Unexplored Literature: Fakir Mohan Senapati's 'Rebati'

Introduction

• Discussion on Fakir Mohan Senapati's short story "Rebati"
• Overview of the writer and key themes

About Fakir Mohan Senapati

• Born on January 13, 1843
• Early education in village, higher education in Cuttack
• Prolific writer, poet, and social reformer
• Known as the father of Odia prose fiction
• Notable works: 'Rebati,' 'Mamu,' 'Pit and Medicine'
• Themes: social issues, caste discrimination, superstition, exploitation

Characters in 'Rebati'

• Rebati: 10-year-old intelligent girl, likes to sing devotional songs, read Bhagavad Gita, studious
• Shyam Bandhu: Rebati’s progressive father
• Basudev Mahapatra: Village schoolteacher and orphan, respects Rebati's parents, secret love towards Rebati
• Rebati's unnamed mother
• Rebati's grandmother

Plot Summary

• Historical context: Girls’ education not promoted in earlier times
• Rebati wishes to study, but societal expectations limit her to traditional roles
• Shyam Bandhu enrolls Rebati in a village girls' school despite societal opposition
• Basudev teaches at Rebati’s school and they secretly fall in love
• Rebati's parents pass away; grandmother blames Rebati’s education for their deaths, linking it to superstition
• Basudev dies of cholera, followed by Rebati's death
• Story ends with grandmother left alone, reflecting on societal prejudices

Themes in 'Rebati'

Feminism

• Equal rights for men and women
• Misinterpretation of feminism (not about female dominance)
• Example: Shyam Bandhu supporting Rebati’s education

Girl Education

• Rebati’s desire to study despite societal expectations
• Representation of talent and ambition in girls

Superstition

• Grandmother blaming Rebati’s education for the misfortune
• Reflects superstitious beliefs in historical context

Possible Exam Questions

• Questions may address superstitions in Indian history
• Thematic questions related to feminism and girl education
• Comparative questions with other stories like Chugtai's 'The Quilt'

Conclusion

• Importance of thematic understanding of the story
• Tips on thematic answers and story comparison for exams