Rabindranath’s overt anti-feminism – a bogus debate in M-M

A.H. Jaffor Ullah

From my temporary abode here in Atlanta I saw a bogus debate on Rabindrnath’s overt anti-feminism spawned in Mukto-mona forum.  A writer of any stature should not be judged by a handful of examples.  However, if one looks into the compendium of his or her work, perhaps only then one could say the writer was an anti-feminist.

Rabindranath is a product of late nineteenth and early twentieth century.  Therefore, we should not judge him by today’s standard.

I remember reading and viewing “Noshto NiR” written by Rabindranath.  Satyajit Roy did the filming of the movie “Charulata” based on the novel.  What about the lead character in the movie?  Charulata was a modern woman of her time.  Yes, she did not wear slacks or blue jean or tanktop to show that she was a modern man.  Nor did she drive a SUV.  But in her sweet ways and mannerism she proved that she was a free woman.  She wrote short stories and published them too!  Had Rabindranath been an anti-feminist writer he would not have written such a novel showing a free spirit such as Charulata.

In Chokher Bali novel Rabindranath created a young girl – a widow who was also a free spirit.  We read in Chokher Bali some Bengali women wanted to be educated by European women.  This goes to prove that Rabindranath was not an obscurantist as far as women folks are concerned.   

By today’s standard not only Rabindranath but also Ishwar Chandra, Michael Modhushudan Datta, Bankim and even Nazrul were all anti-feminist.  There is a big difference between writer Rabindranath and “man Ribindranath.”  We should center on writer Rabindranath when discussing his literature.

There is no reason to denigrate Rabindranath by calling him an anti-feminist by redefining him via today’s standard.  That is where most modern-day critics are doing.  My mother never worked outside home.  Therefore, should I call my father an anti-feminist?  No.  My father allowed all my sisters to get education.

It is rather easy to label a person with newly found adjectives or epithets.  This kind of bogus discussion hardly propels us to a higher ground.  Our modern world is mired with many problems.  Rabindranath’s stance on feminism is not a problem that should give us a sleepless night.

Therefore, I urge everyone to get away from such idle chitchat.  Write or discuss on pressing problem of humankind.  That will prove that we are freethinkers.  Discussing Rabindranath’s personal life with a magnifying glass would not solve any problem that we are facing these days.  My ardent hope is that we should stop this chapter right away.  Time is short but art is long.  Use your time effectively.