The Cabuliwallah by Rabindranath Tagore

- Author: born on 05/07/1861, in Calcutta, India (Kolkata old name). He’s a poet, a short story
writer, song composer (composed more than 2000 songs, also India’s national anthem).
- First POV, Mini’s Father Voice He/Him
- Calcutta, Afghanistan
- Characters:
1. Cabuliwallah (dried fruit seller) - real name: Rahman, Lives in Cabul, peddler and dried fruit seller
2. Mini - bubbly girl, always asked questions and in turn befriended the cabuliwallah.
- Story: The Cabuliwallah, named Rahmat, travels to Calcutta to sell dry fruits and other stuff. One
day, he came across the house of Mini, a five-year-old talkative child, to sell his items. Mini is first
afraid of Rahmat because of his unusual appearance, but they eventually build a friendship over
time. Rahmat reminds him of his daughter, who is away from home, through Mini. The two form
a warm relationship, sharing gifts and humorous stories. However, unforeseen events happened
that hindered the friendship of Rahmat, the cabuliwallah, and Mini. Rahmat was wrongfully
charged and imprisoned (8 years) for a crime he did not commit. When he is eventually released,
he returns to Mini's house to find that the once-little girl has grown up and does not recognize
him.
- Epilogue: The story ended on a poignant and reflective note, reflecting the effects of time on the
individuals' lives and relationships. The final part of the story has Rahmat, the Cabuliwallah,
visiting Mini's house after being released from prison. Mini, who was a youngster when they first
met, is now an adult and cannot recognize him, but eventually, she does. The parents of Mini
realised that they had been judging Rahmat wrongly. As a way of appreciating him for showing
kindness to their daughter, the father, who was narrating the story, gave money to Rahmat so
that he could go home after years of not being with his family.
- Moral Drawn: We should stop judging by mere appearance and instead focus on what’s within.
We may still discover friendship, connection, and love despite cultural differences and age.
- Theme: Filial love: The Cabuliwallah portrayed a father’s deep love for his children; Friendship
and embracing diversity: The story demonstrates how to build positive relationships with
everyone you encounter, regardless of ethnicity. The Cabuliwallah is a stranger in Mini's
community, and their interaction highlights the cultural differences between the two; Human
connection and relationships: The story demonstrates how even brief contact can have a lasting
impact on a person’s life. It demonstrates how people from all areas of life, regardless of
background, share a basic desire for connection and understanding