When Labour Becomes Loss: A Marxist Critique On Alienation in Tagore’s Kabuliwala

Abstract

The notion of alienation has been profoundly explored in Karl Marx’s writings. It reveals the estrangement of individuals from their labor, society, and sense of self due to capitalist systems. The current study employs a Marxist theory, particularly the concept of alienated labor, to critically analyze Rabindranath Tagore’s short story, Kabuliwala. The story is set in Kolkata, India, and recounts the life of Rahamat, an Afghan merchant. He grows distant from his native land, work, and personal ties. This analysis looks at the social and economic aspects of Rahamat's detachment. It highlights his displacement as a worker from another country and how personal bonds become commodities. The study also delves into Rahamat's connection with Mini, using it to criticize the way things are turned into goods for sale and the gap between rich and poor. The researcher has adopted a qualitative method for close reading, based on Caine’s model, that sheds light on how Rahamat’s experiences reflect the alienating forces of capitalism. Karl Marx's concept of alienation has been adopted as a theoretical framework, primarily focusing on his notions as expressed in the Economic and Philosophic Manuscripts of 1844 (1959) and the Communist Manifesto (1848). Roudro Mukhopadhyay’s scholarly work, Karl Marx’s Theory of Alienation (2021), has also been used to complement the core concept of the theoretical framework. By delving into the socio-economic dimensions of alienation, this research focuses on the transformative power of literature to critique structural inequalities and muster up empathy for marginalized communities.