num_pages: 287
description: A timeless tale of complex emotional relationships from an acknowledged masterSoon to be a major motion picture directed by Rituparno Ghosh, Chokher Bali is Nobel Prize-winning author Rabindranath Tagore’s classic exposition of an extramarital affair that takes place within the confines of a joint family.It is the story of the rich, flamboyant Mahendra and his simple, demure, beautiful wife Asha—a young couple who are befriended by the pragmatic Behari. Their cosy domestic scenario undergoes great upheaval with the introduction of the vivacious Binodini, a young, attractive widow who comes to live with them. Asha and Binodini become bosom pals. Binodini is initially drawn to Behari but then begins to respond to the advances of Mahendra, who has become obsessively attracted to her. After several twists and turns, Binodini elopes with Mahendra, leaving the entire family in turmoil. Behari pursues them to Allahabad and succeeds in bringing them back to Kolkata, but the question remains: can a marriage that has once been ruptured by breach of trust be mended again into a meaningful relationship?On the one hand, A Grain of Sand: Chokher Bali is a sensational account of two illicit relationships: Mahendra’s infatuation with Binodini which blinds him to everything else, and Binodini’s secret passion for Behari of which she is never able to speak. On the other hand, it is a complex tapestry woven by the emotional interplay between five finely etched characters: the impulsive Mahendra, his adoring mother Rajlakshmi, the frail and sensitive Asha, the strong, silent Behari, and the self-willed and irresistibly attractive Binodini.A compelling portrayal of the complexity of relationships and of human character, this landmark novel is just as powerful and thought-provoking today as it was a hundred years ago, when it was written.
language: English
title: A Grain of Sand: Chokher Bali
titlecomplete: A Grain of Sand: Chokher Bali
genres: Literary Fiction, Novels, Drama, Asian Literature, Indian Literature, Literature, India, Classics, Romance, Fiction
ratings_count: 5130
places: India
publisher: Penguin Books