Critical analysis of the story "The Homecoming", By Rabindranath Tagore

1. Unnati Garg
“The Homecoming” – Rabindranath Tagore

2. Summary
Home Coming is the tale of a 14 years old boy who was a nuisance to his mother, was sent
away for studying and died there unloved and longing for his home. There has not been a single
person in India who did not weep after reading this Tagore story.
The boy grew up lazy, wild and violent and thought about doing new mischiefs every day.
Phatik Chakravarthi was a 14 years old Bengali boy whose father died very early. He grew up
lazy, wild and disobedient. His younger brother Makhan Chakravarthi was quiet, good and
fond of reading. Phatik thought about doing new mischiefs every day. One day he and his
retinue of boys pushed into the river a wooden log meant to be shaped as the mast of a boat.
Makhan, objecting to this and sitting firmly on the log, was thrown to water along with the log.
At home, when he was questioned about this, he beat not only his brother, but his mother also.
It was then that his uncle from the far Calcutta City arrived. He agreed to take the boy along
with him to Calcutta to be educated there. The boy was only glad to leave, but the mother was
only half-relieved and half-sad.
He missed the meadow, mountain and river in his native village, became a failure at school and
began to always ask, when holidays would come.
Phatik's uncle had three sons of his own and his aunt did not like this new addition to their
family. A 14 years old boy will have his own problems too. He was fast growing up. He was
neither a child nor a man, crossing the line in between. He missed the meadow, mountain and
river of his native village. Therefore, it was no wonder he became a failure at school. He
answered no questions, was beaten badly daily at school and ridiculed by all including his
cousins. He grew impatient about returning to home and began always asking, when the
holidays would come.
In his delirium, he talked about things in his native village, asked his mother not to beat him
anymore and called out fathom-marks which steamer-sailors in his native village river did.
One day Phatik lost his lesson book and was scolded and abused much by his aunt. It served as
the last hurt to break him. On a rainy afternoon after school, feeling fever and headache, he
sought shelter somewhere and did not return home. He did not want to trouble his aunt any
more. Police help was sought the next day. They found him and brought him home, shivering
and fallen into a delirious state. He talked about things in his native village, asked his mother
not to beat him anymore and called out fathom-marks which steamer-sailors in his native
village river did. He moved restlessly, his hands beating up and down. His condition seemed
critical to the doctor, and his mother in the village was sent for. When his mother arrived
moaning and crying, and calling his names, he was nearing his eternal home which is Heaven.
His last words were: Mother, the holidays have come.

3. Themes
1. The contrast between country-life and city-life
The country-life is generally understood to be pure and uncorrupted. The same holds
true in this story. There is green lush of “glorious meadow”, river banks and open
spaces. A city is deprived of such natural gifts, instead, it is congested with concrete
jungles. Phatik was a “ringleader” amongst his friends in the village, while in Calcutta,
he is left neglected “like a stray dog that has lost its master.” The boy whose proposal
was unanimously seconded in the village, finds himself being jeered and insulted by his
own cousins in Calcutta!
2. State of confusion at growing ages
Tagore has made interesting observations on a boy of fourteen. It is indeed true that
puberty and teenage are times when we are in a state of confusion, owing to several
physical, mental and moral changes in ourselves. Puberty is the intermediate stage
between childishness and youthhood. We fail to identify ourselves with either. That is
why we crave for a sense of belongingness at this age. Phatik too longs for love and
acceptance in his aunt’s home but fails to get it.
3. Narrow acceptability of urban education
The story reveals how modern education in cities is unwelcoming to village folks who
may not be acquainted with the nuances of city-life. Phatik was the most “backward
boy” in his school; however, the teachers, instead of making a genuine effort to
understand him, see him as an “overladen ass” to be caned unmercifully. Thus, Tagore
seems to suggest that modern education is a sort of homogenization, rather than
differentiation, and it fails to cater to all as per their differential needs.
4. Search for economic prospects in urban centres
The story highlights the pull-off factor for urban centres, and thus touches the theme of
migration in some way. Bishamber had already earned a fortune in Bombay, and now
he wanted to finance Phatik’s education in Calcutta so that he could better his family’s
economic position, given that Phatik had already lost his father and was supposed to be
the sole breadwinner for the family.
5. Wavering between uncertain paths
When we are young, we think future days have something interesting in store for us.
When we reach there, we miss the memories of youthhood. The same holds true for
Phatik in some ways. The boy who was pestering his uncle to go to the city now wanted
to get back to his village!

4. Justification of the Title
The title "The Homecoming" is appropriate because Phatik has several different crossroads in
the story that involve coming home—both symbolically and literally.
The first homecoming Phatik experiences is at the beginning of the story. His younger,
favoured brother was injured in a scuffle and ran home to tattle to their mother. Phatik delays
returning home because he knows that he'll face an unjust punishment.
When he finally goes home, however, he has the opportunity to go to another home. His uncle
Bhishamber offers to take him to Calcutta, where he'll be educated and live with his cousins.
Phatik is very excited to go—and even makes peace with his brother Makhan for the first time
when he gives him his treasured goods.
That homecoming was another disappointment. Though Phatik was excited to go to Calcutta,
he quickly learns that his aunt resents him and he's out of place there. Despite his attempts to
please her, he's never able to. He also dislikes the city of Calcutta itself and misses his life in
the country. When he asks whether he can go home, his uncle says, "Wait till the holidays
come."
When two police officers return him to his uncle's home after he runs away, it's his third
homecoming. This one is even worse, as he's ill from his escape. It's implied that Phatik is
dying.
The final potential homecoming is Phatik's impending death. He waits for his mother, looking
disappointed when she isn't there (despite his negative hallucinations about her beating him).
She finally comes, but the doctor says his condition is critical. Tagore writes, "Phatik very
slowly turned his head and, without seeing anybody, said: "Mother, the holidays have come."
It's the first time his mother has shown him affection in a long time, calling him her darling
and throwing herself onto his bed.
Motifs
1. Holidays
Phatik keeps asking his uncle in Calcutta “Have the holidays come yet?” and “When
can I go home?” This incessant questioning assumes the form of the literary device of
a refrain.
In the end, Phatik himself answers the refrain, saying,'' Mother, the holidays have
come.” It may be assumed that the lonely, isolated and feverish Phatik set-off for the
holidays of eternity (may be death) after getting a glimpse of his mother.
2. Scoldings
In his village, Phatik is scolded by his mother who sees him as a source of “perpetual
nuisance.” In Calcutta, Phatik is rebuked by his aunt who sees the “country lout” as

5. good-for-nothing. Thus, Phatik is destined to be reprimanded for many things he cannot
control much!
3. Abandonment
The story brings out how nothing, but abandonment is destined for Phatik. First, his
mother abandons him from his village. In the city, his aunt despises his presence. His
cousins abandon him by mocking and insulting him. His teachers make no effort to
understand him. Bishamber, who should ave assumed a more responsible guardianship
for Phatik remains a mute spectator all along, while all the other characters desert Phatik
to desolation and loneliness.
When Phatik makes peace with his younger brother Makhan, we can assume that
Makhan could become Phatik’s best confidant. However, it is already too late by now
because by then Bishamber has already planned to take Phatik to Calcutta.
Character Analysis
Phatik
The protagonist of the story "The Homecoming" is Phatik Chakravorty. The story traces the
tumultuous journey of Phatik - from a "ringleader" to the like of a "stray dog that has lost its
master."
In the beginning of the story, Phatik typifies a village boy laced with a carefree attitude. The
author embarks upon setting a vivid contrast between the 'rural' Phatik and an 'urban' Phatik.
In the village, Phatik is involved in several acts of mischief. It is notable that the story itself
opens with Phatik carrying out a mischievous activity.
Phatik's change in behaviour begins when he is about to leave for the city but ensures to make
peace with his brother Makhan, and so gives him his toys. This is a significant change in
Phatik, and it is insinuated as if Phatik must get all-ready to embrace the changes on the anvil
lest he should be swept away by those very changes. It is said that change alone is constant.
Unfortunately, Phatik, a "country lout" and an "overladen ass" (as held by his aunt) fails to
'chip in' through the jostling of city life.
Phatik's stay in Calcutta is marked by a string of attitudinal coldness displayed by the people
he comes across. His aunt despises his presence, his cousins tease him, while his teachers
flog him mercilessly. Phatik could have found a saviour in his uncle; however, Bishamber,
his uncle, does not assume a proactive role in making the young boy feel 'at home' in his
home.
The author has designed Bishamber's character such that he remains a mute spectator when
Phatik is facing troubles. He had not even 'briefed' Phatik as to what all the young boy could
anticipate in a city.
Phatik tries to escape but to no avail. He bears the brunt of his aunt yet again, and an
unabated chain of scolding and taunting takes a toll on his health. It only ends up aggravating

6. his ill-health. In the end, when his mother storms into Bishamber's, house Phatik opens his
shivering mouth only to answer the question ("Have the holidays come yet?") that he asks
his uncle many a times in the story.
The story ends up with the answering refrain "Mother, the holidays have come. " It's left
open to the readers to surmise, as per their own understanding, as to what Phatik's answer
entails. It may allude to some greater metaphysical debate, but then literature is social science
- open to differing opinions and interpretations.
Conclusion
The story “The Homecoming” brings out the sad fate of Phatik Chakravorty who fails to chip
in through the city-life. The last line of the story – “Mother, the holidays have come”-
continues to haunt readers as to what exactly happened with Phatik. Did he leave for the
‘holidays’ forever? (Did Phatik die?). There is a strong possibility that Phatik entered the long
sleep of eternity. However, we are not told as to what happens next. It is left for the readers to
surmise as per their own understanding. And it is this ambiguity that makes this story so
interesting.
One thing can be safely concluded that Phatik’s homecoming is not the village home that he
longed for, but some other home. It is left for you and me to decipher the softer meanings of
that some other home where we all will enter, some day or the other.