A Tale of Forbidden Love- "Nashtaneer" By Rabindranath Tagore

Writing the first blog is never easy. I have been thinking for the past one week about what should I write! After much deliberation and brooding, I am finally writing about the review of the much celebrated and renowned story, "Nashtaneer", which literally translates to The Broken Nest, by Rabindranath Tagore.

Love is an eternal ocean, running deep and much beyond the horizons that our senses can perceive. How often we are eager to label our relationships but have you ever wondered that thousands of flickering emotions go unnoticed? Love is such a short word yet an enormous emotion. We all have experienced the emotion in some form, yet sometimes it is so difficult and painful to name it. "Nashtaneer" by Rabindranath Tagore deals with the intricacies of delicate emotions and the constraints of society. The story portrays the traumatic loneliness that the women of the upper-class household face which leads them to discover themselves in the light of the unknown.

The story unfolds in the sophisticated and rich Bengali setting where Charulata, the main protagonist of the story, has nothing much to do as there is no shortage of household help. Her husband dreamt of establishing a journalism empire and remained immensely busy with his tasks so much so that he failed to realize the important fact that the little bride who once tip-toed through their large mansion was no more a child. Even before savoring the new blossoms, the garden had no charm in it. The new beginnings for which once they waited desperately, gently wafted into the past.

However, Charu had relief as her days were not unbearably long for she had Amal, her brother-in-law and a college third-year student, from whom she could get access to innumerable books. In return, she had to surrender to Amal’s pesterings which included a set of hand-woven gloves, a laced mosquito net, and whatnot! Charu would often scold him for his unreasonable demands yet deep down she would wait eagerly for his reactions upon receiving those beautiful pieces! Sometimes she would try to surprise him by confirming that she had no intent to give him any gift this time and the very next day he would find delicately laced socks kept silently in the corner of the room waiting patiently for their master.

An exquisite friendship ensued between the two. They would plan their little musings together, building an empire of their own to which no one had access. Their childish giggles echoed through the walls filling the much lonely bungalow with laughter. Amal had a knack for writing and Charu would always be eager to read them for she could find an inexplicable solace within them. Amal contrasted completely with his brother who was more practically sound and had no innate literary desires.

Soon the popularity of Amal as a writer grew and Charu no longer remained the sole reader of his masterpieces. She could feel that he did not have that much time to spend with her and was gradually drifting away into the shadow of ignorance. Their house of dreams was no longer a collective project. The other women of the family who once criticized him for his nonsensical works would now wait eagerly for Amal’s narrations. Charu wishes to make Amal feel that they don’t understand a single word and that there is a huge gulf between her and the rest of the members. She wanted to shout at the top of her voice and make him realize that she would always be there for his problems, that she would listen to all his works no matter how petty they would be but she chose silence.

She soon concluded that the shift from her exclusive sole patronage to plenty of others marked a different phase in Amal’s life where he was now a writer and Charu only a reader. A rift occurred. Charu couldn’t justify her behaviors or her emotions. Her husband too could realize that the sun had already set even before they could witness its glory.

The story marvelously knits the complexities of relationships and shows how two persons who are in no place to exercise their authority upon each other are bonded by the garland of love. Their secret desires gently burn into sensations and their expectations from each other are broken by their self-interpretations. Amal’s wedding proposal arrived and he readily agreed. Charu who was once extremely excited for his wedding, wilted like a dead flower. His presence provided her a shelter like a thick canopy of moonlight. No remorse, no exchanges, and Amal left for England after the wedding.

Shattered marriage, betrayal of emotions, and a broken nest. It weaves a labyrinth of forbidden emotions, indefatigable hopes and unsaid conversations. The false positions and silent denials gently burn the efforts into cinders. The captivation of a story lies in its interpretation and "Nashtaneer" captures the very essence of love and its societal demarcations. It juxtaposes the torrents with the unspoken words, for love is when you hear without uttering and listen without saying. Moments of the past are never returned and washed-away flames do not rekindle. It beautifully picturizes the trauma, hopes, and dripping emotions of Charu.