CHARULATA

I dedicate this particular blog to the feminine view point.  or rather WWCD (What would Charulata do?)I will try and refrain from keeping it a liz lemon like viewpoint of a bitter single woman in her 30s, but rather bring to the readers' attentions of issues, vignettes and stories regarding strong or conflicted intellectual women in society.

Charulata is a movie based on a story "Nastanirh (broken nest)" by Rabindranath Tagore (Nobel prize recipient of literature in 1913) set in the late 19th century amidst the backdrop of Kolkata (place of my birth and essence of my soul). The movie is directed by Satyajit Ray (honorary Oscar winner 1992 for lifetime achievement).Rabindranath Tagore and Satyajit Ray are legends within the Bengal Community, adored by their countrymen and admired by the world.

As a child growing up in kolkata, I preferred the popcorn version of Satyajit ray's movies like sonar kella, gupi gain bhaga bain and didn't have an appetite for heavy versions like pathen panchali, apur shongshar and charulata. Honestly, I haven't seen charulata yet, BUT I have seen Parineeta and Devdaas written by another legendary bengali playwright Sharat Chandra Chatterjee

However, Charulata reminds me of Lady Chatterley's lover, and Anna Karenina and even Ramayana.

Charulata is a beautiful and intellectual, correctly brought up and educated Bengali woman in the upper eschelons of Bengali Society in the late 1800s. However her passions and intellect are wasted on a husband absorbed in his work. Fortunately, the dashing cousin (note: without a regular job), a similar soul of Charulata's intellect comes to her life and her light burns bright as never before.

Note: Here Tagore could have made this a story of passion and finding love similar to Anna Karenina and Lady Chatterley's love (I think - don't quote me on this), instead he adds a realist topic of discussion here as Charulata secretly sends her own literary story to be published which causes Amal the dashing cousin to feel jealous and competitive towards Charulata.Tagore raises an important question, what does happen to women who love men who are unable to nurture such qualities of excellence?

Very few men can be such confident within their own skin to maximize the affections of such rare flowers. Unfortunately, majority of religious conservatives and ignorant men tend to desensitize women to objects of affection - to be used when needed - otherwise to be useful as decorations on an empty shelf.

Charulata reminds me of the loneliness that such intellect and cultured mind can feel - especially those of a woman whose place in her times were that of a 2nd class citizen.
There are other issues of importance in this world, but equality for women and respect for them should never drop to the background!