REASSESSING THE INTERPLAY OF POLITICS, GENDER, AND MODERNITY: UNVEILING NEW DIMENSIONS IN RABINDRANATH TAGORE'S ‘CHOKHER BALI’

Abstract: "Chokher Bali" by Rabindranath Tagore is a significant contemporary novel from India that explores the concept of the 'territory' and women's liberation. The novel begins with a married couple named Mahendra and Asha, disrupted by a widowed woman named Binodini. Binodini experiences introspection and emotional upheaval, ultimately leading to her liberation. Tagore's discourse is linked to colonial modernity, which is influenced by the evolving nature of human civilization. The female characters in Tagore's novels reflect the process of modernization and societal norms that limit women's lives. The Vedic era in Indian history was known for its advancements in women's status and empowerment, earning the title of the "Golden Age of Women in India." However, the importance of ancestor veneration, child marriage, and inter-caste marriages grew, leading to a decline in women's social status. The "dark age" of women during the early Muslim dynasty saw an increased prevalence of purdah and child marriage, leading to a lack of critical examination of underlying norms and attitudes. The concept of the "New Woman" emerged as a feminist ideology in the 19th century, referring to women who challenged societal constraints imposed by patriarchal norms. Tagore's works, such as "Chokher Bali," focus on female characters undergoing a complex journey of isolation, repression, humiliation, guilt, and ego. The characters Rajlakshmi and Asha's aunt Annapurna highlight the concept of regressive contemporary gender politics in Indian society during the nineteenth century. Rabindranath Tagore's portrayal of Binodini is a groundbreaking example of the Indian "new woman" and an antecedent to the feminist movement.