Rabindranath Tagore's short novel Kabuliwalla (1892) tells the story of the innocent friendship between Rahmat, a dried fruit peddler from Kabul in Afghanistan, and Mini, the five-year-old daughter of the narrator. This bond transcends racial and class differences, interweaving with the theme of the paternal love that Raman and the narrator have for their daughters. This aspect has attracted much critical attention. Furthermore, in the conversation between Rahmat and Mini about “the in-laws' home”, criticism tends to focus on the skillful use of the term as a euphemism for “jail”, which foreshadows Rahmat's subsequent incarceration. However, it is rarely pointed out that Tagore's innovative gender perspective is subtly embedded in Rahmat's words: “You must never go to your in-laws' house.” At that time, in India's patriarchal society, it was considered the duty of Hindu patriarchs to marry off their daughters before they reached puberty. However, such marriages were accompanied by harsh realities, including the mistreatment of daughters-in-law and widows. Although Tagore frequently depicted such women, this short story is noteworthy in that it portrays the father’s perspective and lends depth and complexity to the delicate and understated depiction of paternal love. This text does not depict the inner conflict of the father, a Hindu patriarch bearing the heavy responsibility of marrying off his daughter. Instead, the hidden conflict is conveyed through the words of the Kabuliwalla. The text can also be interpreted as raising questions about the role of marriage in maintaining the patriarchal system of the time.

Authors:
Eiko Ohira, Otusma University, Japan

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Posted by James Alexander Gordon

Last updated: 2023-02-23 23:45:00

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