Author: Rabindranath Tagore (translation by Nivedita Sen)
Reading Time: 8-10 metro rides
About the Book:
Home and the World is a fascinatingly written book. The setting of the book is pre-independent India, when the Swadeshi movement was gathering momentum in Bengal. The book aptly describes the entoxicating radical Swadeshi movement. At the same time it presents a counter perspective of how this entoxication can be the beginning of a demise. What I found even more captivating was the description of the relationships of the characters in the book.
There are three main characters – Nikhilesh, Sandip and Bimla. The inner psychic conflict that each of these characters experience has been beautifully presented. The book is written alternately in the voices of the three main characters. At some point, you actually get confused as to who you agree with more. It is one thing to understand multiple perspectives and agree that each of them is right where they are and in what they are. The book takes you to another level, where you can actually feel the emotions of each of these three characters. It is overwhelming.
Favourite Quote:
“My husband has always maintained that men and women have an equal claim over each other, therefore, their love is between equals. I have never argued over this. But my instinct says that devotion does not hinder anyone from being an equal. In fact, devotion enables a person to reach the same level as the other and make both equals.”
Final Analysis: A materpiece. Must read.
P.S. Thank you Himani Uniyal for getting me to read this.