Red Oleanders: A Drama in One Act

Red Oleanders/Raktakarabī is one of the best plays of Tagore, the myriadminded and multifaceted genius; understandably ‘meanings’ have been sought ‘under the petals’, in spite of the author’s admonition, by countless readers, theatre-goers, performers/producers, and literary critics.
Raktakarabī belongs to the symbolic phase (1922-1932) of Tagore’s experimentations with the dramatic form. The themes—materialism versus humanism, industry versus agriculture, possessive greed versus selfless love, etc.— are all superbly integrated into the symbolic structure of the play which, a powerful dramatic evocation of the evils of mindless industrialism, celebrates the perennial values of love, life and nature. In its symbolic suggestions and dramatic situations, luminous diction and lyrical resonance, the play is a literary tour de force and is comparable with any great play of the world.
Tagore had also claimed that this play was based on ‘truth’. Is this the truth of facts, actuality, realism, or the truth of authentic perception inferred from the essence of human predicament? It is perhaps for the reader/audience to decide.
Red Oleanders (1925), Tagore's own translation of his Bengali play Raktakarabī (published in 1924), has been brought for the scholars and lovers of Tagore all over the world on the auspicious occasion of the year-long celebrations of the 150th birth anniversary of the poet. (1861-1941). A brilliant and comprehensive critical introduction has been added, which touches on all the major aspects of the play—its genesis and themes, ideas and symbols, images and metaphors, historical, social and political contexts, characters and situations, songs and dances, the meaning and the music, and intertextual parallels, leaving virtually nothing en route. It will not only add to the understanding and enjoyment of the play, but also prove immensely useful to all Tagore scholars.