Chandalika is very popular dance drama written by Famous Indian poet and writer, Rabindranath Tagore. Chandalika was originally published on 1938 and its story is based on Buddhism. The story of novel centers around a life of girl named, Prakriti who falls madly in love with Monk.
Chandalika By Rabindranath Tagore
Summary of Chandalika By Rabindranath Tagore
Rabindranath Tagore’s “Chandalika” begins with Maya who is calling her daughter, Prakriti, again and again. Where are you Prakriti I’m not able to find you anywhere in home. Prakriti replies I’m here mom near a well. Maya replies what are you doing in harsh sunlight. Even crows are troubled with this harsh sunlight so what are you doing here, Prakriti.
Prakriti tells her mother that she is waiting for someone. Maya asks for whom are you waiting near a well. Who is that person is he from our caste ? Prakriti tells her mother that he is not from our caste but he is like us. Maya says so did you tell her that we are Chandalini. Prakriti says yes I did tell him about our caste but it makes no difference to him.
Prakriti tells her mother, yesterday in afternoon time she was giving bath to her to calf, then one Buddhist monk come to me and asked for water. He was wearing a yellow clothes and asking for water from me. I put my head on his footsteps and tells him that I’m belongs Chandalini. The Monk tells me that she is a human like him and if this water is drinkable and can quench his thirst then other things doesn’t matters to him.
In my life for the first time I heard those words, I poured water into his hands and gives him water to drink. Maya yells at Prakriti, how can you be so careless. You don’t know what price we would pay for this. Prakriti says he asked for water only one time and I gave him water to drink. Through which I forgot my caste. Maya says to Prakriti why are talking so weirdly, do you know what are you saying ?
Mother, he asked for water from me only even though there are many wells in village. This is my new birth as he gave this honor to me only. During exile, Goddess Sita taken bath with the water which was brought out by a Chandala. So my mind and heart is thinking about those words only which that Buddhist monk told me.
Maya says I don’t know what happened with you as I’m not getting your words. Mother, in all these days you could not understand me as much as that monk does. I still waits for him at afternoon time. For whom are you waiting, Maya ask to Prakriti. I wait for someone to come. Who would come you, mad girl, Maya asks her. What do you want tell me clearly ?
Prakriti replies, I love that Buddhist monk who told me the truth. I want to serve him. Maya says Prakriti I’m giving you last warning so don’t cross your limits.
Maya tells Prakriti do you remember when King’s son came to this well and you had a chance. Do you remember ? Yes, Mother I remember it. So why you did not go to King’s Mahal. He forgot everything in front of your beauty. The King’s son was a on hunt to animals to whom he wants to lock in gold chains. Maya says at least he saw your beauty unlike Monk. Prakriti says to her mother Monk was the only person who identified her from heart.
I’m ready to put my life on his footsteps no matter what people say. Maya says, why are you getting so excited daughter ?. You are born like a slave so no one can change your destination. Maya says I will go to monk and asks him to drink water from her house. Prakrit says no mother I will call him by my heart. Monk will come by himself.
Maya says daughter you are crossing your limitations. He is not from our caste. Prakrit says mother you have to bring him here anyhow. Maya says to Prakriti, are you ready to pay the price if I would bring him here. Please call that monk mother, I will honor him in such a way that no one would. Maya says ok so tell me that monk name. Prakriti replies that monk name is Anand. Are you talking about that Anand who is a disciple of Buddh ?
Prakriti force her mother, Maya to bring Monk to her by Chanting Mantras. She was constantly forcing her mother to bring Monk to her. Maya started chanting Mantras and asks Prakriti to dance in front of mirror. Maya gives one warning to Prakriti that they may loose her life during this black magic. Prakriti tells her mother to think positive only.
Fifteen days passed by chanting Mantras. Prakriti tells her mother that she can’t see his fire in mirror. So stop chanting these mantras, mother. Maya herself says let it goes because monk is about to arrive. Thereafter, Maya keep chanting her black magic words but lost all her energy.
The Monk, Anand is coming to them but he is in very bad condition due to black magic force. Prakriti still force her mother to keep chanting mantras until Monk arrives. Afterwards, Anand came at the door of their house in very bad condition, as monk arrives Maya loses her breath on the foots of Anand.
At the end of story, Prakriti realized to love someone does not mean to get him at any cost. Sometimes letting go is the true love. In the end, you can’t force people to love you.