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The Victory

The short story "The Victory" by Rabindranth Tagore is about a court poet named Shekhar who is secretly in love with Princess Ajita. Shekhar's relationship with the princess' maid Manjari is accepted by the king and princess. However, a new poet, Pundarik, challenges Shekhar to a "war of words" and ultimately defeats him. Devastated by his loss, Shekhar destroys his manuscripts and commits suicide. As he is dying, Princess Ajita arrives and declares Shekhar the winner, crowning him with flowers, but it is too late to save him.

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727 views1 page

The Victory

The short story "The Victory" by Rabindranth Tagore is about a court poet named Shekhar who is secretly in love with Princess Ajita. Shekhar's relationship with the princess' maid Manjari is accepted by the king and princess. However, a new poet, Pundarik, challenges Shekhar to a "war of words" and ultimately defeats him. Devastated by his loss, Shekhar destroys his manuscripts and commits suicide. As he is dying, Princess Ajita arrives and declares Shekhar the winner, crowning him with flowers, but it is too late to save him.

Uploaded by

rinaldi amalraj
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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THE VICTORY

Rabindranth Tagore’s short story “The Victory” is a story of love and loss. Shekhar, the

court poet, is secretly in love with the Princess Ajita whom he has never met or seen because she

sits behind her screen high above the court when he recites his poetry for the king. He only

knows her by the soft tinkle of the bells upon her ankles. As time passes, the princess’ maid,

Manjari, stops at the poet's home at night as she makes her way to the river. She sits on the edge

of the poet’s carpet, he calls her the “Spray of Spring Flowers,” and their relationship becomes

accepted by the King, Princess Akita, and the kings’ subjects. It is a satisfying time for all until a

new poet arrives saying, “Sire, I ask for war.”

Pundarik, the poet, was speaking of a war of words with the court poet. The two men

battled in this war of words until Pundarik makes Shekhar feel useless. The two thespians battle

with their poetry for days. Pundarik questions the words and works of the court poet until the

people believe that he is the superior wordsmith. The King ultimately crowns Pundarik with his

string of pearls much to the delight of those gathered in the hall.

Shekhar leaves the hall in shame and returns to his home where he destroys the

manuscripts of his works, many of which were devoted to his love. His work seems childish

now. He proceeds to spread the flowers he loved so much upon his bed, drinks a poison draught,

and lays down to die. As he lays close to death, he hears the faint tinkle of ankle bells as the

Princess Ajita comes to tell him that in her opinion he won the contest and with the wreath of

flowers from her neck, she crowns him the winner. Unfortunately, her actions are too late as the

poet falls back in death.

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