Kabuliwala by Rabindranath Tagore

 Kabuliwala

 by Rabindranath Tagore


About the Poet

  • Bengali poet

  • ‘The bard of Bengal’

  • Writer, lyricist, playwright, composer

  • First Indian to receive the Nobel Prize

  • 1913- first Non European

  • Best work Gitanjali

  • Wrote India’s National Anthem


PLOT

Once upon a time there lived a writer with his wife and his little five year old daughter named Mini. Mini was a bubbly little girl, and kept chattering every now and then. She loved asking questions and would jump to the next one without a break. She was very inquisitive and charmed everyone with her chit chats and smiles. Unlike her mother who would get a bit angry with her inquisitiveness, Mini’s father adored her chats and their conversations would end up quite lively. One morning as the write was engaged with his novel, Mini ran into the room and said that the door keeper Ramdayal didn’t know how to pronounce crow. Before the writer could give an answer regarding the languages and how differently each of them spoke, she jumped into a lot other curious topics. Since her father was busy with his novel, he asked her to go and play with Bhola (servant). While she was playing near the window she saw a man along the road selling dry fruits. The Kabuliwala (Rahmat) was a dry fruit seller who sold dry fruits like almonds, pistachios etc. from house to house. He carried these fruits in a cloth bag. A soon as Mini saw him, she called out: "O Kabuliwala!, O Kabuliwala!" The man stopped and looked at the little Mini. Overcome by terror, she ran to her father's study. The Kabuliwala walked towards their door. Though the writer was a bit annoyed, unable to finish his work, he went to the door and spoke to the man and bought some dry fruits from him. Before the Kabuliwala could leave, he asked where the little girl was. The father called out to his little girl, and Mini was hiding behind the door peeping at Kabuliwala and her father. Mini was scared to go near the Kabuliwala as she thought it would be one of the kidnappers and his bag contains other children just like her. She was scared of those stories that she heard from her mother and Bhola. But very soon they became friends after their first meet up. One morning as the father was about to go out, he saw Mini and Kabuliwala talking and having fun together. Never did Mini have such a patient listener as Kabuliwala, thought her father.


The Kabuliwala was able to gain the trust of Mini with a few little dry fruits. The narrator asked the Kabuliwala why he kept giving her the dry fruits and also paid him. But the Kabuliwala was reluctant in taking the money as he gave Mini those dry fruits out of love and not for the purpose of business. Over the next few days, Kabuliwala and Mini became the best of friends. He would come by everyday and sit and talk to Mini. They would have small conversations and jokes that Mini was so excited to be with Kabuliwala and always looked forward to his coming. He used to joke about going to the "in-laws-house", which was a euphemism for jail. However, Mini’s mother was unhappy about his regular visits and the friendship that was shared between Mini and Kabuliwala. She was worried about this new stranger at home and warned Mini and her father to beware of him. One morning as Mini’s father was busy working on his novel, he heard a loud uproar of the crowd from the street. When he looked outside he saw the Kabuliwala in handcuffs accompanied by two policemen and surrounded by a few people. He rushed outside to find out why the Kabuliwala was in police custody. One of the neighbours was indebted to Kabuliwala for a Rampuri shawl and the man denied the debt. Thus an argument broke out, and  Rahmat, the Kabuliwala, took out his knife and stabbed him. Mini came running and called out to Rahmat. Their usual exchanges did not take place and Mini asked him whether he was going to his in-laws house. “That’s exactly where I’m going,” replied Rahmat. This time, the answer did not amuse Mini unlike the other days. Rahmat was sent to jail for many years. Mini was sad for not seeing Rahmat for many days. Soon she had other companions and forgot Rahmat. Years passed, and Mini grew up into a beautiful young girl and she was ready for her marriage. The wedding preparations were going quite smoothly and her father was sitting in his study noting the accounts for the marriage. Soon then, a tall man came into his room and said hello. At first he couldn’t recognize him, but soon he realized the tall man was none other than Rahmat, the Kabuliwala. Very soon, he realized that the Kabuliwala was released from the jail, just the day before. This put Mini’s father in a fix, for that day it was Mini’s wedding and to have a criminal on an auspicious day. He wished Rahamat would leave soon before the guests saw him. Mini’s father told Rahmat that the day was very important and a wedding was to happen on that day, and that everyone is busy. Kabuliwala pleaded and asked if he could see Mini for a moment, as he thought Mini would be the same old little bubbly girl. Rahamat wants to meet Mini and says that he too has a daughter just like Mini, back home. He lays open a paper with the impression of a small hand on it, created with burnt charcoal daubed on the palm. Mini is called in, but she is no longer the small child, the friend of the Kabuliwala. Soon after she leaves, the Kabuliwala slouches on the floor with a long deep sigh. He recognizes that his own daughter must have grown up in those eight years. The narrator cuts a few items from the wedding budget and gives money to Rahamat, to return home to his daughter. This would be the best blessing for Mini at her wedding.

Characters

  • Rahamat (Kabuliwala)- a tall, shabbily clothed Afghan street vendor, with a turban on his head, a bag over his shoulder and a few boxes of dry grapes.

  • Mini- a five-year-old chatty girl, the narrator’s daughter.

  • Mini’s father- the narrator. A writer who is kind hearted

  • Mini’s mother- a timid person, who was always suspicious of Kabuliwala.

(Minor characters) Policemen, Neighbours

Themes

  • Filial love (father’s love to children)

  • Human relationship

  • Friendship/trust


Prepared by
Dr. Susan Mathew
CMS College Kottayam

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