Gora - The book review.

GORA - Profoundly indian novel

Someone once asked me what is Indian culture? A simple question it is, the more I thought the more I realized that this is a question for which I cannot give an honest answer as my knowledge on this subject is limited at best. GORA is a book helps a person or at least tries to, in understanding how interesting Indian culture is. It is a brilliant story of self searching and self discovery. I have read this book thrice at different stages of my adulthood and each time I have increasingly admired the motley of issues tackled.  GORA is profoundly Indian and educates the reader about the society's complexity in a simple yet powerful way which spins us into a spiral of asking ourselves the questions which otherwise we would consider trivial and irrelevant.  No other book gives so masterly an analysis of the complex of Indian social life with its teeming contradictions, or of the character of Indian nationalism which draws its roots from renascent Hinduism and stretches out its arms towards universal humanism. Originally written in Bengali by Rabindranath Tagore, it was later translated into English by WW Pearson in 1924. Tagore is widely regarded as the greatest writer India has ever produced and GORA is considered his finest. I cannot agree more.

GORA is the story of Gourmohan (Gora- as he is fondly referred to), a pristine Hindu, who prohibits himself from even eating from his open-minded mother, and his journey of self-realisation, fuelled by a determination to empower India. Gora's parents are Krishnadhayal, a semi hermit, who had given up the worldly association to immerse himself in a life penance and  a more liberal  Anadamoyi who is an outcaste within the Hindu society because of her views and close association with her lower caste maid Lachmiya.  Binoy, a highly educated orthodox person, having developed a relationship of mutual trust over the years that goes beyond realms of friendship, is the trusted lieutenant of Gora. 

Then there is Paresh Babu and his Brahmo family, consisting of his wife Miss Baroda, foster children Sucharita and her brother Satish, and three daughters, the eldest being the spirited Lolita.  A good part of the novel is spent on establishing the characters. This part gave a preview into the minds and aspirations of the people who lived in a different era to the one the contemporary readers live in.  There are also other important characters in the novel like Haran babu, the local Brahmo leader, Harimohini the orthodox Auntie of sucharita, and Abinash, the local right wing Hindu leader. None of the characters are fully black or white and do always the right thing according to their beliefs. To completely understand the significance of this story, one has to understand the background of the Brahmo Samaj. Started by Raja Ram Mohan Roy in the early 19^th century, it stood against the blind superstitious practices in the society. Positively influenced by the intellectuals returning from England, slowly lost ground as it moved further away from the common man, too intellectual for him to comprehend.  This story was written when the samaj was at its peak prowess.

The novels follows the lives of two sets of people with contrasting beliefs and how their lives get intertwined with each other because of the a common string in their personalities – the respect for humanity.  The mundane day today proceedings are written in an absorbing way that compels a reader to understand things from the characters’ perspective. Gora, the principle protagonist has a past unknown to him that could send the foundations on which his character is based tumbling down the hill. The novel slowly builds up to a finale, which is simple yet powerful.  The book captures the essence of the religious turmoil happening in Bengal in early 20th century.

Humanity’- above all religion is the core of the classic novel. This is citied with references of a poor Muslim’s wife bringing up a Hindu child, Anandamoyi a Hindu bringing up orphan Gora irrespective his Irish ethnicity and Paresh Babu believer of Brahmo(Christian) taking care of a Hindu girl and her brother, reflects the very basics of humanity, love for each other irrespective of beliefs they were born in. The Indian society which seems to be rigidly divided into many religious beliefs - Hindus, Muslims and Christians when analysed, actually bind together in a common thread of humanity, which super-ceeds all religions known. And Gora learns this with his experiences and a hidden truth.

This novel has many strong points and characterisation should top the list.  It’s a fact that humans are bombarded with in securities, large portion of it stemming from the simple fact we are intolerant to an opinion that we do not agree with. While Gora and Lolita roar with their personality, Sucharita and Binoy are more subtle. Their actions and thoughts, though are influenced heavily by people around, their turmoil is the easiest we can relate to. Strength and compassion are two traits that these two sets of characters embody respectively.  There is Paresh Babu and Anadamoyi who with their wealth experience pave their own middle path. There is Paran Babu, Miss Baroda, Krishnadayal and Harimohini who are totally intolerant to an outside view (Paran babu and Baroda are Brahmos, while Krishanadayal and Harimohini are orthodox). The conversations between them are engaging and take the readers to a higher level of intellectual discussion without choosing sides.  Are we against the traditions because we strongly believe that there is something wrong with the system and is archaic or do we belittle them because it’s easier to do so? Do we follow traditions because we understand what they mean or do we follow traditions because we do just what we were told?   

This is not a book that answers questions regarding religion, society and personal motivation in being part of a society, but something that points us at the right questions we can ask ourselves to understand these subjects.  Though novel was set in early 1900s, it cannot be classified as archaic and out of date.  Human relationships are wonderfully captured,  be it the romance, between Lolita and Binoy or Sucharita and Gora , the bromance between Gora and Binoy, the teacher student relation between Paresh babu and sucharita all leave a mark.  Mutual-respect and dignity are the common traits that hold these relationships together.  The portrayal of strong and independent  women is quite revolutionary, considering the period  and my favorite is that of sucharita. The level of maturity and extent of vulnerability she exhibits belies her age ( Tagore portrays her  as a 13 year old! ).  She along with Lolita, the powerful women characters in the novel constantly affect Gora and Binoy revealing to them the power of women and the love and compassion. The character a common reader can relate to easily is Binoy, a traditionalist who is torn between what he feels right and what is said to be right. His love for Lolita, the change that brings in him and his confrontations with Gora, are two places where the character wins over the reader.   

Accolades for this book can go on and no amount of words would justify how powerful this book is. If you have not read this, pls get a copy and enjoy it.