Khirer Putul (lit.'Doll of Kheer') is a children's fantasy novel written by Abanindranath Tagore in 1896.[1][2] Khirer Putul is considered a masterpiece[3] and landmark by writers in Bengali language children's literature.[4] Khirer Putul is a simple and touching tale about the sugar doll, the fate of Duorani and a tricky and extraordinary monkey.[5] Aadi Brahmosamaj press first published this book. Later on, it was translated into other languages.[6][page needed] The story was adapted into a film of the same name by Indian writer and director Purnendu Pattrea in 1976.[7] Khirer Putul, an Indian television soap opera based on the novel aired on Zee Bangla in 2020.[8]

Khirer Putul
Queen and monkey
AuthorAbanindranath Tagore
LanguageBengali
SubjectChildren's Literature
Published1896
Publication placeIndia

It was also adapted into a play by the Indian theatre group Nandikar in 2017, with Anindita Chakraborty as its director.[9]

Plot

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The king of Deepnagar had two queens, Suo Rani and Duo Rani. The king gave Suo Rani 7 palaces, 700 female slaves, best ornaments from 7 kingdoms, 7 gardens, 7 chariots. He neglected Duo Rani and gave her a broken home, a deaf and dumb maid, torn clothes and a dirty bed.[10][11]

 
Khirer Putul

Translations

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The work has been translated into several languages:

Development

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Abanindranath who was Rabindranath Tagore's nephew found this story in Rabindranath's wife Mrinalini Devi's diary after her death. The novel is based on the story written in her diary.[17] The illustrations were done by Abanindranath Tagore.[18][page needed]

Analysis

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According to scholar Sanjay Sircar, the tale can be classified in the Aarne-Thompson-Uther Index as tale type ATU 459, "The Make-Believe Son (Daughter)",[19][20] a tale type "widespread throughout North India and other Asian areas, but never found in Europe".[21] Similarly, German scholar Ulrich Marzolph [de] listed four Iranian variants of the same type, which he named Der Prinz verliebt sich in eine Puppe ("The Prince falls in love with a Doll").[22]

References

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  1. ^ Children's literature of Bengal. Academy for Documentation & Research on Children's Literature, 1978. 1978.
  2. ^ Khirer Putul(with Cd). Ananda Publishers Pvt. Limited. ISBN 9788177564990.
  3. ^ The Modern Review, Volumes 91-92. Prabasi Press Private, Limited. 1952.
  4. ^ Khirer Putul(Bangla): Bengali eBook, Children Classic. Pathok Publishers Pvt. Ltd. 30 July 2014. ISBN 9788192979809.
  5. ^ Tagore, Abanindranath. "Khirer Putul". The Pitara. Archived from the original on 26 April 2020. Retrieved 4 February 2019.
  6. ^ ঠাকুর, অবনীন্দ্রনাথ (August 2014). ক্ষীরের পুতুল / Khirer Putul (Bengali): Bengali Children's classic storie. editionNEXT.com.
  7. ^ Indian Cinema. Directorate of Film Festivals, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. 1979. p. 66.
  8. ^ "Khirer Putul". ZEE5.
  9. ^ "National Theatre Festival 2017". nandikar.net. 16 December 2017.
  10. ^ Bardhan, Kalpana, ed. (2010). The Oxford India anthology of Bengali literature. Vol. 1: 1861-1941. New Delhi: Oxford University Press. pp. 129–150.
  11. ^ Mitra, Bansari (2002). The Renovation of Folk Tales by Five Modern Bengali writers. Anthropological Survey of India. p. 38.
  12. ^ La Poupée de fromage ("Khirère poutoul"). Préface de Selma Lagerlöf. Bois dessinés et gravés par Andrée Karpelès. Éditions Ophrys. 1950.
  13. ^ Ostdockan: en bengalisk saga. K[oop.] F[örb.]:s Bokförl. 1949.
  14. ^ "OSTDOCKAN: EN BENGALISK SAGA". biblio.com/.
  15. ^ Sircar, Sanjay. Fantasy Fictions from the Bengal Renaissance: Abanindranath Tagore, ‘The Make-Believe Prince’ – Gaganendranath Tagore, ‘Toddy-Cat the Bold’. New Delhi: Oxford University Press, 2018. pp. 89-151.
  16. ^ Bardhan, Kalpana, ed. (2010). The Oxford India anthology of Bengali literature. Vol. 1: 1861-1941. New Delhi: Oxford University Press. pp. 129–150.
  17. ^ Rabindranath Tagore: Puffin Lives. Penguin UK. 15 May 2013. ISBN 9788184759914.
  18. ^ Ahuja, M. L. (18 December 2012). Eminent Indians: Ten Great Artists. Rupa Publications. ISBN 9788129127501.
  19. ^ Zipes, Jack (2020). "Fantasy Fictions from the Bengal Renaissance ed. by Sanjay Sircar (review)". Marvels & Tales. 34 (1): 121–122. Project MUSE 766045.
  20. ^ Aarne, Antti; Thompson, Stith. The types of the folktale: a classification and bibliography. Folklore Fellows Communications FFC no. 184. Helsinki: Academia Scientiarum Fennica, 1961. pp. 155-156.
  21. ^ Flora, Giuseppe (February 2021). "Fantasy Fictions from the Bengal Renaissance: Abanindranath Tagore, 'The Make-Believe Prince' – Gaganendranath Tagore, 'Toddy-Cat the Bold' . Sanjay Sircar". International Research in Children's Literature. 14 (1): 123–125. doi:10.3366/ircl.2021.0388. S2CID 234091187.
  22. ^ Marzolph, Ulrich. Typologie des persischen Volksmärchens. Beirut: Orient-Inst. der Deutschen Morgenländischen Ges.; Wiesbaden: Steiner [in Komm.], 1984. pp. 93-94.

Further reading

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  • Sircar, Sanjay (1995). "A MÄRCHEN AND A KUNSTMÄRCHEN FROM BENGAL: 'PRINCESS KALAVATI' AND ABANINDRANATH TAGORE'S THE CONDENSED-MILK DOLL (1896)". Journal of South Asian Literature. 30 (1/2): 212–52. JSTOR 40873586. Accessed 10 Nov. 2023.
  • Sircar, Sanjay (1998). "Shashthi's Land: Folk Nursery Rhyme in Abanindranath Tagore's 'The Condensed-Milk Doll'". Asian Folklore Studies. 57 (1): 25–49. doi:10.2307/1178995. JSTOR 1178995. Accessed 10 Nov. 2023.
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