Malini
-Rabindranath Tagore
Malini Summary
Malini is a poetic play written by Bengali Indian poet and philosopher Rabindranath Tagore. This play is a story of love and hatred that deals with the religious conflict between Hinduism and Buddhism in the state of Kanshi.
Malini is the princess of Kanshi, though born in a dogmatic Hindu family, she has adopted Buddhism because Buddhist monks taught her. Because of her faith in Buddhism, she wants to live a simple life, untouched with royal luxuries, beautiful clothes, and valuable jewellery that would suit her beauty and youth.
The Hindu brahmins feel threatened with the new creed of Malini and are demanding for her banishment. On the other hand, Malini herself wants to be banished so that she can lead the wanderers to their destinations.
Kemanakar is one of the Hindu brahmins who strongly demand Malini’s banishment. On the other hand, Supriya, the childhood friend of Kemanakar, sees no reason for banishing an innocent girl like Malini. He also believes that the force of numbers of people cannot determine truth.
King’s army is taking the side of the Hindu’s; the Hindu brahmins do not want to get the victory using the armed force. They believe that their faith will make them victorious. When they start praying to their guardian gods and goddesses, Malini appears in front of them. Malini tells them that she has exiled from the palace at their demand. The Hindu brahmins get impressed by the words and appearance of Malini and start praying to her as their goddesses.
The holy people who are not impressed by Malini are Supriya and Kemanakar. Supriya, too thinks that he has found his faith in the form of Malini because he is not satisfied with the gods of books. On the other hand, Kemanakar thinks that Malini and her religion are just an illusion like moonlight that disappears in the midday sun. When Kemanakar becomes alone in this great fight, he decides to go to a foreign land to get the help of foreign soldiers. Supriya too wants to follow him, but Kemanakar asks Supriya to live in Kanshi and keep him informed.
The second part of the play opens in the garden where Malini and Supriya are talking. During the conversation, Malini wants to learn about Kemanakar from Supriya. He told that Kemanakar was his friend. Kemankar has been firm and strong, while his thoughts are always flickering with doubts. He also reveals that he has deceived his friend, informing his plan to the King.
Unlike Supriya, Kemankar is strong both in his words and his actions. He is determined to wash away Buddhism from the state of Kashi at the cost of his own life. He is ready to sacrifice his life for his religion. Even Malini praises him like a god. The main difference between Supriya and Kemankar is that Supriya is ready to sacrifice his life and religion for Malini, whereas Kemankar is ready to sacrifice his own life for his religion.
On the last part of the play, The king enters he is very much happy with Supriya, and he proposes Supriya to ask even Malini. But he refuses all things from King. He only wanted love from Malini, which she has for every creature in the world.
Kemankar has been captured by the King’s soldier and is going to execute him. Malini and Supriya plead the King to pardon him. As his last wish, Kemankar asks his friend Supriya why he betrayed him.
Some Important Questions And Answers From “Malini”
Question. Sketch the character of Supriya.
Answer. Supriya is a Hindu Brahmin who is strong neither in his words nor in his actions. His thoughts are always flickering with doubts. When he is under the influence of Kemankar he seems to follow him but in his absence, he sides with Malini. He sees no reason for banishing an innocent girl like Malini. Supriya also believes that truth cannot be determined by the force of numbers. Like Malini, he believes that truth and love are the body and soul of the religion. In spite of having some virtual qualities, he is a betrayer because he betrayed both his friendship and religion for a girl.
Question. Sketch the character of Malini.
Answer. Malini is the princess of Kanshi. Though born in a traditional Hindu family Malini has adopted Buddhism. Because of her faith in Buddhism, she wants to live a simple life deprived of royale luxury, beautiful clothes, and valuable jewellery. The queen believes that she’s a pure flame of fire and the divine spirit has taken birth in her. Supriya has found his faith perfected in the form of Malini.
The Hindu Brahmin regards Malini as the mother of the world. Even Kemankar is afraid of her more than all others. Malini herself thinks that her life is worthy to the needy people rather than to the palace. She has lived in the hearts and huts of the people. Malini is an image of love and forgiving is her divine nature. The analysis of the entire play reveals her as all-loving, all virtuous, all-humane and divinely meritorious.
Question. Why does Supriya betray Kemanakar? Does Supriya want to accept any reward from the king?
Answer. Supriya betrayed his friend Kemankar by revealing the content of his letter to the king. Kemankar was coming with the foreign army to destroy the land and punish Malini. Supriya betrayed his friend Kemankar by telling this secret message to the King of Kanshi.
On the other hand, King was already prepared to counter-attack Kemankar. The king captured Kemankar and the King, Malini, and the Kingdom was saved. Therefore the king became very happy with Supriya and asks him to wish for anything, even his daughter Malini. However, Supriya didn’t ask anything from the king. All he wanted was love from Malini which she did to every creature on the planet.
Question. Write a story of Supriya as a betrayer. Would you call Supriya a betrayer? Give your answer with reasons.
Answer. Supriya is a Hindu Brahmin who is strong neither in his words nor in his actions. His thoughts are always flickering with doubts. When he is under the influence of Kemankar he seems to follow him but in his absence, he sides with Malini. Actually Supriya is in the dilemma of loving Malini or his beloved childhood friend Kemankar.
Kemankar is a betrayer of his own land as he is about to bring foreign armies to destruct his own motherland. Supriya, on the other hand, is a betrayer too. He betrays his friend by telling his secret to the King and letting him get killed. Supriya actually betrayed his friend for a girl.
In conclusion, Supriya is not a betrayer regarding his country but of course to his friend.
Question. Draw a character sketch of Kemankar.
Answer. “Malini” suggests the triumph of the spirit of love over the spirit of hatred. Malini and Supriya represent the spirit of love whereas Kemankar represents the spirit of hatred.
Kemankar is one of the brahmins of the Kanshi. He is threatened by the new creed and religion of Malini. This means Kemankar is narrow-minded and superstitious. However, Unlike Supriya Kemankar is firm in his words and actions. He doesn’t get afraid with the King as he went to a foreign land to ask for armies and arms to attack his own land, particularly Malini. Also, Kemankar is loyal and dedicated to his religion and revolts against the people who question his religion.
Question. What is the reason that Malini asks for her own banishment from the palace?
Answer. Malini is the princess of Kanshi, though born in an old-fashioned Hindu family, she has adopted Buddhism because she was taught by the Buddhist monks. Because of her belief in Buddhism, she wants to live a simplistic life, untouched with royal luxuries, pretty clothes, and expensive jewellery that would suit her charm and youth.
Malini thinks that she is born for the world and its people, not for the palace. As people ask for her banishment from the Place, she thinks that their request must be granted. So, Malini asks for her own banishment from the palace.
Question. Why were the brahmins demanding for the banishment of Malini?
Answer. The brahmins very demanding for Malini’s banishment from the kingdom because of her new creed or religion, which was quite against the old religion of Brahmins. They thought that she was a heretic (Dharma Birodhi). Malini was, in fact, spreading Buddhism all around the Kingdom which was intolerable to the Brahmins.
Question. Why does Kemankar leave the kingdom?
Answer. Kemankar left the kingdom because he was left alone and helpless in the Kingdom. He was only the one who was strongly against Malini and her new religion. So he left the Kingdom in order to collect arms and armies and come back to attack the kingdom to kill the king’s family and especially to punish Malini.
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