Chokher Bali - Rabindranath Tagore

There is in every true woman's heart, a spark of heavenly fire, which lies dormant in the broad daylight of prosperity, but which kindles up and beams and blazes in the dark hour of adversity.-Washington Irving,The Sketch Book.

There is a sparkling fire in Binodini's heart too..But with that fire,she tried to destroy a happy household.. When she realized that she is also destroying her feminine virtues and ethics in that fire,she couldn't stand it anymore..The literal meaning of Choker Bali is "a grain of sand"..The title is very apt as the protagonist Binodini is like "a mote in the eye" in the pleasant family life of Mahendra and Asha..It is the story of love, lust and passion...

An irate queen bee stings everyone that comes in her path,and similarly an irate Binodini was prepared to destroy everyone around her.

Copyright A Homemaker's Utopia

Coming to the story line,the central character Binodini is a young widow of exquisite beauty who lives in a small village,Barasat..She is also bestowed with intelligence and intellect..Nevertheless these great qualities couldn't provide her a blissful life because of the ruthless customs of the society against widows..Her somber life takes a turn with the arrival of her relative,the wealthy,Rajalakshmi..Rajalakshmi invites her to live with them in their house at Kolkata..Rajalakshmi's son Mahendra was unhappy with this decision,but later he persuaded by his wife Asha to to keep a good friendly relationship with Binodini...Binodini indulges herself in the domestic chores and enjoys the modern living in the fine company of Mahendra and Asha..She was allured by the most intimate details of conjugal bliss shared by Asha..

Love turns bland if not seasoned with a touch of pique,like cooking without spices..

Love needed to be rooted in life's labour,otherwise ecstasy would never be profound and enduring.

Until here,everything goes well.But women are more vulnerable to jealousy..Binodini is not an exception for this..She remembers the bitter past in her mind that she was once engaged to Mahendra but refused by him...Binodini couldn't bear an ignoramus juvenile,enjoying her part of pleasures in her place..With these adverse feelings,she starts luring Mahendra with her delicacy and charm..Of late,she realizes that,this is not love but jealousy towards Asha..But it is too late,when she knows,her true love is Bihari..Bewitched by her fake love,Mahendra was completely out of senses by then...Further,the story narrates the turmoil caused in the lives of four characters under such circumstances...

Mahendra's thoughts,
Was there a hint in this letter of an ardour - veiled yet implied, forbidden yet intimate,noxious yet delicious,offered but unrequited ? 

This play acting in a down to earth domestic chore,in a sense,rescued him from the improbable task of creating his fairy tale dream world..

Mahendra addressing Binodini,
Why did you at all engage yourself  in this game ? There is now no release for you.If we sink we sink together.

Tagore's fondness in creating his female characters is renowned.."The Feminine Individual"  Binodini is the image of the miserable widow life tormented by the heinous customs of society...Nevertheless she bags society's disgrace initially,she overcomes her flaws by turning down Bihari''s wedding proposal for her and keeps her dignity alive in society's terms..The proud Mahendra,due to his wild passion and lust for another woman,loses his honourable position as head of the family and remains remorseful for his deeds..On the other hand Bihari emerges as the man of the house with his good nature and responsible attitude..Asha latha's character represents the any common Indian woman in a family who is well known for the virtues of sacrifice and forgiveness..The loving mother Rajalakshmi's rivalry with Asha,reminds the usual mother-in-law of any family...

With a brand name as a 'Tagore's work',the novel thoroughly criticises the merciless customs and traditions of the society against widows...The novel widely discussed about the human relations,human behaviours in different aspects of life..It proves that no one is spared by emotional turbulence of life..Initially the novel was published as a serial in a magazine,Bangadarshan..Later the 300 pages book was published as a translation by Sukhendu Ray..In 2003,The movie version of the book was directed by Rituparno Ghosh with Aishwarya Roy and Prasenjit Chetterji in lead roles...

He pillories the custom of perpetual mourning on the part of widows, who were not allowed to remarry, who were consigned to seclusion and loneliness. Tagore wrote of it: "I have always regretted the ending".-From google