Chokher Bali
Chokher Bali (Bengali: চোখের বালি), literally Sand of the Eye, equivalent to eye-sore, is a Bengali novel written by [[in Bengal of the early twentieth century, against the backdrop of the Indian Independence Movement.
Plot summary
Binodini is a young widow left to her own devices when her sickly husband dies soon after they are married. She returns to her village and lives there for a couple of months until she accepts the invitation of Rajlakshmi to live with her and her son, Mahendra (who had rejected a former marriage proposal with Binodini). He is newly married to Ashalata, but eventually realises that he and Binodini are more compatible. The story details the relationships of these three and Mahendra's best friend Behari as they deal with issues like distrust, adultery, lies, and numerous fallings-out between them.
Critical acclaim
Tagore elaborately records early 20th century Bengali society, through his central character, the rebellious widow, who wants to live a life of her own. In writing this novel he exposes the custom of perpetual mourning on the part of widows, who were not allowed to remarry and were condemned to a life of seclusion and loneliness. It is a melancholy, stirring tale of the deceit and sorrow that arise from dissatisfaction and sorrow. Tagore has said about the novel, "I have always regretted the ending".
Adaptations
The novel was adapted into a 2003 film by Rituparno Ghosh, starring Aishwarya Rai, Prasenjit Chatterjee and Raima Sen.
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