Nationalism and Religion

Perhaps the most important theme in The Home and the World involves the joint themes of nationalism and religion. The novel's action is driven by the Swadeshi movement, led by Sandip Babu. Though Sandip realizes the movement has the potential to become violent, he believes freedom is worth the cost. Bimala becomes engrossed in this movement, while Nikhil, her husband, refrains from the fervor, choosing to love his country as it is rather than as Sandip would make it. This theme is expressed most obviously through Sandip's desire to ban foreign goods from the market, but Nikhil refuses to use tyranny to force nationalism on his tenants, despite Bimala's pleas.

Nikhil's views are strongly influenced by his religious beliefs, while Sandip's perspective is upon a more worldly view. Sandip's view of reality, as he sees it, is strongly based upon his belief in nationalism and obtaining...