The Homecoming: A World-Class Short Story

Dr. Sushil Rudra

“The Homecoming ” – A World-Class Short Story of Tagore

Dr.Sushil Rudra

TABLE OF CONTENTS: The Homecoming

1 Introduction 2 Rabindranath Tagore’s Short Story 3. “The Homecoming ” Story of Tagore 4. Critical Appreciation 5. Conclusion

INTRODUCTION: THE HOMECOMING :A WORLD – CLASS SHORT STORY

Rabindranath Tagore, the Nobel Laureate is undoubtedly a great poet of the world literature. He is a polymath and versatile talented artist and writer. Although we know him as Viswa Kabi ( World- Poem), he was gifted in different branches of literature. His short stories are unique and fabulous. One such story is the homecoming. The Homecoming : a world- class short story is today’s post.

Bankim Chandra Chattapadhay was the pioneer of Indian novels. He first started writing in English. Rajmohan’s Wife is his debut novel. But he started writing novels and prose in Bengali. Rabindranath honoured him as his Guru or mentor. Although Bankim didn’t write any short stories. Rabindranath is the pioneer in this respect.

Rabindranath is the first Indian writer who wrote short stories. He is regarded as the world – class short story writer and can be named after Tolstoy, Chekov and Manpassan.

RABINDRANATH : THE HOMECOMING : A WORLD – CLASS SHORT STORY

Stir famous short stories are Chuti or Homecoming, Strir or the Wife’s Letter, Kabuliwal, Homanti, Shasti, Khokababur Patraborta, Kakal or Skeleton, Post Master, Nastanir, KhuditoBashanntot the hungry stone, Akratri or One Night, VaisnVaishnaviso on. Today, I’m going to discuss ” The Homecoming “.

THE HOMECOMING: A WORLD-CLASS SHORT STORY

The main protagonist, Phatik Chakraborty becomes the ringleader of a number of the boys of the village. New mischief was given into his head. There become heavy log mendacity at the mud-flat of the river ready to be formed right into a mast for a boat. 

                He determined that they need to all paintings collectively to shift the log through major pressure from its vicinity and roll it away. The proprietor of the log might be indignant and surprised, and they might all revel in the amusing. 

                Everyone seconded the proposal, and it become carried unanimously. But simply because the amusing become approximately to begin, Mākhan, Phatik’s more youthful brother, sauntered up and sat down at the log in front of all of them without a phrase.  

        The boys have been perplexed for a moment. He become pushed, as an alternative timidly, by one of the boys and advised to get up; however, he remained pretty unconcerned. He regarded himself like a younger logician meditating at the futility of games. 

              Phatik becomes furious. “Mākhan,” he cried, “in case you don’t get down this minute I’ll thrash you!” Mākhan best moved to an extra cushy position. Now, if Phatik become to preserve his regal dignity earlier than the public, it becomes clear he has to perform his threat. But his braveness failed him in the crisis. 

        His fertile brain, however, unexpectedly seized upon a brand new manœuvre which might discomfit his brother and have the funds for his fans and deliver amusement. He gave the phrase of command to roll the log and Mākhan over collectively. Mākhan heard the order and made it a factor of honour to paste on. 

        But he ignored the fact, like individuals who strive for earthly repute in different matters, that there has been peril in it. The boys started to heave on the log with all their might, calling out, “One, two, three, go!” At the phrase “go” the log went; and with it went Mākhan’s philosophy, glory and all. 

       The different boys shouted themselves hoarse with delight. But Phatik become a touch frightened. He knew what become coming. And, positive enough, Mākhan rose from Mother Earth blind as Fate and screaming just like the Furies. He rushed at Phatik and scratched his face and beat him and kicked him, after which went crying home. The first act of the drama become finished. 

Phatik cleaned his face, plunked down on the edge of an indented barge by the stream bank, and started to bite a piece of grass. A boat came up to the arrival and a moderately aged man, with silver hair and a dim moustache, stepped on shore. He saw the kid staying there sitting idle and asked him where the Chakravortis resided. Phatik continued biting the grass and expressed:

 “Around there,”

        yet it was very difficult to tell where he pointed. The outsider asked him once more. He swung his legs back and forth on the flatboat and said: “Proceed to find out,” and kept on biting the grass as in the past. 

      However, presently a worker descended from the house and told Phatik his mom needed him. Phatik wouldn’t move. In any case, the worker was the expert on this event. He took Phatik up generally and conveyed him, kicking and battling in weak fury. 

      At the point when Phatik came into the house, his mom saw him. She called out irately: “So you have been hitting Mākhan once more?” Phatik addressed angrily: “No, I haven’t! Who let you know that?” His mom yelled: “Don’t lie! You have.” Phatik said bleakly: “I tell you, I haven’t. You ask Mākhan!” But Mākhan believed it best to adhere to his past assertion. He said: “OK, mother. Phatik hit me.”

So,  Phatik’s understanding was at that point depleted. He was unable to bear this bad form. He hurried at Mākhan and pounded him with blows: “Take that,” he cried, “and that, and that, for lying.” His mom agreed with Mākhan’s position in a second, and pulled Phatik away, beating him with her hands. 

        At the point when Phatik shoved her to the side, she yelled out: “What! you miscreant! Could you hit your mom?” It was right at this basic crossroads that the silver-haired outsider showed up. He asked what was wrong. Phatik looked timid and embarrassed. 

     However, when his mom ventured back and took a gander at the more interesting, her resentment was changed to shock. For she perceived her sibling and cried: “Why, Dada! Where have you come from?” As she said these words, she bowed to the ground and contacted his feet.

      Her sibling had disappeared not long after she had hitched, and he had begun business in Bombay. His sister had lost her better half while he was there. Bishamber had now returned to Calcutta and had on the double made enquiries about his sister. 

      He had then rushed to see her when he found out where she was. The following couple of days were loaded with cheering. The sibling requested after the instruction from the two young men. He was let by his sister know that Phatik was a never-ending irritation. He was apathetic, defiant, and wild. 

     Be that as it may, Mākhan was on par with gold, as tranquil as a sheep, and extremely enamoured with perusing. Bishamber benevolently proposed to get Phatik from his sister and teach him with his youngsters in Calcutta. The bereaved mother promptly concurred. 

      At the point when his uncle inquired as to whether he might want to go to Calcutta with him, his satisfaction exceeded all logical limitations and he said: “Gracious, indeed, uncle!” such that made he would not joke about this. It was a tremendous alleviation to the mother to dispose of Phatik.

     She had a bias against the kid, and no adoration was lost between the two siblings. She was in everyday trepidation that he would either suffocate Mākhan some time or another in the stream, break his head in a battle, or run him into some risk. 

          Simultaneously she was somewhat upset to see Phatik’s outrageous enthusiasm to move away. Phatik, when everything was settled, continued to ask his uncle each moment when they were to begin. He was anxious the entire day with fervour and lay alert the majority of the evening. He handed down to Mākhan, in ceaselessness, his casting pole, his huge kite, and his marbles. Without a doubt, during this takeoff time, his liberality towards Mākhan was unbounded. 

    At the point when they arrived at Calcutta, Phatik made the colleague of his auntie interestingly. She was in no way, shape or form satisfied with this superfluous expansion to her loved ones. She found her own three young men sufficient to oversee without taking anyone else. What’s more, to bring a town chap of fourteen into their middle was horrendously disturbing. 

          Bishamber ought to truly have paused for a moment before committing such carelessness. In this universe of human undertakings, there could be no more terrible irritation than a kid at fourteen years old. He is neither elaborate nor valuable. It is difficult to shower friendship on him as a young man, and he is continuously disrupting everything. If he converses with an immature drawl, he is known as a child and assuming he replies in an adult way he is called impudent. 

            Any discussion whatsoever from him is hated, truth be told. Then, at that point, he is at an ugly, developing age. He outgrows his garments with a revolting flurry; his voice becomes raspy and breaks and trembles; his face becomes out of nowhere rakish and unattractive. It is not difficult to pardon the weaknesses of youth, yet enduring even undeniable breaches in a kid of fourteen is hard. 

         The fellow himself turns out to be horrendously unsure. At the point when he converses with older individuals he is either unduly forward, or disaster will be imminent so unduly bashful that he seems embarrassed about his actual presence. 

             However, it is at this very age when, in his innermost self, a youthful chap most needs acknowledgement and love; and he turns into the dedicated slave of anyone who shows him thought. In any case, no challenge straightforwardly loves him, for that would be viewed as an unjustifiable guilty pleasure and subsequently terrible for the kid.

    Thus, with reproving and scolding, he turns out to be similar to a homeless canine that has lost his lord. For a kid of fourteen, his own house is the main Paradise.

      To reside in a peculiar house with unusual individuals is minimal shy of torment, while the level of joy is to get the caring looks of ladies and never to be insulted by them. 

So It was agony to Phatik to be the unwanted visitor in his auntie’s home, disdained by this old lady and insulted at each event. If at any point she requested that he do anything for her, he would be thrilled to such an extent that he would go overboard; and afterwards, she would tell him not to be so dumb, yet to continue ahead with his examples.

         The confined air of disregard mistreated Phatik such a lot that he felt that he could barely relax. He needed to go out from the dark nation and fill his lungs with natural air. In any case, there was no open country to go to. Encircled on all sides by Calcutta houses and walls, he would dream many evenings of his village home and long to be back there.

        He recalled the great glade where he used to fly his kite the entire day; the expansive waterway banks where he would meander about the live-drawn-out day singing and yelling for happiness; the tight creek where he could proceed to plunge and swim whenever he preferred.

         He thought about his band of kid buddies over whom he was a dictator; and, most importantly, the memory of that despot mother of his, who had such a bias against him, involved him constantly. 

      A sort of actual love like that of creatures, a yearning to be within the sight of the person who is cherished, an unspeakable thoughtfulness during nonattendance, a quiet cry of the deepest heart for the mother, similar to the lowing of a calf in the dusk, — this adoration, which was very nearly a creature sense, upset the modest, apprehensive, lean, tasteless and monstrous kid. Nobody could figure out it, however, it went after his brain consistently.

     There was no more a reverse kid in the entire school than Phatik. He expanded and stayed quiet when the instructor posed him an inquiry, and like an overladen ass calmly experienced every one of the blows that descended on his back.

         When other young men were out impacting everything, he stood thoughtfully by the window and looked at the tops of the far-off houses. Furthermore, if by chance he espied kids playing on the open patio of any rooftop, his heart would throb with yearning. On one occasion he gathered up the entirety of his mental fortitude and inquired of when he will go to Calcutta.

His mother was just half-eased and half-miserable. He missed the glade, mountain and stream in his local town, turned into a disappointment at school and started to constantly ask when occasions would come. Phatik’s uncle had three children of his own and his auntie could have done without this new expansion to their loved ones.

A 14 year of age kid will have his concerns as well. He was quickly developing up. He was neither a youngster nor a man, going too in the middle between. He missed the knoll, mountain and stream of his local town. 

  Subsequently, it was no big surprise he turned into a disappointment at school. He addressed no inquiries, was beaten gravely every day at school and mocked by all including his cousins. He became anxious about getting back home and started continuously asking when special times of the year would come. 

    In his daze, he discussed things in his local town, asked his mom not to beat him any longer and got down on comprehend marks which liner mariners in his local town waterway did. 

          On one occasion Phatik lost his illustration book and was admonished and manhandled a lot by his auntie. It filled in as the last harm to break him. On a stormy evening after school, feeling fever and cerebral pain, he looked for cover someplace and didn’t get back. He would have rather not disturbed his auntie any longer. Police help was looked for the following day. They found him and brought him home, shuddering and falling into a ridiculous state.

      He discussed things in his local town, asked his mom not to beat him any longer and got down on comprehend marks which liner mariners in his local village stream did. He moved fretfully, his hands thumping and down. His condition appeared to be basic to the specialist, and his mom in the town was sent for. At the point when his mom showed up groaning and crying and calling out to him, he was approaching his timeless home which is Heaven. His final words were: Mother, Holiday has come.  

Critical Appreciation: The Homecoming : a world-class short story

The country-life is by and large comprehended to be unadulterated and uncorrupted. Similar turns out as expected in this story. There is green lavish of “heavenly knoll”, waterway banks and open spaces. A city is denied of such normal gifts, all things considered, it is blocked with substantial wildernesses. 

      Phatik was an “instigator” among his companions in the town, while in Calcutta, he is left ignored “like a homeless canine that has lost its lord.” The kid whose proposition was consistently backed in the town winds up being scoffed at and offended by his cousins in Calcutta! 

 Mess at developing ages Tagore has mentioned fascinating observable facts on a kid of fourteen. It is without a doubt a fact that pubescence and young are times when we are in a mess, inferable from a few physical, mental and moral changes in ourselves. 

        Adolescence is the middle of the road stage among silliness and youthhood. We neglect to recognize ourselves with all things considered. For that reason, we pine for a feeling of belongingness at this age. 

     Phatik too yearns for adoration and acknowledgement in his auntie’s home however neglects to get it.

     Limited worthiness of metropolitan training:

         The story uncovers how current schooling in urban areas is unpleasant to town people who may not be familiar with the subtleties of city life. Phatik was the most “in reverse kid” in his school; be that as it may, the educators, rather than putting forth a certified attempt to comprehend him, see him as an “overladen ass” to be caned unmercifully. 

        Consequently, Tagore implies that cutting-edge training is a kind of homogenization, instead of separation, and it neglects to take care of all according to their differential necessities. 4. Look for monetary possibilities in metropolitan places The story features the draw-off factor for metropolitan focuses and hence contacts the topic of movement here and there. 

       Bishamber had proactively procured a fortune in Bombay, and presently he needed to fund Phatik’s schooling in Calcutta so he could better his family’s financial position, considering that Phatik had previously lost his dad and should be the sole provider for the family. 

        Faltering between questionable ways When we are youthful, we think future days have something fascinating coming up for us. At the point when we arrive there, we miss the recollections of youthhood. Similar turns out as expected for Phatik here and there. The kid who was bugging his uncle to go to the city presently needed to return to his town!

      “The Homecoming” is suitable because Phatik has a few unique junctions in the story that includes returning home — both emblematically and in a real sense. 

     The primary homecoming Phatik encounters is towards the start of the story. His more youthful, leaned sibling was harmed in a fight and ran home to snitch to their mom. Phatik postpones getting back since he realizes that he’ll deal with a low repercussion. At the point when he at last returns home, be that as it may, he has the potential chance to go to another home. 

     His uncle Bhishamber offers to take him to Calcutta, where he’ll be taught and live with his cousins. Phatik is extremely eager to go — and even reconciles with his sibling Makhan interestingly when he gives him his cherished merchandise. That homecoming was another failure. 

     However Phatik was eager to go to Calcutta, and he rapidly discovers that his auntie loathes him and he’s awkward there. Regardless of his endeavours to satisfy her, he’s always unable to. He additionally hates the city of Calcutta itself and misses his life in the country. 

        At the point when he finds out if he can return home, his uncle expresses, “Stand by till special times of year come.” When two cops return him to his uncle’s home after he takes off, it’s his third homecoming. 

      This one is much more terrible, as he’s evil from his break. The fact that Phatik is kicking the bucket makes it construed. The last potential homecoming is Phatik’s approaching demise. He sits tight for his mom, looking disheartened when she isn’t there (regardless of his negative fantasies about her pulsating him). She at long last comes, however the specialist says his condition is basic. 

                   Tagore expresses, “Phatik gradually turned his head and, without aeeing anyone, said: “Mother, special times of year have come.” It’s whenever his mom first has shown him, love, in quite a while, calling him her dear and hurling herself onto his bed.

  Phatik continues to ask his uncle in Calcutta “Have special times of year come at this point?” and “When might I at any point return home?” This relentless addressing expects the type of scholarly gadget of a refrain.

           Eventually, Phatik himself answers the refrain, saying,” Mother, special times of year have come.” It might be expected that the desolate, disconnected and hot Phatik set out for these special seasons of endlessness (might be demise) in the wake of getting a brief look at his mom. 

    Scoldings In his town, Phatik is chastened by his mom who considers him to be a wellspring of “ceaseless disturbance.” In Calcutta, Phatik is censured by his auntie who sees the “country savage” as a deadbeat. 

Subsequently, Phatik is bound to be censured for some things he has no control over a lot! 

        The story brings out how nothing, yet relinquishment is bound for Phatik. To start with, his mom leaves him from his town. In the city, his auntie disdains his presence. His cousins leave him by taunting and offending him. His educators put forth no attempt to figure out him.

      Bishamber, who ought to have expected a more mindful guardianship for Phatik stays a quiet observer from the start, while the wide range of various characters deserts Phatik to devastation and depression.

 At the point when Phatik buries the hatchet with his more youthful sibling Makhan, we can expect that Makhan could turn into Phatik’s best partner. In any case, it is now past the point of no return because by then Bishamber has proactively wanted to take Phatik to Calcutta. 

As far Character concerns, the hero of the story “The Homecoming” is Phatik Chakravorty. The story follows the wild excursion of Phatik – from an “instigator” to the like of a “homeless canine that has lost its lord.” 

      At the start of the story, Phatik encapsulates a town kid bound with a lighthearted disposition. The creator leaves after setting a striking differentiation between the ‘rustic’ Phatik and a ‘metropolitan’ Phatik.

 In the town, Phatik is associated with a few demonstrations of wickedness. It is prominent that the actual story opens with Phatik completing a devilish action. 

       Phatik’s adjustment of conduct starts when he is going to leave for the city yet guarantees to wipe the slate clean with his sibling Makhan, thus giving him his toys. 

So, this is a massive change in Phatik, and it is implied as though Phatik should prepare all to embrace the progressions on the blacksmith’s iron in case he ought to be cleared away by those very changes. 

The fact that change alone is consistent makes it said. Tragically, Phatik, a “country brute” and an “overladen ass” (as held by his auntie) neglects to ‘contribute’ through the shaking of city life. 

    Phatik’s visit to Calcutta is set apart by a line of attitudinal frigidity shown by individuals he runs over. His auntie disdains his presence, his cousins bother him, and his educators beat him savagely. 

 Phatik might have tracked down a hero in his uncle; be that as it may, Bishamber, his uncle, doesn’t expect a proactive job in causing the younger boy ” feel domestic” in his domestic. 

Phatik has a few unique junctions in the story that includes returning home — both emblematically and in a real sense. The primary homecoming Phatik encounters is toward the start of the story. 

     His more youthful, leaned sibling was harmed in a fight and ran home to snitch to their mom. Phatik postpones getting back since he realizes that he’ll deal with a low repercussion. 

     At the point when he at last returns home, be that as it may, he has the potential chance to go to another home. His uncle Bhishamber offers to take him to Calcutta, where he’ll be taught and live with his cousins. 

       Phatik is extremely eager to go — and even reconciles with his sibling Makhan interestingly when he gives him his cherished merchandise. That homecoming was another failure. 

     However Phatik was eager to go to Calcutta, and he rapidly discovers that his auntie loathes him and he’s awkward there. Regardless of his endeavours to satisfy her, he’s always unable to. He additionally hates the city of Calcutta itself and misses his life in the country. 

    At the point when he finds out if he can return home, his uncle expresses, “Stand by till special times of year come.” When two cops return him to his uncle’s home after he takes off, it’s his third homecoming. This one is much more terrible, as he’s evil from his break. The fact that Phatik is kicking the bucket makes it construed. 

       The last potential homecoming is Phatik’s approaching demise. He sits tight for his mom, looking disheartened when she isn’t there (regardless of his negative fantasies about her pulsating him). She at long last comes, however the specialist says his condition is basic. 

            Tagore expresses, “Phatik gradually turned his head and, without seeing anyone, said: “Mother, special times of year have come.” It’s whenever his mom first has shown him, love, in quite a while, calling him her dear and hurling herself onto his bed. 

The theme of the story is to some extent, is psychological.  Phatik continues to ask his uncle in Calcutta “Have special times of year come at this point?” and “When might I at any point return home?” This relentless addressing expects the type of scholarly gadget of a refrain.

   Eventually, Phatik himself answers the refrain, saying,” Mother, special times of year have come.” It might be expected that the desolate, disconnected and hot Phatik set out for these special seasons of endlessness (might be demise) in the wake of getting a brief look at his mom. 

Scoldings In his town, Phatik is chastened by his mom who considers him to be a wellspring of “ceaseless disturbance.” In Calcutta, Phatik is censured by his auntie who sees the “country savage” as deadbeat.

      Subsequently, Phatik is bound to be censured for some things he has no control over a lot! Deserting The story brings out how nothing, yet relinquishment is bound for Phatik. 

    To start with, his mother leaves him from his town. In the city, his auntie disdains his presence. His cousins leave him by taunting and offending him. His educators put forth no attempt to figure out him. 

             Bishamber, who ought to have expected a more mindful guardianship for Phatik stays a quiet observer from the start, while the wide range of various characters deserts Phatik to devastation and depression. 

       At the point when Phatik buries the hatchet with his more youthful sibling Makhan, we can expect that Makhan could turn into Phatik’s best partner. In any case, it is now past the point of no return because by then Bishamber has proactively wanted to take Phatik to Calcutta. 

Phatik is the protagonist or hero of the story “The Homecoming”. His full name is Phatik Chakravorty. The story follows the wild excursion of Phatik – from an “instigator” to the like of a “homeless canine that has lost its lord.”

 At the start of the story, Phatik encapsulates a town kid bound with a lighthearted disposition. The creator leaves after setting a striking differentiation between the ‘rustic’ Phatik and a ‘metropolitan’ Phatik. In the town, Phatik is associated with a few demonstrations of wickedness. 

It is prominent that the actual story opens with Phatik completing a devilish action. Phatik’s adjustment of conduct starts when he is going to leave for the city yet guarantees to wipe the slate clean with his sibling Makhan, thus giving him his toys. This is a massive change in Phatik, and it is implied as though Phatik should prepare all to embrace the progressions on the blacksmith’s iron in case he ought to be cleared away by those very changes.

   The fact that change alone is consistent makes it said. Tragically, Phatik, a “country brute” and an “overladen ass” (as held by his auntie) neglects to ‘contribute’ through the shaking of city life. 

    Phatik’s visit to Calcutta is set apart by a line of attitudinal frigidity shown by individuals he runs over. His auntie disdains his presence, his cousins bother him, and his educators beat him savagely. Phatik might have tracked down a hero in his uncle; be that as it may, Bishamber, his uncle, doesn’t expect a proactive job in causing the young man to feel

Proactive function in making the younger boy feel ‘at domestic’ in his domestic. The creator has designed Bishamber’s man or woman such that he stays a mute spectator whilst Phatik is dealing with troubles. He had now no longer even ‘briefed’ Phatik as to what all of the younger boys may want to count on in a city. 

  Phatik attempts to break out however to no avail. He bears the brunt of his aunt but again, an unabated chain of scolding and taunting takes a toll on his health. It simplest finally ends up aggravating his ill health.

      In the end, whilst his mom storms into Bishamber’s, residence Phatik opens his shivering mouth simplest to reply to the question (“Have the vacations come but?”) that he asks his uncle many instances withinside the tale. The tale finally ends up with the answering refrain “Mother, the vacations have come. “

Therefore, It’s left open to the readers to surmise, according to their very own understanding, what Phatik’s solution entails. It may also allude to a few more metaphysical debates, however, then literature is a social science – open to differing reviews and interpretations. 

Conclusion: The Homecoming : a world-class short story

 The tale “The Homecoming”: a world-class short Story brings out the unhappy destiny of Phatik Chakravorty who fails to chip in thru city life. The final line of the tale – “Mother, the vacations have come”- keeps to hang-out readers as to what precisely occurred with Phatik. Did he go away for the ‘vacations’ forever? (Did Phatik die?).

    There is a sturdy opportunity that Phatik entered the long sleep of eternity. However, we aren’t advised as to what occurs next. It is left for the readers to surmise according to their very own understanding. And it’s miles this ambiguity that makes this tale so interesting. 

     One factor may be adequately concluded that Phatik’s homecoming isn’t the village domestic that he longed for, however, a few different domestic. It is left for you and me to decipher the softer meanings of that a few different domestic in which all of us will enter, a few days or the different. Read also: 1. VICTORIA OCAMPO AND RABINDRANATH 2. TAGORE’S SONGS / Rabindrasangeet 3. The First Love Of Rabindranath Thakur 4. The Capricious Poet Laureate and Bard of Bengal

Reference: Wikipedia