Kabilwallah _Rabindranath Tagore
Introduction
Explore “Kabuliwallah” Question Answers which is included in ALTE of WBCHSE Board for Class 11. Rabindranath Tagore’s “Kabuliwallah” or “Kabuliwala” is a heart rendering short story that leaves the readers in tears. Having been written several years ago by Kaviguru , the short story is still popular among the masses and included extensively in several educational boards. Friendship is not about just having friends but it is about how one values that bond. The story is a mirror to the limitlessness of friendship and how the age gap is just a matter of excuse for it. Thsts why Mini, a four year old girl and Kabuliwallah , a middle aged vendor cherish their precious friendship irrespective of what the society thinks.
About the poet
Rabindranath Tagore (1861–1941) was one of India’s greatest poets, writers, philosophers, and social reformers. He was born on 7 May 1861 in Calcutta (now Kolkata) into a distinguished Bengali family. Tagore is best known for his collection of poems Gitanjali, for which he became the first non-European to receive the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1913.
Tagore made significant contributions to Bengali literature and music. He wrote poems, short stories, novels, plays, essays, and more than 2,000 songs, known as Rabindra Sangeet. His literary works reflect themes of nature, humanism, spirituality, love, and nationalism.
He founded Visva-Bharati University at Santiniketan, an institution dedicated to the harmonious blending of Eastern and Western cultures. Tagore’s influence extended beyond literature to education, art, and social reform.
He also composed the national anthems of India, “Jana Gana Mana,” and Bangladesh, “Amar Sonar Bangla.” Through his writings and ideas, Tagore promoted universal brotherhood, peace, and cultural understanding.
Rabindranath Tagore passed away on 7 August 1941, but his literary and cultural legacy continues to inspire people around the world.
Summary of Kabuliwallah
Plot Summary of Kabuliwala| Summary 1
Kabuliwaalah is a story that emphasizes the bond of friendship that transcens age, sex, caste, creed, religion and even nationality. Mini is a little daughter of our narrator who is a writer. She is a girl who likes to chatter continuously. Her mother is a person who loves to discipline Mini on her little mistakes. Moreover, she is also a timid person who struggles with trust issues. Mini has the habit of calling kabuliwallah and having a tit-a-tat with him. Rahmat was the name of this vendor who used to sell dry fruits in the streets of colonial Calcutta. Slowly, Mini and the vendor become friends and their bond becomes inseparable. Rahmat had a daughter like Mini back in Afghanistan. Mini’s mother makes a fuss about Mini being a careless girl over her steady closeness with a man double her size. However, the narrator having modern point of view did not share Mini’s mother’s insecurity and narrow mindset.
One unfortunate day, Kabuliwallah went into a fight with one of his customers over the money. In a fit of rage, he stabs the man for which he is imprisoned for eight years in prison. Rahmat serves his sentence and after being released, he arrives at the house of Mini to meet her. He still thinks that Mini is that small little girl who will come greet him in her childish voice. However, he is surprised to see that Mini was getting married that day. He is soon reminded of his own daughter back in Afghanistan who would have grown just like Mini.
The narrator, at first, is tensed about a person coming straight from the jail. But later, he realizes that Rahmat is also a father like him. Therefore, the narrator allows him to meet with Mini who is all decked up in a bridal attire. He also hands him some money so that Rahmat could go back to his family in his country.
Summary 2
Kabuliwala is a famous short story written by Rabindranath Tagore. It tells the touching story of the friendship between Mini, a lively and talkative little girl from Calcutta, and Rahmat, an Afghan fruit seller known as the Kabuliwala.
One day, Rahmat visits Mini’s house to sell dry fruits. Although Mini is initially frightened by his appearance, she soon becomes friendly with him. They develop a special bond, often joking and talking together. Rahmat sees in Mini a reflection of his own daughter, who lives far away in Afghanistan.
Mini’s mother is suspicious of the Kabuliwala and fears that he may harm her daughter. However, Mini’s father trusts Rahmat and allows their friendship to continue. One day, Rahmat gets involved in a quarrel with a customer who refuses to pay him. In a fit of anger, he stabs the man and is sentenced to eight years in prison.
After serving his sentence, Rahmat returns and visits Mini’s house on the day of her wedding. He is eager to meet her, but he is shocked to find that the little girl he once knew has grown into a young bride. Realizing that many years have passed, Rahmat thinks of his own daughter in Afghanistan and wonders how much she has changed.
Moved by Rahmat’s feelings as a father, Mini’s father gives him money to return to his homeland and reunite with his daughter. The story ends on a note of compassion and highlights the universal bond of parental love that transcends differences of nationality, culture, and religion.
Analysis of Kabuliwala
if any story that stands out in Indian literature in English, then it is KabuliAllah because it depicts the unconventional form of friendship. Tagore emphasizes on friendship that is beyond limitations. He shows a type of friendship that knows no age, religion, gender and nationality. Kabuliwala is one of the most celebrated short stories by Rabindranath Tagore. Set in colonial Calcutta, the story explores themes of love, separation, friendship, and human compassion.
Human emotions and relationships are universal. Tagore has proved it through the characterization of Mini, a young Bengali girl and Rahmat, an Afghan vendor. Both of them came from different nationality, ethnicity and culture. However, human sentiments are universal in nature across the globe. Even though, they were not able to talk with each other in a common language fluently, but their conversation was more understanding in nature.
At the heart of the story is the theme of parental love. Rahmat’s affection for Mini stems from his deep longing for his own daughter, who lives far away in Afghanistan. Whenever he meets Mini, he is reminded of his child. This emotional connection reveals that a father’s love is universal and remains unchanged regardless of social or cultural differences. Similarly, Mini’s father deeply cares for his daughter and later understands Rahmat’s pain as a parent separated from his child.
The story is also a mouthpiece of childhood innocence. A child does not know prejudice. It is able to process and display emotions that are pure in nature. Mini’s ability to hatch a friendship with the vendor stemmed from her childhood innocence. She does not knew how to discriminate on terms like caste, creed, religion and nationality. On the contrary , we find Mini’s mother constantly showing her suspicions for Rahmat because he was a foreigner sharing a foreign culture and language. But Mini’s father-the narrator was no different from Mini. In contrast, he adopts a more sympathetic and understanding attitude, emphasizing the importance of humanity over prejudice.
Another important theme is the passage of time. Rahmat spends eight years in prison, and when he returns, he finds that Mini is no longer the little girl he once knew. This realization makes him aware that his own daughter must have grown up as well. The story shows how time changes people and relationships, often in ways that cannot be reversed.
The climax of the story occurs on Mini’s wedding day when Rahmat meets her after many years. The emotional encounter reveals the pain of separation and the sacrifices made by parents for their children. Moved by Rahmat’s situation, the narrator helps him return to Afghanistan, demonstrating kindness and empathy.
The story’s ending is both touching and meaningful. It emphasizes that love, compassion, and human understanding are more powerful than social divisions. Through simple characters and realistic situations, Tagore conveys a profound message about the shared experiences that unite all human beings.
Overall, Kabuliwala is a deeply human story that celebrates parental affection, friendship, and the universal bonds that connect people across cultures. Its emotional depth and timeless message continue to resonate with readers around the world.
Important Themes in Kabuliwala
- Parental Love
The central theme of the story is parental love. Rahmat, the Kabuliwala, deeply loves his daughter who lives in Afghanistan. His affection for Mini arises because she reminds him of his own child. Similarly, Mini’s father also shares a strong bond with his daughter. Through these two fathers, Tagore shows that a parent’s love is universal and transcends all boundaries of culture, nationality, and religion.
The narrator’s decision to help Rahmat return to Afghanistan reflects the importance of compassion and empathy. He understands Rahmat’s suffering as a father and chooses kindness over personal celebration. This act of humanity forms the emotional climax of the story.
- Innocence of Childhood
Mini represents the innocence and purity of childhood. She freely talks to Rahmat without any prejudice or fear. Her natural curiosity and friendliness contrast sharply with the suspicions of adults. Through Mini, Tagore celebrates the openness and honesty of children.
- Friendship Beyond Cultural Barriers
Despite belonging to different cultures and countries, Mini and Rahmat develop a genuine friendship. Their relationship demonstrates that human connections can overcome barriers of language, nationality, religion, and social status.
- Passage of Time
Time plays a significant role in the story. When Rahmat returns after eight years in prison, he discovers that Mini has grown from a playful child into a young bride. This realization reminds him that his own daughter must have grown up too. Tagore uses this theme to show how time changes people and relationships.
Short Answer Questions
Question 1: How did Rabindranath free Bengali Literature from traditional models?
Ans: Rabindranath Tagore by introducing new prose and verse forms and the use of colloquial language in Bengali literature he freed from traditional models.
Question 2: What does Tagore’s collection of poem ‘Gitanjali’ contain?
Ans: Gitanjali contains his various thoughts common to humanity like love, freedom, joy and sorrow, satisfaction, dignity of labour and so on.
Question 3: When was Tagore awarded the Nobel Prize and what was exceptional about it?
Ans: Rabindranath Tagore was awarded the Nobel Prize in 1913 and he was the first non European to receive it.
Question 4: What does this short story “Kabuliwallah” deal with?
Ans: The story Kabuliwallah deals with the beautiful friendship that developed between Rehmat the Kabuliwallah and the young girl Mini.
Question 5: How did the narrator of the story and his wife differ in their view regarding Mini’s ‘prattle’?
Ans: Mini’s mother is often annoyed at Mini’s frettle and used to stop her but the narrator could not prevent the girl from chattering.
Ans: The three questions many asked to her father when he was busy in his 17 th chapter were:
Father! Ramadayal the doorkeeper calls a crow a Krow?
What do you think, father Bhola says there is an elephant in the cloud, blowing water out of strong and that’s why it rains.
Father, what relation is mother to you?
Question 7: How did Mini react when Kabuliwallah turned and looked at?
Ans: When Kabuliwallah turned and looked at Mini she was overcome by terror and fled to her mother’s protection and disappeared.
Question 8: What blind belief did Mini have regarding the bag of Kabuliwallah?
Ans: Mini had a blind belief that inside the bag that the big man carried there were perhaps two or three children like herself.
Question 9: Why did the narrator think of stopping the Kabuliwallah buy something and let him go?
Ans: The narrator thought to buy something from Kabuliwallah since he has been called.
Question 10: On which topic did the narrator and the pedlar converse in their first meeting?
Ans: The narrator and the peddler conversed about Abdul Rahman,the Russians, the English, and the Frontier policy in their first meeting.
Question 11: How did Mini react when her father brought her out in front of Kabuliwallah for the first time?
Ans: Mini stood by her father, Kabuliwallah offered raisins. But she would not be tempted and only clung closer to her father with all her doubts increased.
Question 12 : Why was the narrator startled when Kabuliwallah was leaving a few days later?
Ans: One morning when the narrator was leaving, he was startled to find Mini seated on a bench near the door. She was chattering with the Kabuliwallah.
Question 13 : What was the corner of the little Mini’ saree stuffed with?
Ans: Mini’s saree corner was stuffed with raisins and almonds.
Question 14 : ‘I found the unfortunate coin had made twice its own worth of trouble’- Explain.
Ans: The coin had brought troubles in the house of the narrator. Mini’s mother was scolding Mini for receiving it from Kabuliwallah.
Question 15 : On making enquiries what did the narrator come to know about the meeting of two great friends?
Ans: On making enquiry , the narrator came to know that Kabuliwallah and Mini are meeting daily and spending time together. The Kabuliwallah had overcome fear of child by judicious bribery.
Question 16 : What was the first joke between the two friends which provided Mini with amusement?
Ans: The first joke was that when Mini asked Kabuliwallah about the content of the bag .He replied in his nasal tone that he had an elephant in his sack.
Question 17 : What was the double meaning of the term father in law?
Ans: Amongst the men of Kabuliwallah, the word ‘father in law’ had the double meaning. It was considered a euphemism for jail where all are taken care of at no expense of others. Due to marriage relations, the father of the groom becomes father in law of the bride and vice versa.
Question 18 : What made Mini go into bits of Laughter on hearing the term father in law?
Ans: When Kabuliwallah said that he would trash his father in law, this made Mini go into peals of laughter.
Question 19: What did usually take place in the season of autumn in the olden days?
Ans: During the season of autumn in olden days the king used to go forth to conquest in the morning.
Question 20 : What does the term vegetable existence mean?
Ans: The term ‘vegetable existence’ means that whenever the narrator had a call to travel it would fall upon him like a thunderbolt.
Question 21 : What would the narrator do on seeing a foreigner in the street?
Ans: When the narrator used to see a foreigner in the street, he used to weave a network of dreams. The dreamy elements would constitute of the mountains and the glens forest. It would also contain dream of his distant home, with his cottage and a life full of challenges.
Question 22 : On seeing the kabuliwallah, what did the narrator start imagining?
Ans: On seeing Kabuliwallah, the narrator starts imagining the pictures of arid mountain peaks . It would having narrow passages of towering heights camels carrying merchandise, turbaned merchants do their daily jobs.
Reference to the Context:
1-“Before I could begin to enlighten her on the differences between………who is Mum to you.”
Question a. With reference to the extract, name the father and the daughter. from the daughter’s questions, what can you conclude about her character?
Answer a.In the given extract the father is the narrator and Mini is the name of the narrator’s daughter. It can be concluded from the daughter’s questions that she is a talkative girl always bursting with questions.
Question b. In the story, there are two fathers. Compare them as far as their professions are concerned.
Answer b.The two fathers in the story are the narrator and Rahmat. The narrator is an author by profession whereas Rahamat is a pedlar who used to bring seasonal goods from his own country.
Question c. Whichis one of the most important traits of the daughter’sn character?How does her father react to?
Answer c.The most important traits of the daughter’s character are that she is talkative and always in questioning mood. The narrator states that his daughter has not wasted a single moment of her life remaining silent.
Question d. What was the father doing when the daughter entered his room? How does the father that he is patient with his daughter?
Answer d.The father had started writing the seventeenth chapter of his novel, the moment his daughter Mini entered the room. The father shows that he is patient with his daughter by listening to her volley of questions without saying anything and later joining her prattle.
Question e. What is the main theme of the story,’The Kabuliwala’?
Answer e.The main theme of Kabuliwala is human relationship that exists on differt levels. The relationship between father and his daughter, represented by the narrator and his daughter, between Kabuliwala and Mini, Kabuliwala and his daughter, mini’s relationship with her mother who is quite protective of her daughter.
2-“A few days later, as I was leaving the house in the morning…….at the loose end of her small sari.”
Question a. Who is the speaker here?Why is he startled to see Mini laughing and talking with the great Kabuliwala?
Answer a.The narrator is the speaker here in the given extract. He was startled to see Mini laughing and talking with Kabuliwala because initially she feared him.
Question b. Who is the Kabuliwala?Describe his appearance.
Answer b.The Kabuliwala was a pedlar, who used to bring dry fruits and other goods from his country, Afghanistan. Kabuliwala was a tall, shabilly dressed Afghan who used to bwear turban on her head.
Question c. Describe the first meeting between Mini and the Kabuliwala.
Answer c.The first meeting between Mini and Kabuliwala happened when she called him to her house.But when Kabuliwala came she got frightened and ran inside.She came only when her father called her out.When she recieved the offer of some raisins and apricots she refused to take them.
Question d. How does Mini overcome her fear of the Kabuliwala?
Answer d.mini overcame her fear of Kabuliwala when she was called out from inside the house to meet Kabuliwala.He offered some dry fruits to her.
Question e. How much does the narrator pay to the Kabuliwala for the almonds and raisins given to Mini as gifts?What does the Kabuliwala do with the money?
Answer e.The narrator paid half a rupee to Kabuliwala for almonds and raisins which the pedlar returned back to Mini.
Question f. How does this money cause trouble for the girl?Who saves her from the emerging problem?
Answer f.When Kabuliwala returned the money back paid to him by Mini’s father, Mini mother got annoyed on her without actually confirming the whole matter. Mini was rescued by her father from her mother by taking her out for a walk.
3-“After living for so many years in this world……….she asked me a few pointed questions.”
Question a. What fear is referred to in the extract?
Answer a.Mini’s mother feared the world like a silly woman. She considered that the world is full of htieves, bandits, drunkards, malaria and crockroaches.
Question b. Why is the lady not able to overcome the fear?
Answer b.The lady is not able to overcome the fear because she has been hearing about instances of child abductions, theft and robbery sbout the welfare of her family.
Question c. Why is she full of suspicion about the kabuliwala?
Answer c.Mini’s mother is full of suspicion about Kabuliwala because she has heard tales of child abduction and robbery prevalent in Afghanistan.
Question d. What is her reaction to her daughter’s accepting things from the kabuliwala?
Answer d.The lady was annoyedat her daughter’s act of accepting money from a stranger.She had the fear that Kabuliwalaa was trying to befriend her daughter by giving her gifts.
Question e. What are the’pointed questions’ that the lady asks the narrator?
Answer e.THe’pointed questions’ hurled by lady on the narrator included-“Were there no instances of child abduction?, was not slave trade in practice in Afghanistan? and was it not easy for Kabuliwala to kidnap Mini?”.
Question f. What is the narrator’s response to her doubts? does he succeed in allaying her fear?
Answer f.The narrator had to agree to the doubts of his wife because her doubts were not impossible No he did not exceed in allaying her wife’s fear.
4-“Rahamat was in the midst of hurling abuse in obscene………be going to your in-laws house?”
Question a. Who is the dishonest man?Why is Rahamat hurling abuses at him?
Answer a.The dishonest man was the narrator’s neighbour who had brought a Rampuri shawl from the kabuliwala on credit. Rahmat was hurling abuses at him because when he asked for his payment for the shawl,the man denied having bought a shawl.
Question b. What is the usual exchange referred to in the extract?
Answer b.The usual exchange refers to mini’s questioning Kabuliwala about the contents in his bag.
Question c. What does the Kabuliwala reply to Mini’s question?
Answer c.When Mini asked Kabuliwala if he was going to his in laws house to which he replied he was going right there only.
Question d. What crime is the Kabuliwala charged with?How is he punished for the wrong done?
Answer d.Kabuliwala was charged of murder. He was sentenced to eight years of imprisonment for his crime.
Question e. What time of year is it?Describe the weather?
Answer e.It was the end of winter season. The weather was freezing cold and almost unbearable especially in the morning hours with little warmth after the sunrise.
5-“There was a lotn of hubbub in the house since visitors……. stood before me with a salaam.”
Question a. Whose house is being referred to here?What is the reason for the noise and bustle pervading it?
Answer a.The narrator’s house is being referred to in the extract. The noise and bustle persuading the house is because of the narrator’s daughter wedding.
Question b. Describe briefly the scene at the house.
Answer b.There was a lot of hustle and bustle in the house because of the narrator’s daughter wedding.The visitors were continuously walking in and out. A tent was being put in the courtyard of the house. The sound produced by the chandeliers being put up in the verandah. The wedding music was being played in the house since dawn.
Question c. Describe Rahamat’s physical features at this point of time.
Answer c.Rahmat’s physical features had changed in the eight years he had been in prison.He no longer possessed his long hairand his old vigour.The usual bag he carried on his shoulder was almost missing.
Question d. Why couldn’t the narrator recognise him first?How did he recognise him a little later?
Answer d.The narrator could not recognise him first because his looks had changed from what it used to be eight years ago.He did not have his long hair , his old vigour and the bag on his shoulder. The narrator recognised him from his smile.
Question e. Where has Rahamat come from?How did the narrator treat him?State why the narrator does not like his visit to the house.
Answer e.Rahmat had come from jail after being released from the prison. The narrator was little annoyed with Kabuliwala and asked him to come on some another day.
Question f. What was Rahamat’s reaction to the treatment given to him in the narrator’s house?
Answer f.Rahmat was little hut by the indifferent attitude of the narrator and was stunned on hearing that he would not be able to meet Mini, as she was getting married that day.
6-“Every year Rahamat came to peddle merchandise on the streets of ……..he was a father and so was I.”
Question a. what is referred to as the’ memorabilia of his daughter’ ? Why does the Kabuliwala carry it with himself?
Answer a.The impression of the hand of Kabuliwala’s daughter ona piece of paper, created with burnt charcoal was the memorabilia of his own daughter. Kabuliwala carried it with himself as a mark of love and remeembrance from his daughter.
Question b. What are some of the ‘merchandise’ that the Kabuliwala sells in the streets of Calcutta?
Answer b.The merchandise that was sold by Kabuliwala on the streets of Calcutta included dry fruits like almonds, raisins and apricots.
Question c. What has the Kabuliwala requested of the speaker? Does the speaker accept his request/Give a reason for your opinion.
Answer c.Kabuliwala requested the speaker to hand over the grapes and raisins which he has brought for Mini. The speaker accepted Kabuliwala’s request because he realized a father longing for his daughter and that kabuliwala saw a reflection of his own daughter in Mini.
Question d. Why is the Kabuliwala shocked when MIni finally appears before him?
Answer d.Kabuliwala was shocked when Mini finally appeared before him. it is because the little chirping girl had grown into a young beautiful girl and was dressed up like a bride.
Question e. What realisation dawns upon the Kabuliwala when he sees Mini?
Answer e.On seeing Mini, it dawnwd on Kabuliwala that his own daughter at home away in Afghanistan must have grown up like Mini.
Question f. Explain how the narrator helps the Kabuliwala.
Answer f.The narrator helped Kabuliwala by cutting down the expenses of his daughter’s wedding and providing the money to Rahmat so that he can return to his home again.
Question g. What was common to the Kabuliwala and the narrator?
Answer g.Both tha narrator and kabuliwala are doting fathers to their daughters. Both of them also suffer the pangs of separation from their daughters. Kabuliwala got separated from his daughter when he was imprisoned in jail for eight years whereas the narrator was about to be separated from his daughter.
Conclusion
Through the themes of parental love, separation, childhood innocence, friendship, compassion, and human unity, Kabuliwala delivers a timeless message about the power of human relationships. The story reminds readers that genuine emotions can bridge all social and cultural divides.