Chokher Bali — A Novel About Desire, Jealousy, and Human Weakness
"We fail to understand the value of that which is truly deep and stable, because we can immerse ourselves in it without any effort or hindrance. "
The book, Chokher Bali, is one of the most beautiful Indian classics I have ever read.
The situation for the people, for the widows, for the lower class, and for the higher class at that time, specifically in Kolkata, Bengal, was portrayed beautifully.
Like all the characters in this novel, they were pretending to be someone else, but their inner struggle and inner desire were something completely different.
In this novel, the characters were ignorant of their own flaws and vices. They were not able to understand their own hearts; they were unable to distinguish between love, desire, conflict, and jealousy. And there the inner struggle comes.
Like Mahendra, Binodini, and Bihari — all had some kind of restrictions upon them to act in a certain way, and then they had conflicts in their hearts regarding their own feelings.
The novel is a sharp reflection of two different worlds — one that is made by people and one that comes from within. The confusion, the struggle, and the commentary on life, society, and human nature are what make this novel relatable and important even in today’s world.
Tagore has really given depth to these characters, and that makes the novel more than just a plot-based story.
The story’s fast pace means you won't get bored even for a second. There are no unnecessary events; everything is important and connected. The characters are really well-woven, the inner depth and psychology are really good, the plot is good, and the realistic portrayal of the society of that age was really well done. The writing was absolutely stunning.
"the absence of obstacles was the greatest obstacle of all"
