My reflections on Home and the World

The underlying theme for Home and The World is the role of love and devotion and its effects on nationalism. However, one overlooked symbolism is that the love triangle between Nikhl, Bimala and Sandip is the reflection of that between Great Britain, India and the Swadeshi movement. A lot of parallels can be drawn when the two relationships are compared. Also an analysis of the traits of the three main characters shows the flaws and strengths that each factor has. Nikhil is the embodiment of Great Britain: he supports freedom; he is not living by traditional roles or expectations, and is always giving even if it is at a personal cost. Even though, his family is traditional a powerful one, his education elevates their level even more. He brings enlightenment to his wife by getting her an education, improves the life of the women in his household; he treats his widowed sister-in-law with respect, is not controlling of his wife and gives respect to his grandmother. Great Britain is different from other colonial masters in the sense that they give their subjects more freedom just like Nikhil does to Bimala. Britain is different from other colonial masters because they do not always participate in the affairs of the local people. They just like Nikhil believe that the people had the right to do what is best for them at time without their interruption. The invasion of Britain brought about a new way of life into Bengal, they introduced their language, mannerisms, customs and diet and redefine what important to the elite. Similarly, Nikhil brought about a different way of life into his household with his ideas about equality between men and women. Tagore uses Nikhil passively toward the affair between Bimala and Sandip to depict the British notion about the impact of the Swadeshi movement. Just like Nikhil, the British were naïve in believing that Bengal’s loyalty was too strong to wander under the temptation of the movement.

Bimala is represents the nation of India or Bengal and the changes that it goes through with the introduction of English rule and then the Swadeshi movement. The beginning, the marriage between Nikhil and Bimala is harmonious with only a few fractions here and there. The relationship between England and that of Bengal was cordial for the most part with a few instances of fractions. The English brought literacy through the English formal education, adored Bengal with gift in terms of infrastructure, government and even goods such as tea, biscuits etc. Nikhil provides Bimala with an education, free will and introduces her to certain aspects of British culture by buying her foreign goods. Just like the English benefitted from Bengal in terms of natural resources and cheap labor, Nikhil is able to enjoy his wife’s intelligence, beauty and companionship. He allows her to make decisions about certain things just like Britain chooses not abolish some of the Bengal tradition. Bimala holds her husband in awe till she meets Sandip: the relationship and attitude toward Britain is changed by the introduction of the Swadeshi movement. Bimala begins to see herself in a new light and seeks to create a new identity. Bengal with the introduction of the Swadeshi movement begins to rethink its relationship with Britain. Bimala, under the influence of this movement takes drastic measures to make her ideas come to pass. Bengal is transformed and becomes more aggressive in its push for independence because the Swadeshi movement.  

Sandip who symbolizes the Swadeshi movement is very aggressive and does whatever it takes to get his ideas realized. The movement is aggressive by insisting that the people usually the poor give up British goods in support of local ones. It does not however take into consideration what condition in which the people are going to be left in. Just like Sandip’s desire to have the movement greatly supported leads to him using his best friend and even his wife without truly considering the state that it leaves them in. His affair with Bimala, though beneficial at first, leads to a lot of grievances in the end. Similarly the Swadeshi movement was ideal but it proved to bring about a lot of fractions based on how it is interrupted. Sandip uses his love for Bimala to build her up, only to use her in the end. The movement left Bengal with a lot more heartache than resolution for a long time. 

 Tagore book serve to illustrate the ways in which Indian nationalism was both positive and greatly flawed.