Malini
Malini
Summary
Malini is a poetic play written by Bengali Indian poet and
philosopher, Rabindranath Tagore. It is a story of love and haired and deals
with ages long conflict between the Buddhist and the Hindus in Kashi of India.
Malini is the princess of Kashi though
born in a dogmatic Hindu family, she has adopted Buddhism as she was taught by
Buddhist monks. Due to her faith on the new creed, she prefers to live a simple
and serene life untouched with the royal outfits, gold and luxuries. The king
request her not to go along her destructive path but the queen believes that
her daughter is a pure flame of fire and some divine spirit has taken birth in
her. Feeling threatened by the new creed of Malini the Hindu Brahmins demand
for her banishment from the palace. Malini herself wants to leave the palace.
Malini herself wants to leave the palace so that she can lead the troubled and
chaotic world outside. Kemankar is one of the Hindu Brahmins who strongly demands
for Malini's banishment . Though a born Hindu and childhood friend of Kemankar,
Supriya doesn’t she any reason in banishing an innocent girl like Malini. He
believes that truth cant be determined by the force of numbers and it is
stupidity to save one's religion by banishing a girl from her home just then a
Brahmin announces that the king's army is about to take the side of the Hindus
openly. The Hindu Brahmins do not like to get victorious using the armed force.
With the faith that they will get victory because of their faith, they begin to
pray to their guardians gods. At the prayer of the Brahmins, Malini appears in
front of them with drawing her terrible power into the tender beauty of a girl.
She explains to them that she has been exiled from her home so that she could
make their home her own.
Then she goes out surrounding by the
Hindu Brahmins, who now take her as the mother of the world. The only person
who has not been moved by her is Kemankar. Counselling his friend Supriya,
Kemankar says that Malini and her religion is an illusion just like moonlight
that disappears in the mid day Sun. When Kemankar knows that the Kings army is
now supporting Malini, he feels helpless and decides to go to foreign land.
Getting the help of foreign soldiers, he aims at washing away Buddhism from
state of kasha and keep him informed. He also reminds him that friends turn
against friends in evil times and expects him to stay firm getting ready to
welcome him that to Kashi. After sometime Malini is brought back to the palace
by the brahmins and soldiers.
The 2nd Act of play starts/
begins at the palace garden with Supriya and Malini conversing with each other.
Both freely vacant and empty inside at each other's questions. In the course of
the conversation, Supriya reveals that he has betrayed his friend, Kemankar. He
further explains that he had been sent a letter by Kemankar which informed him
that he was coming to Kashi with the foreign army. Instead of keeping this news
a secret as he had promised earlier, he showed his letter to the king enabling
him to send his army and arrest Kemankar while he was on the way back.
The king feels grateful to Supriya for
his in valuable help and wants to offer Supriya something valuable. However,
Supriya doesn't want to get reward from king for betraying friend instead, both
Supriya and Malini request the king to forgive Kemankar. Then Kemankar is
brought in front of king in chain. When asked what he would do if he was
excused, Kemankar replies to the king that he would complete his incomplete
mission. He also wishes to see his friend Supriya before he dies. After he is
brought in front of Supriya, he accuses Supriya of betraying his friendship and
religion for a girl. Supriya replies to Kemankar that he has found his faith
perfected in the form of Malini. Kemankar wants all truth to be tested in the
court of death and offers his friend a gift of death. The play ends with the
words of Malini requesting her father to forgive Kemankar.
Questions
1. In the beginning of the play the King
talks about "Storm clouds gathering over the King's house". What does
he refer to?
The king refers to the agitation of the Hindu Brahmins
feeling threatened with the new creed of Malini, all the Brahmins were gathered
for asking banishment of Malini.
2. What were the Brahmins demanding for?
The Brahmins were demanding the banishment of Malini. They
all were feeling threatened with new creed of Malini. They thought that the ancestor's
religion is in crisis and in danger of extinction. In order to save the religion,
they were demanding for banishment.
3. If the demand persisted, would the
king banish his daughter? Give reasons.
Yes, of course if the
demand of the Brahmins persisted then the king would banish her daughter
because the majority of the people in the Kashi were Hindu. All of them were
demanding the king for the banishment of Malini due to her new creed. Following
the command of the people and the son of his also demands for the banishment.
So at the end he would banish the Malini if he was enforced again and again.
4. Draw a character sketch of Supriya
and show how he is different from Kemankar.
Supriya is a Hindu
Brahmin and childhood friend of Kemankar. Though he was born Hindu but his
thoughts are always full of doubts. He is neither strong in his words nor his
action. And when he comes closer to Kemankar he seems following him but
whenever he comes to Malini he took the side of Malini. He is a Yes man. He
can't say no to anybody. He seems to have some positive quality. He does not
see any reasoning in banishing a innocent girl like Malini. Truth can't be determined
by force of troops in numbers as the love and truth are the body and soul.
In contrast Kemankar is very strong
defender of Hindu religion. He is very strong in both his words and action He
is the only person who is not moved by the grace of Malini. He thinks love can't
be hatefully unloving. He believes that he and Malini can't co-exist together.
Comparing Kemankar with Supriya. If Supriya
is ready to sacrifice his religion and do anything for a girl. But Kemankar is
ready to sacrifice his life as he already sacrifices his life for the religion
and for the Hindu culture. Supriya is a betrayer who betrayed friendship and
religion. He didn’t keep his promise and told King about the plan of Kemankar
and his plan failed. Supriya is responsible for possible death of Kemankar.
5. What was the revolt against? Against
Malini? Against the king? Against Buddhism?
Neither against Malini
nor king it was going against the religion of Buddhism. They had nothing to do
with Malini personally as they were against the new creed of Malini in the name
of the religion.
6. Why does Malini ask for her own banishment
from the palace?
Malini is a beautiful
young princess who is taught by a Buddhist monk. She is impressed by Buddhism.
She doesn’t like royal happiness, pleasures and comforts. But the Brahmins who
are the followers of traditional old religion believe that members of royal
family should spend their life in comforts. Malini doesn't like it at all. When
Malini goes against traditional old religion. Hinduism, at that time Brahmins
go to royal palace for the banishment of Malini. She thinks outside world is
troubled. Metaphorically she explains there is a boat without captain and she
can fulfill the absence of captain. With her one touch to boat it can vibrate
to life. She has confidence that she can lead outside world perfectly and can
lead wanderers to their destination. She wants to live in hearts and hearts of
people. She thinks home of people her own home. She is very sensitive to her
life worthy to people than palace. She wants to follow command of Hindu
Brahmins. She feels that it is her obligation to leave the palace because all
Brahmins were demanding for banishment. She wants to teach the brahmins the
reality and lead them to the truth.
7. Would you call Supriya a betrayer?
Give reasons for your answer.
Yes, we can say Supriya as a betrayer because Supriya and
Kemankar were two close friends. They used t stay together. Kemankar wanted to
go to foreign land to bring armies to revolt against Malini. Supriya also
wanted to go with Kemankar. Kemankar asked him to retain there and inform him.
While Kemankar was in foreign land, he warns Supriya not to betray their old
friendship because of the new religion. Kemankar goes to foreign land and
writes his friend about plans then Supriya informs about Kemankar secret plan
to the King, King captures Kemankar. In this way, Supriya can be said as a
great betrayer. He actually deceived his own close friend.
8. Describe the characters of Malini.
Malini is beautiful and
young girl. She is the princess. She is from a royal family but impressed by
Buddhism. She doesn't follow the traditional old religion. But Brahmins go
against Malini because they are follower of traditional old religion(i.e
Hinduism). She aks for her own banishment. She likes to live among the poor
people. She doesn’t want comforts, pleasure, treasures, etc. She wants to guide
the people who are living in the darkness. The queen calls her pure flame of
fire. The common people regard her mother of the world. When the King wants to
punish Kemankar, Malini requests the king to forgive Kemankar. This shows that
Malini is a kind hearted, virtuous girl who always speaks in favor of
non-violence and poor people.
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