'Rabindranath Tagore' - The Culturium
Rabindranath Tagore, Bengal’s legendary poet and philosopher, masterfully explores human relationships and class differences in his celebrated short story “Master Moshai.” He ingeniously portrays the bond between the teacher Haralal and his student Venugopal. This essay aims to uncover the nuances of the teacher-student relationship and the subtle socio-economic divide that influences their interactions.
The diverse economic backgrounds of Haralal and Venugopal
In “Master Moshai,” Tagore introduces two central characters from diverse backgrounds. Venugopal is the son of Adhar Babu, an affluent individual who “lives upon the interest of the capital left him by his father”. He was a privileged child, who grew up in comfort and luxury, shielded from the hardships of life. On the other hand, Haralal was the son of a poor widow. Despite his economic difficulties, he was a good student and was “determined to go to college”. In the course of the story, Adhar Babu employed Haralal as Venu’s tutor.
The evolving teacher-student relationship
Haralal and his pupil, Venu, formed a deep friendship. Haralal’s dedication to teaching went beyond academics, as he cared deeply for Venu’s well-being. Their bond evolves throughout the story. The budding student-teacher relationship “displeased Nanibala”, Venu’s mother. One day she confronted him and expressed her displeasure at Haralal’s lower-class status, “You must understand that a man of your position is no fit companion for a boy belonging to this house”. After this incident, there came a rift in the relationship between Venu and his beloved teacher, as the latter strictly followed Nanibala’s wishes.
On the other hand, amidst a theft in Adhar Babu’s house, the police conducted a thorough investigation, even searching Haralal’s trunks. This led to Adhar Babu’s decision to dismiss him from his household and suggested he find lodgings elsewhere. In response, Haralal sent a letter expressing his inability to continue as Venu’s tutor. Haralal’s experience of being subjected to discriminatory suspicion can be attributed to his lower-class status. Consequently, the challenges arising from class distinctions led to Haralal’s inability to persist as Venu’s teacher, ultimately leading to the dissolution of their teacher-student bond.
A teacher-student relationship can also be seen in a certain political party’s portrayal of India as “Vishwa Guru”. Ancient India is portrayed as a conveyor of wisdom and knowledge to the world, which is seen as a student. Although Tagore’s portrayal of Haralal is a literary endeavour, the portrayal of India as “Vishwa Guru” can be seen as a stratagem for gaining electoral advantage.
Changes in Venugopal’s attitude and his betrayal
The student-teacher relationship took a sharp turn at the story’s end. Venu grew into a young man, and after the death of Nanibala, he and his teacher resumed meeting. Numerous incidents showcased the apparent class disparity depicted in the novel. While Haralal’s mother longed to cook for Venu, Haralal hesitated due to his small and dilapidated house. Despite this, he eventually invited Venu, but the latter hurriedly left after the meal, leaving Haralal disheartened. Venu’s discomfort in the lower-class lodgings was evident. When Adhar Babu found out, he furiously scolded Haralal for meeting his son.
Subsequently, Venu confides in Haralal about his life’s problems, expressing his desire to study law in England despite his father’s disapproval. Seeking financial support, Venu asks Haralal for help, but the latter declines. In desperation, Venu steals three thousand rupees from Haralal’s locker and departs for England. Although he assures his teacher in a letter that his father will repay the debt, this does not happen. Adhar Babu refuses to believe in Haralal’s story and declines to compensate him. Haralal is unable to repay the money to his company. Subsequently, he ruminates about his state and dies while travelling in a carriage.
In this poignant portrayal, Venu’s profound ignorance becomes evident as he remains oblivious to the potential problems his actions may inflict upon Haralal, a financially vulnerable individual. Failing to grasp the consequences of his theft, Venu’s upper-class upbringing becomes apparent as he naively believes his father will effortlessly settle the debt and his mother’s stolen ornaments will cover the costs. His ignorance results in the traumatic demise of his teacher.
Conclusion:
Thus, “Master Moshai” is a touching narrative that delves deep into the complexities of human relationships and the class divide during Tagore’s time. The contrasting lives of Haralal and Venugopal illuminate how economic differences can influence the teacher-student dynamic.
