ATITHI

Introduction

"Atithi" is a short story written by Rabindranath Tagore. The title literally means "The Guest"
in English. It is an appropriate title for the story as it reflects the main theme of the story,
which is about the importance of hospitality and the role that guests play in our lives.

It also highlights the conflict between individual’s desire and the expectations of the society.

Above all, it expresses the view that desire for freedom is inherent in nature.

In his short story, “Atithi”-The Guest, Tagore in his inexplicable poetic manner portrays the
character of the protagonist Tarapada, a boy of around fifteen years of age. Tarapada has
been constantly intrigued by the beauty and bounty of nature. In fact, it can be said that he
himself becomes one and unified with nature. He is in constant pursuit of knowledge with
undaunted zeal to learn and explore the world and his lust for wander compels him to
repeatedly run away from home leaving his family in despair.

STORY AT A GLANCE

In his short story, Atithi (Guest), Tagore spins the thread of the narrative centering on the
restlessness of a teenage boy, Tarapada, who never wants to settle down in any place.
Tarapada, signifies life. He possesses a character, very unusual, as compared to his other age
mates.

Tagore’s pen picture of Tarapada reveals marked simplicity and naturalness endowed with
lack of artificiality. His unconventionality is not external but essential, internal and
spontaneous. His passion for nature, love for human beings, celebration of humanity,
perception of beauty makes him akin to life-full of exuberance, lust and joy. Yet, Tara stops
nowhere; he does not bind himself in the labyrinth of close relationships. His only aim is to
move on. He is like an ever-flowing river carrying life along with it, flowing continuously.

This child of Nature cannot be tied down by human relationships.

Ties, even the ties of love are incapable of holding onto him; his stars have made him an
eternal homeless wanderer. He is generally unthreatened and unfrightened by the
unknown. Relationship with the unknown seems to be the only stable relationship that he is
capable of maintaining. Exploring the unexplored seems to be of exceptional promise to
him. Tarapada accepts it, is more comfortable with it and is more drawn towards the
unknown than the known.
Tarapada, lives more in the real world of nature than the human.
SUMMARY

Tarapada, the fourth son of his parents was still a baby when his father expired. He is loved
dearly by his family members as well as the entire neighbourhood.

In his childhood, Tara joins a touring yatra (drama)-troupe and leaves his village without a
thought. When the master of the company grows an affinity towards him like a son and
other members of the troupe show their love for him, he leaves the company one day
without prior intimation. “But his stars have made him a wanderer”. If he sees strange boats
on the river, or sanyasi (Saint) from a distant region under the local peepul tree or gypsies
sitting by the river, making mats or baskets, his heart would stir with longing to be free, to
explore the outside world. And after he has run away two or three times, family and
villagers gave up hope of him.

The narrator speaks of Tarapada's restlessness as a young fawn, and his love for music is
comparable to a deer.

Tarapada is not only intrigued by the harmony of formal music rather he can sense and feel
the resonance of harmony when the raindrops fall on the leaves and when the clouds rattle.
Moaning of the winds as they blow through the woods, cry of birds breaking tranquility of
the surrounding during the lonely afternoons, call of wild foxes and croaking of frogs in the
rainy evenings make him throng with emotions. He exhibits a wonderful capacity to
appreciate again and again freshly and as naively the basic goods of life, with awe, with
pleasure, wonder and
even ecstasy.

His passion for music compels him to join a group of ‘panchali‟ singers next. The master of
the group likes him and under his guidance, Tarapada learns to recite panchali. But when
the relationship matures, he vanishes from the group once again. Finally, he joins a group of
gymnasts. He learns to play the flute very well. He even plays Lucknow„ Thumris‟ in his
flute during gymnastic display. But, again, one day he flies away from the group.

The fifteen year old Brahmin boy then, comes to know that the zaminders at Nandigram
have started an amateur yatra-group. So he sets for Nandigram to join the group and on the
way he meets Matilal Babu , a zaminder of Kathaliya and his family with their household on
a boat. Knowing that the boat is heading towards Kathaliya, the boy asks him if he can be
dropped at Nandigram on the way. Matilal Babu agrees and invites Tarapada. Both Matilal
Babu and his wife Annapurna show great concern for this boy. Specially, Annapurna takes
great care to feed the boy and inquires him about his whereabouts. Both the husband and
the wife are really impressed by him and start loving him like their son. However, the boy’s
detachment from her maternal affection evokes a sense of despair in her. But their love for
Tarapada hurt their only little daughter Charushashi. The little girl is filled with jealousy and
hatred.

Being the only child, Charushashi is the sole claimant of her parents love. Being whimsical
and headstrong, Charu is always inclined to give opinions about every little thing concerning
her like eating, dressing or doing hair-styles. Her parents' affection for Tarapada agonizes
her thus making her more and more hostile towards him. Annapurna
realizes her daughter's jealousy and stops showing her affection overtly for Tarapada in her
presence.

As the boat passes by, Tarapada feels a strong emotional tie binding him closely with the
water, land and the horizon as if they are his close relatives. Their existence, full of life,
limitless and impregnated with versatility and novelty intrigues him but they fail to hold
back the boy with their strong bond of affection. Tara very easily becomes friends
with the boatmen. He at times helps them in their hard work and at others entertains them
by chanting verses from the Ramayana.

However, Tara takes no notice of Nandigram when they pass by it. The boat arrives at
Kathaliya after ten days where the Babu is given a ceremonial welcome. Tarapada at once
surveys the village and is spellbound by its exquisite beauty. He is also able to establish
friendly relations with everyone in the village addressing them Dada or
„Khura‟ or‟ Didi‟ or‟ Mashi‟ (brother or uncle or elder sister or aunt) as appropriate. A
deep feeling of identification, sympathy and affection for human beings in general
characterizes Tarapada.

His relations apparently display more warmth. He can be and is friendly with anyone of
suitable character regardless of class, caste or age. In spite of his easy going temperament
and his ability to win over the hearts of many people, Tarapada is most individualistic and
and having a deep love for all human beings. At one moment the individuality seems to be
strengthened, the ego is in one sense merged with another, yet in another sense remains
separate and strong as always.

The two tendencies, to transcend individuality and to strengthen it, are seen as partners
and not as contradictories. He can make friendship so easily because he has no real ties
anywhere.

Sonamani is Charu‟s childhood friend. Charu refrains to tolerate Tarapada‟s concern for
Sonamani. Her initial dislike towards him gradually assumes the hue of love and admiration.
Charu wishes to be the sole claimant of Tarapada‟s attention and admiration. She engages
herself into a battle with Sona for no reason and then gets into Tara‟s room and stamps on
his flute and breaks it. But Tarapada still bears it, and does not scold her.

He possesses the attribute of accepting himself as well as the shortcomings of others

without complaint. He is seen to take the frailties and weaknesses and evils of human
nature in the same unquestioning spirit with which one accepts the characteristics of
nature.

He seems to be able to retain dignity even in undignified surroundings and

situations.
Quite contradictory to his nature, Tarapada amazingly stays
at this house almost for two years. Possibly he stays with the family because he fails to
fathom the little girl. More he fails to unravel the mystery within the girl‟s psyche, more he
feels attracted towards her. Charushashi also starts showing a little bit of liking for
Tarapada.

To quench Tarapada‟s thirst for knowledge, Matilal Babu makes

arrangement for his tuition in English .

Tarapada is seen to be engrossed in his academic endeavor and derives sheer

joy from exploring the unknown. In the meantime, Charushashi reaches almost eleven
years of age. Motilal Babu has already sought for two or three matches for his daughter.

One day Annapurna suggests that Tarapada is a worthy

boy and Charushashi actually has an affinity towards him. Motilal Babu is surprised and is
reluctant to consider Tarapada as the bride-groom of their only daughter on the ground that
they know nothing about his family background. Finally, the husband and wife together
send a messenger to Tarapada's village to find out about his ancestry. They come to know
that the family is poor though belongs to high-caste. So Motilal Babu sends a formal
proposal to Tarapada's mother and elder brother. They are overjoyed at the proposal and
accept it at once. The wedding date gets fixed up in the month of Shraban (monsoon).
Arrangements are made for Tarapada's mother and elder brother to be brought over from
the village. But Tarapada is not made aware of this. Everything is concealed
from him. The arrangement for the wedding has been ready- even a trumpet-and-drum
band has been hired from Calcutta to mark this special occasion.

Meanwhile, on the Nag family estate, at Kurulkata, a famous chariot-festival is due to be

held. One moonlit evening, Tarapada reaches local „ghat‟ (riverside) and witnesses the
rendezvous of life. The swift flood-tide, boats with merry-go-rounds, yatra-troupes, and
cargo-boats rapidly making for the fair. An orchestra from Calcutta practicing
loudly as it passes by; the yatra-troupe singing to tunes of violin; boatmen from lands to the
west split the sky with cymbals and thudding drums. Tarapada is fascinated to perceive the
continuity of life being celebrated to the fullest.

Early monsoon clouds fill up the sky.

To Tarapada the whole world seems like a chariot festival: wheels churning, flags flying,
earth trembling, clouds swirling, wind rustling, river flowing, boats sailing, songs rising!
There are clamours of thunder, flashes of lightning appearing in the sky: the fragrance of
torrential rain emerging from the dark distance. But Kathaliya village in the river bed is
oblivious of the rejoice of life echoing loud; the eternal ceremony of motion. The village
shutting her doors turns out her lamps and fades into the spell of slumber.

The next morning when his mother and brother reach the village, Tarapada is nowhere to
be seen. He has once again lost himself into the fathomless unexplored unknown world,
leaving behind the shackles of certainty and secure bond of relationships.

Tarapada becomes one and unified with nature.

He apparently transcends beyond the mundane shackles of everyday life.