-StoriesByRabindranathTagore- DiscussionThread - Page 6

Originally posted by: chandrima02

@Crescendo, that IS THE crux of the story itself. Binodini was educated, well versed in music, an expert in household work, could communicate in english along with playing chess and was almost of Mahendra's age, in a nut shell she was a very worthy bride for him; whereas Ashalata was nothing compared to her. She was uneducated and very young as per the novel. Yet Mahendra refused to marry Binodini and later went on to marry Ashalata, solely enchanted by her beauty. Binodini took that refusal as an insult to her self-respect. Once she had become a widow and had read Mahendra's letters, she became enraged. She started considering Ashalata as her enemy ("Chokher Baali"), who has usurped what rightfully belonged to her. Mahendra's infatuation towards Ashalata's beauty disappeared into thin air in no time, once he understood that Binodini was more of his type. Poor Ashalata has deliberately been made a scapegoat in this whole sequence of events.

Originally posted by: -Crescendo-

Hmm..true.

I get this now but don't you think it is morally wrong what Binodini is doing..

Originally posted by: Neerjaa

where the morality comes in all this . Its human emotions . Makers have started with flash back . Binodini has respect for Bihari Babu  . This  was the reason but when read the book never felt that she wanted to hurt Asha . 

Originally posted by: chandrima02

I know this is unacceptable as per our thought process. But I do sympathize with Binodini's frustration, her jealousy, her grief, her anger. In those days, a Hindu widow's life was worse than death itself. And she had to bear that unbearable & agonizing life, which was completely devoid of any color, any order, any taste (in literal sense) and any earthly pleasure due to Mahendra's refusal. She wanted to teach him a lesson by proving herself worthier than Ashalata, in turn proving him wrong and later she was successful as well. Ashalata was her "Chokher Baali"; since in her eyes, Ashalata was guilty as an unwanted usurper of what rightfully belonged to her. To be frank, personally I find Mahendra, as the one who was the real guilty.

I won't destroy the suspense. But at the end, you would not be able to judge who was right and who was wrong.

Originally posted by: Madhura..

Brilliant thread guys, Sayanee thank you for letting me know!!
I will try to see the show, Rabindranath Tagore his writings were indeed brilliant, which is an understatement, I have read very few, but few poems I have, cos of the language constraint too, Translations many times dilute the impact/

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