The Hero

Meet the Poet

• Rabindranath Tagore was an Indian poet, writer, playwright, composer, philosopher, social reformer, and painter of the Bengal Renaissance.
• Born: May 7th, 1861
• Place of Birth: Calcutta, Bengal Presidency, British India.
• Died: August 7th, 1941
• Major Works: Gitanjali, Ghare-Baire, Bharoto Bhagyo Bidhata , Gora, Jana Gana Mana
• Best known for: He is known for reshaping Bengali literature, music, and Indian art with contextual modernism in the late 19th and early 20th centuries and had a lasting impact on global intellectual traditions.

Summary of the Chapter

The narrative poem “The Hero” by Rabindranath Tagore is about a son who comforts his fearful mother during a perilous journey across the barren landscape.

The poem begins with the young boy imagining that he and his mother are passing through a strange and dangerous country. Alongside his mother’s palanquin (a covered seat that is carried on poles by people) he is mounted on his red horse. As he travels, the path gets gloomy leading to a vast, and barren land called Joradighi. The mother is terrified of the darkness and is unsure of the location. The mother is reassured by his son not to get frightened.

It is evening and the sun goes down. The waste of Joradighi
lies wan and grey before us. The land is desolate and barren.
You are frightened and thinking-"I know not where we have come
to."

They pass over a meadow covered with spiky grass and a narrow broken path running through it as they travel. The cows returned to their villages as the sun had set and hence were not visible. To emphasize the darkness Tagore says that it was a barren land without any cattle or living beings in sight. As they pass the land, it grows darker making it harder for them to travel. Suddenly, the mother questions her son about the light she saw near the riverbank. They simultaneously hear a terrifying shout and a few individuals running toward them.

It grows dark and dim on the land and sky, and we cannot tell
where we are going.
Suddenly you call me and ask me in a whisper, "What light is
that near the bank?"

The mother is curled up in a palanquin and prays to the gods seeking protection. The palanquin bearers, terrified, hide themselves inside the bushes. The youngster yells by soothing his terrified mother “Don't be afraid Mother I am here”. The attackers approach with long rods and wild hair. The child cautions that if the robbers take any further step they would be in danger.

Repeatedly, the attackers cry out loud and charge against them. Grabbing her child's hands the mother pleads for him to stay away from the attackers. The son instructs his mother to keep a careful eye on him, making his horse spur for a wild gallop. This shows his commitment, bravery, and love. The son valiantly uses his sword and shields to attack and battle the bandits. Since the battle got more gruesome the mother became terrified, unable to observe the battle. A few of them flee after the son defeats his attackers.

The fight becomes so fearful, mother, that it would give you
a cold shudder could you see it from your palanquin.
Many of them fly, and a great number are cut to pieces.

The mother sitting alone, pondering over the fact that her child must have been dead by now, is depicted by the poet as experiencing intense terror. But soon, a surprise awaits her. When she sees her bloodied son return, the mother feels satisfied and relieved of fear. He tells her that the struggle is over. She beams with excitement, giving her son a strong hug and kiss. Thinking about what she would do without her courageous kid to defend her fills her with gratitude.

In this final stanza, the child returns to real life from his imagination. He says that so many unnecessary things were happening daily and why this brave incident couldn’t happen in real life. This shows that the son was imagining these dangerous lands and the attacks. The poet says he is tired of his monotonous routine life, which makes him think of all the possible ways to prove his bravery. His brother, who always doubted him and referred to him as 'delicate’ (weak), would be surprised if this had happened in real life. The people in their village would also be amazed at his courage. They would say how fortunate the boy stood for his mother by all means to protect her.

My brother would say, "Is it possible? I always thought he was
so delicate!"
Our village people would all say in amazement, "Was it not
lucky that the boy was with his mother?"

The poem “The Hero" conveys the message of true strength, courage, and heroism in times of peril and hardship. Despite all the chaos, Tagore also ensures the implementation of the theme of unwavering love, sacrifice, and the bond of protection that encompasses the major traits of a ‘Hero’ through the boy.

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