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The Victory
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
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
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