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Of freedom and emancipation...

Ghare-Baire (Bengali, Home and the World; 1984)
Director: Satyajit Ray


 This is a Rabindranath Tagore's 1905 story set at a time when Bengal was divided into two by Lord Curzon. This was the time of the uprising of the Indians against their colonial masters with the shouts of 'Vande Mataram'. The Mussalmans who have been living in peace all this while with the Hindus suddenly feel that their status is threatened. It is also a time of the emancipation of women, especially in the elite circles of Calcutta.

Against this background, Bimla is married off to a wealthy nobleman without even seeing his face. She and her widowed sister in law were confined to the inner courtyard, never seen outdoors. Bimala's husband (Nikhilesh, Victor Banerjee) is a modern man, may be considered as a pacifist or mild-mannered by some, encourages his wife to learn the British way of life. He had a private English tutor (Jennifer Kendal) to teach etiquette, read, write and play the piano.

Along comes a debonair politician, Sandip (Soumitra Chatterjee), a vocal participant of the Swadeshi self-rule and burn British products movement. Sandip was Nikhil's childhood friend and was offered a place to stay. For the first time in her married life, Bimla is brought out of the inner courtyard to be introduced to the visitor. Sandip is impressed with the mature, sophisticated woman in Bimla and the charm of Sandip fascinated Bimla. After all, Bimla had not seen and been with any other man. They almost fall for each other.

Meanwhile, Sandip is active in his boycott and burn British product and admonishes Nikhil for his display and usage of foreign product. Furthermore, he deals with poor Mussalmans who deal with foreign products. 

Opponents of Swadeshi argues that merchants of foreign goods are indeed poor, and by boycotting them, they lose their source of income. Furthermore, they were cheaper than local products. They suggest that the boycotting should be left to the well-to-do!
Bimla and others soon realise that the apparently nationalistic leaders are not what they appear to be. There is talk of them murdering to achieve their agenda. The money that they seem to garner maybe for themselves!

After a small storm in their marriage, Nikhil and Bimla's marriage is reinforced. Sandip is politely told to leave.

N.B. An exciting footnote noted in the course of a conversation between Nikhil and Bimla...
Our society used to be proud of their powerful women, Draupadi in Mahabarata with her 5 husbands, Sita and many more. Somewhere along the way, they became docile. Was it because of the Moslems with their culture?
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