Book description
A timeless tale of complex emotional relationships from an acknowledged
master Soon to be a major motion picture directed by Rituparno Ghosh,
Chokher Bali is Nobel Prize-winning author Rabindranath Tagore's classic
exposition of an extramarital affair that takes place within the
confines of a joint family. It is the story of the rich, flamboyant
Mahendra and his simple, demure, beautiful wife Asha-a young couple who
are befriended by the pragmatic Bihari. Their cosy domestic scenario
undergoes great upheaval with the introduction of the vivacious
Binodini, a young, attractive widow who comes to live with them. Asha
and Binodini become bosom pals. Binodini is initially drawn to Bihari
but then begins to respond to the advances of Mahendra, who has become
obsessively attracted to her. After several twists and turns, Binodini
elopes with Mahendra, leaving the entire family in turmoil. Bihari
pursues them to Allahabad and succeeds in bringing them back to Kolkata,
but the question remains: can a marriage that has once been ruptured by
breach of trust be mended again into a meaningful relationship? On the
one hand, A Grain of Sand: Chokher Bali is a sensational account of two
illicit relationships: Mahendra's infatuation with Binodini which blinds
him to everything else, and Binodini's secret passion for Bihari of
which she is never able to speak. On the other hand, it is a complex
tapestry woven by the emotional interplay between five finely etched
characters: the impulsive Mahendra, his adoring mother Rajlakshmi, the
frail and sensitive Asha, the strong, silent Bihari, and the self-willed
and irresistibly attractive Binodini. A compelling portrayal of the
complexity of relationships and of human character, this landmark novel
is just as powerful and thought-provoking today as it was a hundred
years ago, when it was written.
