Rabindranath Tagore’s novels are the greatest literary inspiration for us. We read his writings not just as literary pieces or to gain knowledge. His creations connect us to the world. Moreover, he introduces us to our inner selves through his blissfully elaborated language. What makes Tagore a distinct name is his unique power of interpreting the voice of nature. We can practically realize every tiny aspect of life and nature by reading Tagore’s poems and novels.
“Where the mind is without fear and the head is held high
Where knowledge is free
Where the world hasn’t been broken up into fragments
by narrow domestic walls;
Where words come out from the depths of truth”
These lines reflect the personality of Gurudev, Biswa Kabi, or Kabi Guru, who was on the one hand a poet, novelist, composer, philosopher, educationist, philanthropist, and social reformer. Rabindranath Tagore created an entire genre of songs that delight our souls with pure melody while motivating our life mission with a sense of truth and courage. He received the Nobel Prize in 1913 for the English version of Gitanjali, a collection of his ageless poems.
The stories and novels of Rabindranath Tagore include a vast array of subjects ranging from social, historical, and political to personal topics. These renowned books are the best literary content of all time that has introduced many popular characters to us. Readers get connected to those fictional characters, and some of them remain in our memory forever as a part of life. We get inspiration, strength, and happiness from these fictional but strong, cheerful, and lively characters. So here we will discuss some of the memorable characters created by Tagore.
8 Most Popular & Memorable Characters Created By Tagore
Tagore has created several popular characters in his short stories and novels. Some of them have gained immense popularity among readers through generations. Here are the most popular and memorable characters created by Rabindranath Tagore.
1 . Abdur Rahaman: Kabuliwala
This story is about human relationships. Rahaman, a money lender and a dry fruit trader from Kabul, befriends Mini, a little girl from a Bengali family in Calcutta. What brought Rahaman close to Mini is his fatherly affection as he left his own daughter of Mini’s age at his home in Kabul. The story brings two fathers together, one is an Afghan trader and the other is a Bengali gentleman, an author by profession. The author realized that he and Rahaman were socially, culturally, and professionally from completely different sections, but at one point they are equal. They both are fathers and have similar fatherly affection for their daughters.
2 . Rahamat Khan: Kabuliwala
This story is about human relationships. Rahamat Khan, a money lender and a dry fruit trader from Kabul, befriends Mini, a little girl from a Bengali family in Calcutta. What brought Rahamat close to Mini is his fatherly affection as he left his daughter of Mini’s age at his home in Kabul. The story brings two fathers together, one is an Afghan trader, and the other is a Bengali gentleman, an author by profession. Eventually, the author realizes that he and Rahamat may be socially, culturally, and professionally from completely different sections, but at one point, they are equal. They both are fathers and have similar fatherly affection for their daughters.
3. Gora: Gora
This story is based on the socio-political scenario of the 19th century Calcutta. The lead character, Gora, belongs to an orthodox Hindu family, and practices all hardcore rules. He develops an emotional bond with the female character of the story, Sucharita, but his orthodox views restrict him from accepting a Brahmo girl. However, his life takes a drastic turn as he comes to know about his real parents, who are Europeans.
4 . Kamala: Noukadubi
This is a popular novel by Tagore based on social fiction where an incident of drowning a boat into the Ganga is the turning point of the story. The lives of two just married couples, Kamala & Nalinaksha, and Ramesh & Susheela, get into trouble due to the incident. Kamala, who was traveling with her husband Nalinaksha, reaches Ramesh’s house after the boat accident, and Nalinaksha cannot find his wife Kamala. However, eventually, Kamala realizes the mistakes and finds out about Nalinasha’s house. She finally gets her real family and husband.
5. Bimala: Ghore Baire
This famous novel is based on the surroundings of the Swadeshi Movement of Bengal. The story describes both the positive and negative impact of this movement on the lives of common people. The main female character, Bimala is a simple housewife who falls into the trap of a scrupulous Swadeshi leader Sandeep, who is her husband’s friend. Bimala’s husband Nikhilesh is a landowner who opposes the Swadeshi movement, as he thinks it doesn’t pay the poor people. However, Bimala gets deeply influenced by the Swadeshi views of Sandeep and becomes his follower. Eventually, a communal riot spreads between the two communities, and Nikhilesh loses his life while trying to prevent the conflict. However, Sandeep, who is the root of the conflicts, escapes from the place, destroying the lives of Bimala and thousands of others.
6 . Labonya: Sesher Kabita
The lead female character Labonya, from Sesher Kabita’s story, reflects a charming yet strong personality. She is highly educated and able to make her own decisions. The novel Sesher Kabita, composed amidst the mystery hills of Shillong, is an erudite conversation between Amit and Labonya, the lead male and female characters of the story. Their relationship is perfect, with all aspects of beauty, romance, and decency, but doesn’t conclude. It is among the most popular Rabindranath Tagore books that passionate people read again and again. The fascinating storyline impresses the readers through generations to understand the character of Lanonya.
7 . Binodini: Chokher Bali
Binodini is a glamorous character from one of the most famous Rabindranath Tagore novels, Chokher Bali. She is a beautiful and convent-educated woman with modern views. Unfortunately, her sick husband dies soon after their marriage, but Binodini gets into a clash with the social rules made for the widowed women. She realizes that she deserves to live a decent and beautiful life. Her intuition gets her involved in an unlawful relationship with Mahendra, the main male character of the story. Finally, Binodini chooses to live for some noble purpose and starts working for the deprived women in society.
8 . Postmaster
This is an unnamed character in Tagore’s short story Postmaster. Here, a young man from Calcutta gets posted as a Postmaster in a village Post Office. He finds himself in an odd situation as he is unfamiliar with village life. His life gets stuck between two rooms, one for office work and another for his lodging with no other humans around. To beat loneliness, he tries to compose some poetry, but the village landscape cannot motivate him. Eventually, a little orphan girl, Ratan, comes into his life. Ratan takes care of his household and does odd jobs for him, such as lighting the wood oven. He, at last, finds someone to talk to and also starts teaching Ratan reading and writing. Finally, the Postmaster leaves the village, and Ratan keeps waiting for her master with a broken heart.
Author Bio:
Binodini is a glamorous character from one of the most famous Rabindranath Tagore novels, Chokher Bali. She is a beautiful and convent-educated woman with modern views. Unfortunately, her sick husband dies soon after their marriage, but Binodini gets into a clash with the social rules made for the widowed women. She realizes that she deserves to live a decent and beautiful life. Her intuition gets her involved in an unlawful relationship with Mahendra, the main male character of the story. Finally, Binodini chooses to live for some noble purpose and starts working for the deprived women in society.
