“CHANDALIKA” [HINDI]- BY GURUDEO RABINDRANATH TAGORE

Chandalika is the famous drama written by Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore focussing the problems of untouchability in our Society during his period.

Prakrati, an untouchable girl is not allowed to buy flowers, bangles, or even curds from the local vendors by the women of the society who do not want the wares to be contaminated by her touch. Shunned by Society the extremely hurt Prakrati refuses to do any work, even collect flowers for puja as she says there is no God for her.

Shocked and angered, her mother shouts and slaps her and leaves her to her fate. As she is sobbing in this distort condition, a Buddhist monk seeks water from her as he is parched with the heat of the sun. She shrinks from the thought of defiling his purity by giving water and tells him so, saying she is the daughter of a Chandala.

The Buddhist monk says that all are equal before God and convinces her to give him water, which he partakes, blesses her and departs.

Prakrati’s joy knows no bounds. But she misconstrues his word and starts yearning for him. In the meantime Prakrati’s mother who is adept at witchcraft is sent for by the queen to locate her lost pet bird.

Prakrati immediately beseeches her mother to use her witchcraft and bring the Buddhist monk to her. The shocked mother’s refusal only makes Prakrati more adamant.

Hence using all her power the mother with her assistance disturbs the monk’s concentration and draws him to Prakrati, who is also able to see all this in a mirror by her mother’s power.

But alas ! when the monk reaches her, he is not “Anando” that she had seen, he is mere possessed human being. Totally shaken Prakrati begs pardon for having interefered with his discipline and beseeches him to go back to his Order, the Buddha Sangam.