A review by maketeaa
Gora by Rabindranath Tagore

challenging dark reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

after reading this i had to sit in silence for a while to just. process. because WOW. out of all of tagore's translated novels, this may have been my favourite -- the critical commentary on identity that home and the world could have been if it were longer! when binoy grows close to a brahmo family, conflict arises between him and his best friend gora -- a fierce adherant to hindu principles, especially the separation of caste. what follows are a series of events that brings into question the foundation of each character's religious principles -- what is impurity? what does it mean? how much of a person's worldly community should a person be expected to sacrifice for their religion? and how much of these principles are intrinsic, inherent in the hearts of all believers, and how much is learned, a garment clutched onto by believers for a sense of identity? to what extent can this garment be actually beneficial -- and to what extent harmful, weaponised to separate oneself from others and monochromise a world filled with different colours? filled with as many perspectives as there are characters, tagore observes the nature of religion, with all its guidance and restraints, and how spirituality can turn into tyranny in times where one's identity is threatened. a work extremely relevant to the british raj and the divisions thus created within hindustani society!