FOUR CHAPTERS NOVEL BY RABINDRANATH TAGORE

Four chapters novel by Tagore 

Tagore was a world citizen and a universal poet.

Terrorists were honoured ,treated as heroes and symbols of valour in pre independence era.

Tagore denounced revolutionary movement and took sides with the moderates in national  movement. Four chapters is  a love story  set in Bengal  in  backdrop  of  terrorist activities in  Bengal.

Ela, heroine of the novel  is tormented by  the conflict between love and  duty. Love for Atin, a member of the same band and duty towards her country. Tagore presents her agony of growing violence and  love affair with Atin, set in the backdrop of Bengal extremism. Indranath , a leader of the band knows that Atin  joined their group for love of Ela. He accuses Ela of breaking away of Atin from the extremist band and warns her not to distract Atin’s  attention from the band activities. Indranath reminds her of pledge taken at the time of joining the band.

Ela raises her voice against the violence and deaths of innocent boys in the battle.She appeals fervently to the mother sex to cool the overheated heads of the boys. Indrantath condemns her statements against  the violence  and says such revulsion of spirit is  common on the eve of a great battle, mentions an  instance from Gita that Arjuna himself, was thus afflicted at the outset of the kurukshetra war.

Atin desires union with Ela but she refuses to take his hand in marriage saying she cannot live in a false paradise and the main obstacle  is  not outside but within her.

Atin feels he is made a pawn in the game started by the band and finds way out is blocked. Both Atin and Ela were separated by fate as they are trapped in the band .Atin donates his  clothes to flood victims ,inspired by  Ela speech .Tagore with  these two characters tried to  imply that the revolution is not the right path to choose to get freedom. Though Tagore differ with Gandhi in many issues , he is in unison with him on the revolution.

The book is not very much interesting and sometimes it is boring with the lengthy dialogues.

I delved into it but found not much. I don’t know much about Tagore’s philosophy.  I think prior knowledge of his philosophy is desirable to understand his works.