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Niyogi Books Malini [Paperback] Rabindranath Tagore
Rabindranath Tagore is a Bengali Indian poet, writer and philosopher. He was born is 1861 and died in Calcutta (now Kolkata). He is famous for his poetic works, philosophical plays, novels and short stories. The poetic play, Malini, is a story of love and hatred. It also deals with the topics such as religion, faith, friendship, devotion, sacrifice, forgiveness, loyalty, betrayal, etc.
38 pages, Paperback
Published January 1, 2012
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About the author
Rabindranath Tagore
2,599 books4,275 followersAwarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1913 "because of his profoundly sensitive, fresh and beautiful verse, by which, with consummate skill, he has made his poetic thought, expressed in his own English words, a part of the literature of the West."
Tagore modernised Bengali art by spurning rigid classical forms and resisting linguistic strictures. His novels, stories, songs, dance-dramas, and essays spoke to topics political and personal. Gitanjali (Song Offerings), Gora (Fair-Faced), and Ghare-Baire (The Home and the World) are his best-known works, and his verse, short stories, and novels were acclaimed—or panned—for their lyricism, colloquialism, naturalism, and unnatural contemplation. His compositions were chosen by two nations as national anthems: India's Jana Gana Mana and Bangladesh's Amar Shonar Bangla.
The complete works of Rabindranath Tagore (রবীন্দ্র রচনাবলী) in the original Bengali are now available at these third-party websites:
http://www.tagoreweb.in/
http://www.rabindra-rachanabali.nltr....
Tagore modernised Bengali art by spurning rigid classical forms and resisting linguistic strictures. His novels, stories, songs, dance-dramas, and essays spoke to topics political and personal. Gitanjali (Song Offerings), Gora (Fair-Faced), and Ghare-Baire (The Home and the World) are his best-known works, and his verse, short stories, and novels were acclaimed—or panned—for their lyricism, colloquialism, naturalism, and unnatural contemplation. His compositions were chosen by two nations as national anthems: India's Jana Gana Mana and Bangladesh's Amar Shonar Bangla.
The complete works of Rabindranath Tagore (রবীন্দ্র রচনাবলী) in the original Bengali are now available at these third-party websites:
http://www.tagoreweb.in/
http://www.rabindra-rachanabali.nltr....
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
February 17, 2018
The play, “Malini” juxtaposes love and hatred. Malini is a Hindu princess educated by Buddhist monks. Kemankar is a fixed, unchanging Brahmin, who thinks that Malini and Buddhism both are antagonistic to Hinduism. Supriya, his friend, sides with him ostensibly, but then reveals Kemankar treasonous plot to the king. Malini begs his forgiveness. This is a rather complicated play. My favorite lines are spoken by the king to Supriya:
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The King states to Supriya, “I must give you something which exceeds your hope,--yet not as a mere reward. You have won my heart, and my heart is ready to offer you its best treasure.—My child, where was this shyness in you before now? Your dawn had no tint of rose,--its light was white and dazzling. But to-day a tearful mist of tenderness sweetly tempers it for mortal eyes. Leave my feet, rise up and come to my heart. Happiness is pressing it like pain. Leave me now for a while. I want to be alone with my Malini.”
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June 4, 2018
A good two-act play.
April 29, 2021
King: What punishment do you expect from my hands?
Kemankar: Death.
King: But if I pardon you?
Kemankar: Then I shall [have] time again to complete the work I began.
In Tagore’s Malini, a new ethic challenges an archaic old ethic. Beauty and disclosure clash with fear and fanaticism.
Malini, the King’s daughter has Buddhist leanings. The Brahmins demand her banishment “frightened at her heresy”. There is the talk that the army will support the popular side.
The unyielding Brahmns are collected in front of the palace when Malini herself appears. Most of them are dazzled by her beauty of holiness and are converted to the new faith.
They hail her as Goddess and Mother and the “the divine soul of this world”. But Kemankar with the support of Supriya tries to root out the Buddhist heresy by securing foreign aid.
Supriya betrays Kemankar and the King ultimately captures Kemankar. He is ready to grant him a pardon at the instance of Malini. But Kemankar is like a “god defying his captivity”, and he only wants to see Supriya.
Supriya advises Kemnankar to give in to polarity of faith. But Kemankar feels that “all truths must be tested in death’s court”.
He embraces Supriya and in the act strikes him with his chains and kills him. But before the King can strike the murderer. Malini appeals to her father to forgive Kemnankar.
The play ends with Malini’s words: “Father, forgive Kemankar”.
But would the king forgive Kemankar?
Kemankar is the king’s captive and he has committed treason. When the king asks him, what would he do after his release, he says that he would go forward with his revolt.
There is fire in his heart and he is bold in his resolve.
In all probalility, the king wouldn’t forgive him to start with. Nevertheless, with Malini’s repetitive request and coercive amour, Kemankar might transform and thereby receive royal pardon.
All educated guesses, the last part!!
Kemankar: Death.
King: But if I pardon you?
Kemankar: Then I shall [have] time again to complete the work I began.
In Tagore’s Malini, a new ethic challenges an archaic old ethic. Beauty and disclosure clash with fear and fanaticism.
Malini, the King’s daughter has Buddhist leanings. The Brahmins demand her banishment “frightened at her heresy”. There is the talk that the army will support the popular side.
The unyielding Brahmns are collected in front of the palace when Malini herself appears. Most of them are dazzled by her beauty of holiness and are converted to the new faith.
They hail her as Goddess and Mother and the “the divine soul of this world”. But Kemankar with the support of Supriya tries to root out the Buddhist heresy by securing foreign aid.
Supriya betrays Kemankar and the King ultimately captures Kemankar. He is ready to grant him a pardon at the instance of Malini. But Kemankar is like a “god defying his captivity”, and he only wants to see Supriya.
Supriya advises Kemnankar to give in to polarity of faith. But Kemankar feels that “all truths must be tested in death’s court”.
He embraces Supriya and in the act strikes him with his chains and kills him. But before the King can strike the murderer. Malini appeals to her father to forgive Kemnankar.
The play ends with Malini’s words: “Father, forgive Kemankar”.
But would the king forgive Kemankar?
Kemankar is the king’s captive and he has committed treason. When the king asks him, what would he do after his release, he says that he would go forward with his revolt.
There is fire in his heart and he is bold in his resolve.
In all probalility, the king wouldn’t forgive him to start with. Nevertheless, with Malini’s repetitive request and coercive amour, Kemankar might transform and thereby receive royal pardon.
All educated guesses, the last part!!
May 16, 2022
“Yes, even as the night bears the dawn,- the dawn that is not of the night, but of all the world.”
Poetry and prose at its best. Tagore is definitely an exceptional writer and his writings does not lose touch even in its translations.
This short two act play, with its few characters speaks loudly and yet with limited words on love, faith, spirituality and religion.
Poetry and prose at its best. Tagore is definitely an exceptional writer and his writings does not lose touch even in its translations.
This short two act play, with its few characters speaks loudly and yet with limited words on love, faith, spirituality and religion.
June 27, 2020
More like 3.5 stars. Review to follow soon
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews