Not just a story; it is an emotion: Bimal Roy's 'Kabuliwala' back on Mumbai stage

There are some stories that slip through the cracks of time and still stay with us, like the scent of old books or the sound of a lullaby.

- Yogesh Pawar

MUMBAI: Rabindranath Tagore's 'Kabuliwala' is one such tale—quietly profound, heartbreakingly human. First published in 1892, this tender short story explores the unlikely bond between a little Bengali girl named Mini and an Afghan door-to-door dry-fruit seller, Rahmat. Set in colonial Calcutta, the narrative delicately weaves themes of longing, fatherhood, and the universality of human emotion. Through the Kabuliwala's affection for Mini—reminiscent of the daughter he left behind in Kabul—Tagore crafts a poignant medit