Assignment On

Critical Analysis of Rabindranath Tagore’s story  Kabuliwala,

GAURAV DABRAL

BBA + MBA (DUAL)

SEMESTER-8

ROLL NO. 16

Rabindranath Tagore’s story  Kabuliwala set in the early twentieth century Kolkata, is about a little
girl Mini and a Kabuliwala exploring the bonds of friendship, affection and parting transcending the
borders of race, religion and language.

Rabindranath Tagore's story is set in the early 20th century. He has based this story on the life of
Rahamat ,a poor peddler who belongs to Kabul in Afghanistan who has come far away to Calcutta to
sell several goods like shawls, raisins, etc and Mini, a chatty little girl.
His wandering is not only a physical wandering but also an emotional wandering as well. He
physically wanders in the sense that he travels to far away lands in search of suitable market for his
goods. In doing so he has to wander emotionally also as he has to leave his daughter behind at
home.
When he encounters Mini ,who is probably his daughter's age, his emotional wandering comes to a
halt .He sees in her a reflection of his own daughter and develops a bonding with her though she is
not related to him in any way .In this way his emotional yearning is satisfied to some extent as he
has somebody on whom he can shower his parental love.
The prime characters are two: Kabuliwala and Mini. Kabuliwala’s name was  Rahamat  a middle-aged
Pathan trader, a dry fruit seller from Afghanistan, who comes to Kolkata, leaving his family and in
particular his favorite daughter, and Mini was a chatty girl and liked to talk all day long.

Mini’s father’s conversation with Mini was often feisty. One day Kabuliwala is passing through the
street hawking his merchandise, and then Mini loudly calls the Kabuliwala. Kabuliwala heard Mini’s
call and turned around with smile and approached their house. But Mini dashes inside because she
fears that if someone looks through the bag of this Afghan man.  Then her father calls her and she
came with fear, the Kabuliwala took out some raisins and apricots inside the bag and gives it to Mini,
but she refuses to take them.   

Then some day later Kabuliwala   befriends the small Bengali girl, Mini who remins him of his own
daughter Rabiya back in Afghanistan no doubt. One day Mini’s father notices that Mini has lot of
nuts. Upon discovering this Mini’s father asks the Kabuliwala why he gives this Mini and he gives
Kabuliwala a half rupee coin. 

The story of Rahamat now turns a sad lot. Some day later, one morning Mini’s father sees Kabuliwala
in handcuffs escorted by two police man. Then he accosts the policeman, and demands to know
what is going on. Putting together details from Kabuliwala as well as the police man, Mini’s father
understand that one of their neighbor was indebted the Kabuliwala for a Rampuri shawl and when
the man denies his debt, an argument break out between them.  In the heat of the argument,
Kabuliwala stabs the man.  Kabuliwala is now send to jail for several years. Then they almost forget
about Kabuliwala.

Several years passed. Mini has grown up and her wedding match has been fixed. Then suddenly
Kabuliwala walks into the Mini’s father room. At first, Mini’s father does not recognize him then
finally he recognizes him through his smile. Kabuliwala wants to meet Mini but Mini’s father does
not agree. The Kabuliwala says he has also a girl like Mini then he lays a paper open on the table and
Mini’s father could saw the impression of small hand on it. It traces of a tiny hand created with burnt
charcoal daubed on the palm. Mini’s father fills with tears at the sight of that pieces of paper, and
called Mini. Mini comes out from the inner quarter  with her ceremonial make up.  

The Kabuliwala sees Mini and becomes confused. Minnie does not recognize Rahmat. The
Kabuliwala asks Mini if she is going to the in-law’s house. Heard the question from Kabuliwala her
face becomes purple and she leaves. Soon after Mini leaves, Kabuliwala slouches on the floor with
long, deep sigh. It becomes obvious to him that his own daughter has grown up as well and he would
have to get to know her all over again. She would not be the same girl he has left behind. Minnie’s
father kindly dips into the wedding budget and give the money to Rahamat to make the passage
home to daughter's home. It would be the best blessing to Mini’s wedding.

Coming to the story, Mini, Rahamat and Mini’s father, these three main characters appear
toughened and inured to emotional pain, yet they harbor deep emotional
sensitivities. Rahmat wishes his heart were softened, thus he maintains empathy even for a total
stranger’s sight, as he listens to his own daughter’s crying for days, following her movements as she
wanders around her desert land, wishing he could meet to her

At the end however Mini herself wants to be emotionally impenetrable at the end but her father is
ready to cut off her luxurious weeding ceremony to appear sympathetic to Rahamat’s situation. It
shows no matter how the characters try to distance themselves, they still feel the pain of their lives
of universal unity.
Themes-

1.Human-relationships.

It can be said that Kabuliwala represents a living example of human relationships on different levels.
The first is the relation between the father and his daughter .The narrator is a loving father who
deals with his chatty little daughter with lots of patience and never prevents her from expressing
herself.
Another significant relationship is between the Kabuliwala and Mini which is a representation of the
former's relationship with his own daughter who is far away from him.Their relationship develops
despite their difference in class,rank,nationality and age.
Mini 's relationship with her mother is also explored.It her motherly affection for Mini that makes
her not approve her friendship with the Kabuliwala.

2.Separation

The kabuliwala yearns for his daughter's love and it through his relationship with Mini who is
perhaps his daughter's age.

3.Solidarity

The feeling of human solidarity is also a dominant theme in the story.