My recent discussions with a friend on a Kannada novel titled “Phaniyamma” reminded me of Rabindranath Tagore’s ‘Chokher Bali’, which I had read a long time ago. The outline of both these novels are set in early 20th century, on women that were child widows. But the premise and dimensions are almost contrasting. While Phaniyamma is all about a progressive thinking lady who triumphs with true humanitarian spirit amidst a highly orthodox Hindu society; Chokher Bali on the other hand, is an exhilarating saga of a temptress that unleashes torrents of unbridled emotions, flooding away the lives of people enroute.
An interesting human drama, Tagore is at his story telling best in ‘Chokher Bali’ unlike his other books where he dealt with a broader perspective of society in general. In that way, the range of the novel is smaller as its woven around 6 characters alone. Here, Tagore concentrates on the intricacies of human emotions, the interplay of relations and their changing nature w.r.t time. The language is lucid almost devoid of his usual poetic raptures, but the smooth undercurrent of graceful literary nuances won’t go unnoticed. Such beautiful strings of thoughts woven with dainty words left me wishing a few times if only I were able to read Bangla. The Sahitya Akademi translation in English - ‘Binodini’- is a good work too. At places I shall quote in italics some of the lines taken from the book.
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Like the enraged black bee which stings whatever comes in its way, so Binodini mad with rage prepared to wreak her vengeance on the world around her, a world which seemed bent on thwarting her, spiting her. Were all her longings, all her endeavours doomed to frustrations? If all happiness was denied her, if she was condemned to a fruitless, barren existence, then there was only one way to avenge her frustrated life – to defeat and drag into dust those who had cheated her of her right to be happy, who had trampled on the graceful flowering of her womanhood, robbing her of her natural, rightful due.
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Story premise
Mahendra, a rather insecure but highly pampered son of Rajalakshmi, rejects an offer to marry Binodini earlier. So does his best friend and confidant Bihari. Thus, the well-educated and breathtakingly beautiful Binodini is wedded off by her poor parents to an ailing old man, since it was considered a bane those days to have unmarried girls over age 12 in the house.
Later unfolding
Mahendra later marries a sweet yet unsophisticated girl Asha. Soon, he is completely smitten by her although at times her illiteracy and incompetence bothers him wee bit. Marriage turns him into a greater ninny who foolishly idles away all his time in conjugal bliss.
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The hangover of drunken revelry can be cured by another spell of drunkenness. But Asha’s resources had dried up. Where was the wherewithal for the second spell of revelry? At this critical moment Binodini came with a bowlful of wine and placed it in Asha’s hands.
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In the meanwhile, Binodini is widowed, orphaned and brought into Mahendra household as an aide by his mom. It does not take long for the smart, astute and immensely beautiful Binodini to make inroads into the household and get a firm footing. Before long, she befriends Asha and slowly charms her way into Mahendra’s heart as well. Mahendra in the meantime completely neglects Asha and madly driven towards Binodini.
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The eternal curse of love that its embrace turns so soon into a bondage!
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There upon, Binodini’s calculative moves ensure that she keeps Mahendra at bay, dancing to her tunes. It is her way of getting even with the society, which she believes has robbed from her the rightful share of happiness and a normal life, by dooming her to widowhood. Initially ignorant, Asha is rendered totally helpless and remains a mute spectator as her made to do good world crumbles around her. Impenitent, Binodini also uses her wily charms to ensnare Bihari.
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All she knew was that she was being consumed by a passionate flame inside her, whether of hate or of love or of both, she could not say. She would smile bitterly at herself and say” Was any woman ever in such a predicament? Do I wish to die or destroy? Am I the hunter or the hunted? I wish I knew.”
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The scandalous affair of Mahendra and Bindoni wreaks havoc all around evoking the wrath of Rajalakshmi and to a certain degree Bihari too. But slowly and steadily Bihari is attracted towards Binodini and hence in a fear of loosing out to her, he runs away to Kashi on a self-imposed exile.
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Binodini looks a gay butterfly but deep inside her burns the austere light of pure and devoted woman. How little we know even of ourselves! We identify a person with that facet of personality which a particular set of circumstances happen to reveal. The true being is known only to the Creator.
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Situations turn far more appalling when Mahendra shifts Binodini from his home to live separately with her elsewhere. This shameful incident sets off in Binodini serious thoughts about what she really wants in life. She learns that she got what she wished for.. yet what she wanted after all was not what she got. Her strong yearning for Bihari disturbs her to no end and she desperately attempts to seek contact with him. Her already turbulent and unsure emotions undergo a great turmoil (which is beautifully brought out in Tagore’s simple yet lovely style of writing). Finally, she encounters Bihari and Mahendra in turns and arrives at a definite conclusion.
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The receding tide leaves behind its slime on the mind’s shore and what had seemed desirable suddenly becomes repulsive.
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It is but human nature to seek something desperately, and then once its within reach, getting totally disinterested and shunning it away. The story is worth reading for its protagonist Binodini alone. Almost a real life character, Binodini comes across an honest-to-self lady with a tinge of grey shade. Go for it and you won’t be disappointed.
