to tortuous ways. In
torturing to manufacture a helpmate, we spoil a wife.
• " Of course, his assessment of Sandip is definitely very sober and appropriate, and
not sentimental like his Bimala's: "His (Sandip's) intellect is keen, but his nature is
coarse and so he glorifies his selfish lusts under high sounding names.

4. Chapter One to four
• In these part we see that Nikhil is disturbed something is pricking him constantly like a
thorn in his heart.
• He is disturbed constantly day and night by the influence of Sandip in Bimla's life.
• He does not find that pure love for himself in Bimla's eyes but rather is imparified with the
entry of Sandip.
• No person can bear that to whom He/ She loves and that person loves or has
some feelings for another person. So here Nikhil does not like.
"Why not stand out aloof in the highway of the universe, and feel yourself to be part of the all? In the midst of the
immense, age-long concourse of humanity, what is Bimal to you? Your wife? What is a wife? A bubble of a name
blown big with your own breath, so carefully guarded night and day, yet ready to burst at any pin-prick from
outside. "
• The bond between Nikhil and Bimla was not strong enough and so
the outside forces like Sandip were easily able to break it ,And this things Nikhil felt down.

5. "It is August, the sky breaks into a passionate rain;
Alas, empty is my house."
• In arrival of August and the rain water is described along with the beauty of nature,
Everything around seems to beautiful but there is sadness in the heart of Nikhil. It's
seems to be their anniversary moth.
• Nikhil thinks to stop suffering and give Bimla complete freedom to do what she likes. He
understands that love can not be gained by force.
"I felt like a wrong-doer, a trespasser, prying into a secret not meant for me.
I could not look Bimal in the face, but hurried away."
• At the change in behaviour of Bimla towards Nikhil, NIkhil thinks that there is flaw in
him, He is not worthy for Bimla but he knows that he is better than Sandip.
• Nikhil knows that now their hearts are seprated. Bimla has changed her feeings for
NIkhil, there is a break in their relationship and Nikhil finds it very difficult to bear.

6. Chapter Five to Eight
• Nikhil's story continues, Nikhil decides it is useless to try to stay busy as panchu, a
man he knows through his master .arrives with a basket of Cocoa-nuts.
• Explaining he state some from Nikhil's garden when he was hard-pressed and has
come to repay them because he is old and may die at any time Panchu's words
lighten and Nikhil's heart
• Nikhilesh is the narrator of this chapter, His acknowleges his own weakness in
letting Bimla stay away from his household
• He does not use coerecion to bind her rigidly to his home.According to him his
love cannot betray him.
" I have seen her through my mistakes and midst of tears."
• Nikhil admits his helplessness and sorrow of being at the verse of losing the love of
his life

7. "I knew nothing of this at the time, for just then a veritable ocean-churning by gods and demons was going
on in my mind. Nor did my master tell me that he had taken Panchu’s deserted children under his own roof
and was caring for them, though alone in the house, with his school to attend to the whole day."
• Towards the one of this chapter, Appears before Nikhil and express her deep regret
at seeing him so his thoughts and He simply touches her feet and moves in.
• Caricatures of Nikhil begin appearing in locall newpapers.
• The rumars say everyone in Nikhil's estates supports swadeshi but cannot admit it
out anxiety about the consequenics and that they will suffer.
• A threattening letter is published,showing a list of people whose treusuries have been
destroyed because they did not support the cause,
• Nikhil summons some of the students to talk with him.They an be obeyed out of
anything besides fear.
• Here may be Nikhil is innocent but in local papers things are written against him

8. • Nikhil is in secret league with the police and in private communication with the
magistrate.
• The impact of fear and how it has brought danger for the country people surrender
themselves in the hands of government out of fear.
"It is my desire , I said,"to plant something greater than – Swadeshi- I am not after dead logs but living trees
– and there will take time to grow."
• It means to acccept Indian Values , goods ratger than accepting foreign rules and
products.To abolish slavery.
• "I was shocked beyond words. “If what you say be true,” I cried, “I clearly see that it must be the one
endeavour of my life to save the country from these same Kundus and Chakravartis and officials.."

9. Chapter Nine to Twelve
• In this part, We find that Nikhil is more connected with Nature.
• Day and night are compared with the bright and dark side of life.
• Nikhil is portrayed as alone even in the middle of crowd
• He has given freedom to Bimla
• He is not changed by the threads like religion, custom selfishness. He is
against these tries to save country from these.
• "Evolution is at work among the gods as well" says Sandip
• Nikhil and Sandip have contrasting ideas. Nikhil does not like the ideas and way of
Sandip.
• Once Nikhil tells Sandip to go in Bimla's Presence even if he is misunderstood.

10. • Treatment of cows, used for ploughings and even killed by muslims.
• Only desire to success won't bring success in industry. Investment does not
guarantee of profits.
• "But, because you have lighted a fire, it does not follow that you have the food to
cook over it."
• Loss of 6000 rupees and praces also lost with this.
• Investigation take place and police has doubt on Kasim trusted servant.
• Nikhil says " I do not doubt you Kasim, I assured him. "fear nothing. They can do
nothing to you, if you are innocent."
• In this part Nikhil describes Bimla at once night he wakes from his sleep
on hearing the sound of somebody morning, sobbing sounds with tears.
"The true master of the house gets hur at every step and at last there comes the
supreme hurt of death."
Now it seems as if Nikhil and Bimla are not emotionally attached they are not
different paths.

11. • Nikhil describe this childhood, when Bara Rani was typical like that of brother and sister
relationship, its joys and sorrows, helping each their and at other times quaerdding.
"The Healing forces at bottom proved more powerful than the wounds on the surface."
• Nikhil addressed as "Maharaja" by police and others.
• In this part, Amulya reveals the secret that Bimla was behind the scene, who asked
Amulya to steal the money.
• Nikhil says, "My row has remanded on it."
"One cannot realize one's own existence by remaining within oneself-it has to be sought outside."
• In this Nikhil regrets that to Bimla, he loves the most surrounded all his wealth but
she used wrong but didn't care for him. When he is need of help, his thrown away.
• Nikhil is hurt at the betrayal of Bimala, so he is constantly thinking and trying to find
solutions. He thinks that love can real all the wounds.
• Then he calls Bimla, She cries and then she took his feet, as if asing for forgiveness for
all the wrong the has done, Lids her to think and bell at the feet of her husband.

12. • Infact, when Nikhil accepts Bimla inspire of knowing her faults makes Bimla repent and
s she may feel that husband is great and that she loves him and her place is in his feet
because of the wrong deeds she has done.
• Here we are see that Nikhil is very good husband who gives Bimla, lots of freedom and
forgives her for the mistakes she has done.
• This is what makes Nikhil an ideal husband.