THE LOST JEWELS

By: Rabindranath Tagore

ABOUT THE WRITERRabindranath Tagore is regarded as one of the greatest writer in modern Indian

literature. Bengali poet , novelist and educator, he won the Nobel Prize for literature in 1913.

His first book, a collection of poems, appeared when he was 17; it was published by Tagore’s friend who wanted to surprise him.Tagore’s reputation as a writer was established in the United States and in England after the publication of Gitanjali- song offerings, in which Tagore tried to find inner peace and explored the themes of divine and human love.

Between the years 1916 and 1934 he travelled widely, attempting to spread the ideal of uniting East and West. Only hours before he died on August 7, in 1941, Tagore dictated his last poem.

ABOUT THE STORY Short stories are traditionally considered to be brief tales representing a

sense of limited action. Therefore, they become synonymous with thematic and concentration of effect.

‘The Lost Jewels’ is one of the greatest all time classic of Tagore from “Golpoguccha” (A collection o short stories). The story starts with the local school master telling the writer about the history of BhushanSaha, a rich heir and about a supernatural incident associated with him. The ambiguous ending of the story marks Tagore’s use of postmodern narrative style, where the end is left ‘open’ for the readers response.

THEMEThe Lost Jewels, first and foremost, focuses on the theme of human greed. The very title of the story

involves a reference to the material things of the world. The theme of greed is chiefly explored through the character of Mani and Modhu.

Mani, the chief and only female character in the story,is shown to be extremely possessive of her jewellery. Though she has all the comforts of life on an extravagant scale, she fails to acknowledge that it is all as a consequence of her husband’s care, concern and love for her. However, Mani’s greed to have all her possessions only to herself makes her doubt Bhushan’s abilities, and she decides to go to her father’s house with the jewellery.

Another theme that underlies the story is the theme of the Frailty of woman. Bhushan Saha was extremely gentle. He was an absolutely faultless man. He used to shower love and affection on his wife. But his wife, Mani never loved him. When Bhushan needed her jewellery to overcome the financial crisis ,she refused to give him. On the contrary she eloped with her cousin Modhu, never to return again. The story reflects Mani’s infidelity and selfishness.

CHARACTERSBHUSHAN SAHA

MODERNISED BENGALI-educated bengali

-speaks faultless English

-lives in style

LOVING HUSBAND-caring and loving

-gentle and faultless

-buys gifts for his wife Mani

-gets a lot of jewellery for her

NOBEL,KIND AND GENTLE-does not get angry when his wife refuses to give him jewellery

-sends messengers to know about his wife’s whereabouts

MANIBEAUTIFUL WIFE

-beautiful and attractive

-her husband loves her for her beauty

-gives her gifts

INDIFFERENT WIFE

-does not reciprocate love

-considers her husband a mere machine for turning out her Dacca muslin sarees and bangles

LOVES JEWELLERY

-does not part with jewellery

-refuses to give it to her husband when he needs it

ELOPES WITH HER COUSIN

-fondness for her cousin Modhu

-elopes with him along with jewellery

FAITHLESS AND SELFISH

-does not help her husband

-runs away with jewellery

THE SCHOOLMASTER

PECULIAR APPEARANCE-enormous bald head

-shinning eyes

-thin face

GOSSIPY PERSON-asks question

-prolongs the conservation

ART OF STORY TELLING-narrates incidents confidently

-coins details

-concocts incidents

TITLEThe title of the story THE LOST JEWELS is quite suitable. The story

is about a wealthy businessman named Bhushan, and his beautiful wife Mani. The couple is issueless and Mani is the only object of Bhushan’s love.

When Mani suspects that Bhushan will resort to mortgaging her jewellery for raising credits, she leaves for her father’s house with all her jewellery.

Besides its literal meaning of ornaments, the word ‘jewels’ has several connotations. It may refer to Mani herself, whose name in Sanskrit is for ‘gem’ or ‘jewels’. Mani is like a jewels for Bhushan, his most prized possession, whom he has lost for ever.

Further, ‘jewels’ may even refer to the desirable values of love and trust which should form a part and parcel of marital relationship, but which are somewhere lost or lacking in the relationship between Bhushan and Mani.

MESSAGEIn this story, the author conveys a

message that a man should not trust his wife fully in the times of difficulty. Bhushan’s wife, Mani did not help her husband when he was in dire need of money. He asked her to give him her jewellery so that he could pawn it and raise money. But she set her

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

We would like to express our special thanks of gratitude to our English teacher who gave us the golden opportunity to do this wonderful PRESENTATION.

Secondly, we would also like to thanks our parents and friends who helped us a lot in finishing this presentation within the limited time.

GROUP MEMBERS

Subhanita Das

Ahana Nag

Kajal Singh

Anuja Mukherjee

Ireeka Biswas