Level: B.A/ B.B.S || Lesson 21 The Cabuliwallah (Rabindra Nath Tagore, India 1861-1941)
Words Meaning
Chatter = talk
Prattle = childish talk
Vexed = angry
Tide = wave
Darting off = speak fluently
Contrived = tried
Precarious = insecure
Started = lured
Startled = protested
Pounced = attacked
Impending = probable
Judicious = suitable
Peddler = vendor
Clung = stuck
Proceeded = went ahead
Quaint = strange
Trifle = a little
Be wildered = confused
Merriment = happiness
Timid = coward
Sturdy = strong aloof
Discomfited = became sad
Formidable = freighting
A trifle = little
Gigantic = terrible
Merchandise = selling goods
Intervene = interfere
Grave = serious, solemn
Kidnapped = take away by force
Accord = desire
Subsided = sank
Uproar = noise
Stain = spot
Fettered = chained
Imprisonment = kept in jail
Sordid = ugly
Throbbed = heart beat
Wail = lamentation
Pervaded = covered
Vigor = strength
Wounded = injured
Apparition = face
Lane = street
Curtail = reduce
Festivities = celebrations
Blushed = became red face with shy
Wistfully = sadly
Smoothened = managed to be plain
Summary
In this story Cabuliwallah is the main character. He was from Kabul. Mini is also a character. She is Tagore’s own daughter. Tagore introduced his daughter Mini to the Cabuliwallah when Mini was only 5 years of age. Cabuliwallah was a peddler. He used to sell different things walking along the street. But Tagore’s wife had told Mini not to speak with peddlers because they could kidnap small children. Mini’s father did allow Mini to go near Cabuliwallah. But after her father introduced Mini to Cabuliwallah, she started to talk with him for a long time. Cabuliwallah used to bring fruit for Mini and told her interesting stories. Sometimes he used to make fun asking her when Mini was going to father-in-laws’ house. But Mini didn’t understand what he said. She understood that father-in-laws house means prison. Mini also asked Cabuliwallah the same question when he was going to father-in-laws’ house. At that time Cabuliwallah laughed.
One day Tagore saw Cabuliwallah bloodstained and the policemen were taking him to prison. Then Cabuliwallah told Tagore that he had injured a neighbor who didn’t pay his dues. When the Cabuliwallah was telling Tagore about the event suddenly Mini came there and asked Rehman (Cabuliwallah) whether he was also going to father-in-laws house. Then he Cabuliwallah said that he would kill the father-in-laws if he could find him. Agter eight years when Cabuliwallah released from the jail, he again came to meet Mini but Mini’s father Tagore didn’t allow him to meet on that day and asked him to come another day. There was fruit for Mini in Cabuliwallah’s hand. Then Cabuliwallah showed finger prints. He also added that he used to see his daughter’s face in Mini’s. Then Tagore’s heart melted with pity. Then Mini was called and Mini came in wedding sari. When he saw her in wedding sari, he felt shy to speak with her and finally asked her if she was going to father-in-laws house. Mini felt shy and bowed her head down because she understood the real meaning of the father-in-law’s house. After this Tagore offers him some money as gift and advised him to return his home land Cabul where his daughter might be waithing for her father – Rehman. Then Cabuliwallah (Rehman) leaves the place.
Four Levels of Interpretation
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Literal Comprehension
In this story Cabuliwallah is the main character. He was from Kabul. Mini is also a character. She is Tagore’s own daughter. Tagore introduced his daughter Mini to the Cabuliwallah when Mini was only 5 years of age. Cabuliwallah was a peddler. He used to sell different things walking along the street. But Tagore’s wife had told Mini not to speak with peddlers because they could kidnap small children. Mini’s father did allow Mini to go near Cabuliwallah. But after her father introduced Mini to Cabuliwallah, she started to talk with him for a long time. Cabuliwallah used to bring fruit for Mini and told her interesting stories. Sometimes he used to make fun asking her when Mini was going to father-in-laws’ house. But Mini didn’t understand what he said. She understood that father-in-laws house means prison. Mini also asked Cabuliwallah the same question when he was going to father-in-laws’ house. At that time Cabuliwallah laughed.
One day Tagore saw Cabuliwallah bloodstained and the policemen were taking him to prison. Then Cabuliwallah told Tagore that he had injured a neighbor who didn’t pay his dues. When the Cabuliwallah was telling Tagore about the event suddenly Mini came there and asked Rehman (Cabuliwallah) whether he was also going to father-in-laws house. Then he Cabuliwallah said that he would kill the father-in-laws if he could find him. Agter eight years when Cabuliwallah released from the jail, he again came to meet Mini but Mini’s father Tagore didn’t allow him to meet on that day and asked him to come another day. There was fruit for Mini in Cabuliwallah’s hand. Then Cabuliwallah showed finger prints. He also added that he used to see his daughter’s face in Mini’s. Then Tagore’s heart melted with pity. Then Mini was called and Mini came in wedding sari. When he saw her in wedding sari, he felt shy to speak with her and finally asked her if she was going to father-in-laws house. Mini felt shy and bowed her head down because she understood the real meaning of the father-in-law’s house. After this Tagore offers him some money as gift and advised him to return his home land Cabul where his daughter might be waithing for her father – Rehman. Then Cabuliwallah (Rehman) leaves the place.
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Interpretation
The writer tries to show that everyone loves children and some people are compelled to spend their life away from their family members due to their poverty. In this story Cabuliwallah is presented as a poor person and he is away from his family members. Sometimes these poor but innocent people become victim due to their poverty. Though Rehman had to take money from his heighbour but the niighbour denied paying so he injured him. These types of people have also love and sympathy for others though they are poor.
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Critical Thinking
The language that is used in the text is easy to understand. The story, which is presented can melt everyone’s heart. This shows poor condition of peddler in the streets but nobody thinks about their life. In the end of this story Mini’s father didn’t allow to meet Mini because it was auspicious day. It isn’t good. We should give respect to all whether someone poor or rich. They have feelings like rich people. They have also children like rich people. Only difference is that they can’t support their family members as rich people though they spend their life happy with satisfaction.
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Assimilation
When I read this story, I remembered my friend who was a government official and worked in Gokule Bazaar. His family members were in Kathmandu. One day I invited him to my brother Hemant’s birthday party at home then he attended the party. When we were sharing happiness and eating sweet food with our family members, the tears rolled from his eyes and he started sobbing. I asked him why he was sobbing. He said that he remembered his little son – Harry. Then we also felt sad.
Possible questions
- Why do you think Cabuliwallah and Elaine were treated as “perpetual outsiders” what are similarities and differences of their situations?
- Summarize the story, the Cabuliwallah in five paragraphs.
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Chirish Chaudhary