Home and the World

The Home and the World follows the story of a wealthy and educated gentleman, Nikhilesh; his young wife, Bimala; and his fiery friend, Sandip, a headstrong Swadeshi fighter. Under Sandip’s influence, Bimala abandons the traditional role she has hitherto occupied, and begins to step out of her confined world. But she is also dazzled by Sandip’s rhetoric, unimpressed by the moderate politics and quiet determination of her husband, and her transformation into a modern woman carries with it a great price.

Translated by Surendranath Tagore, this controversial novel was condemned by many for being immoral and unpatriotic. But many, including W.B. Yeats, admired it deeply for the way it refused to sacrifice common-sense for fiery political rhetoric.