Modernity of women in Rabindranath Tagore’s Gora

Abstract

Rabindranath Tagore, a versatile personality, and the first non-European to win the Noble Prize for literature, is an eminent literary artist. He is undoubtedly a modern writer. Tagore is also a well-known freedom fighter. Consequently this thoughts of modernity and notions of nationalism are put forth in his writings. One such voluminous novel where the socio-political, cultural and religious scenario of India are embedded with the nationalism of Tagore is the novel Gora which was published in 1909 after the partition of Bengal in 1905. Tagore’s idea of liberation, modernism, patriotism and nationalism is revealed by many of his characters. The religious movement of Brahmo Samaj and its conflict with the rigid Hindu culture in its endeavour to modernize the society is also depicted. Similarly, Gora who represents the rigid Hindu culture battles against the colonialism and the ideals of Brahmo Samaj. The author presents the religious crossroads at which the characters suffer and ultimately Tagore’s expression of national consciousness, modernity and internationalism prevails. In the conventional set up, the characters yearn for emancipation and that is conspicuous not only in Tagore’s presentation of male characters but also in the women characters. The female characters support the male characters in order to bring forth their real selves. Tagore’s female characters are bold, and modern in their thoughts and actions. The paper concentrates on the modernity of the female characters in Gora.