Chitra

Chitra is a lyric drama replete with poetic raptures and contains some of the
sublimest images in literature conceived in inspired moments. It is built around Tagore’s
conception of love between man and woman and, more importantly, of woman’s
personality. Love, so regards Tagore, as a universal feeling which has remained co-
existent with Existence itself. Madana, the God of love, in the play says,

“I am he who was the first born in the heart of the Creator. I bind in bonds of pain
and bliss the lives of men and women!”

The poet further holds that woman’s nature is always true to what it is: it is
invincible. She, like the Chitra of the play, despite all her upbringing and training in
warrior’s arts and despite her ambition to break lance with the man-warrior Arjuna, easily
submits, when the time comes, to her native impulse--love. Chitra prays to God, “Give
me the power of the weak and the weapon of the unarmed hand.” In her unarmed hand is
her greatest strength and she conquers; but the wonder is that her conquest always
synchronizes with her self-surrender, “Take me, take all I am!” In that hour Heaven and
earth, time and space, pleasure and pain, death and life merge into one another in an
unbearable ecstasy. According to Tagore, for woman there is no vista beyond. She is
circumscribed by man in everything. Her final fulfillment is in keeping by the side of
man in his path of danger and daring.

“If you deign to keep me by your side in the path of danger and daring, if you
allow me to share the great duties of your life, then you will know my true self”

says Chitra. She finds her completion in man; but man having had the woman, starts
dancing again to the drum-beat of battle. The restless Spirit is on him and he must go out
‘achieving’ in his own way in the wide world. He could afford to go alone, but if a
woman has chosen him, she must follow and race on side by side with him, wherever he
goes.