Summary:

The Cabuliwallah is from Kabul. His real name is Abdur Rahman. He works as a peddler in India. He goes to Kabul once a year to visit his wife and little daughter. In the course of selling goods, once he reaches the house of writer, Rabindranath Tagore. Then his five years daughter, Mini calls him ‘Cabuliwallah! A Cabuliwallah’.

When Cabuliwallah goes to visit Mini she is afraid because he is wearing loose solid clothes and a tall turban. He looks gigantic. When the writer knows that Mini is afraid, he introduces her to him. The Cabuliwallah gives her some nuts and raisins. Mini becomes happy from next day, the Cabuliwallah often visits her and he gives her something to eat.

They crack jokes and laugh and enjoy. They also feel comfortable in the company of each other. The writer likes their friendship. But Mini’s mother doesn’t like it. She thinks that a peddler like Cabuliwallah can be a child lifter. However, Mini and the Cabuliwallah becomes an intimate friend.

The Cabuliwallah sells seasonal goods. Once he sells a Rampuri shawl to a customer on credit. He asks him for the money many times but he doesn’t pay. At last, he denies buying the shawl. The Cabuliwallah becomes very angry and stabs the customer.

Then he is arrested by police and taken to jail. He is jailed for eight years. When he is freed from jail at first he goes to visit Mini surprisingly. It is the wedding day and he isn’t allowed to visit her.

When he shows the finger of a piece of paper to the writer, he permits to meet Mini who is in a wedding dress. The writer knows that the Cabuliwallah has no money to go back to his house so the writer cuts of the wedding expenses like a light and bands and gives one hundred rupees to the Cabuliwallah and sends him to Kabul.

Interpretation:

The writer may be trying to show the attitude of peoples towards foreigners and poor peddlers. Although the Cabuliwallah is very simple and honest, the writer’s wife suspects him as a child lifter also tries to cheat him by not paying his money.

The story also shows the plight of the people due to poverty. If the Cabuliwallah had enough money, he would not come to India leaving his wife and daughter in Kabul. The writer seems to shows that temper ruins anyone.

If Cabuliwallah didn’t stab the customer, he wouldn’t have to go to jail. This story is also full of feelings of humanity. The writer cuts off the wedding expenses and helps the Cabuliwallah.

Critical Thinking:

Although this story is full of the feeling of humanity, some ideas of the writer are skeptical. Does a man leave his children freely with a stranger? Does a peddler give things to other children freely every time? Does the Cabuliwallah stab the customer? Can we find anyone who helps others by cutting off wedding expenses? So, I don’t agree with the writer totally.

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Debbani Bose
Debbani Bose
7 years ago

its good! shows a mixture of humanity, temper, friendship…etc.

sannia
sannia
8 years ago

Perfect way for student!

Natasha F.
Natasha F.
Reply to  sannia
6 years ago

Ya of course

Mosese
Mosese
5 years ago

What are some style used by the narrator?

Thomas G.
Thomas G.
7 years ago

Like sannia said, this is good for students. Good job.

Ahmad Jibran
Ahmad Jibran
7 years ago

very helpful… and its really interesting …

amna saqib
amna saqib
7 years ago

Great work

Syed Ibrahim Maaz
Syed Ibrahim Maaz
7 years ago

It is Kabuliwala actually. Please correct. Other than that its alright!!!
🙂

Lemuel
Lemuel
3 years ago

What is the value in the story?

Mirra
Mirra
6 years ago

Really helpful… and easy to understand😊👌

Sairithik S.
Sairithik S.
1 year ago

Thank you very much 😊

Muhammad Kamran Marwat
Muhammad Kamran Marwat
5 years ago

Yes!! A man can leave his children with any stranger only when he feels that he is not stranger..Yes,of course,a peddler gives things freely to others children often if not everytime..
I’m totally agree with the writer and he is not skeptical regarding his ideas..

Mohammad Aslam
Mohammad Aslam
6 years ago

I am from the same language as was kabliwalla.Our pashtoon people even now give things free and sometimes with low price to forgners and espically to children.It always happens to me, whenever i go to my villiage. when my small sister asks for any thing at shop esp in town’s shop it is given free.So having skeptical remarks about kabliwallah is not right.The more you go past the more were the people generious and showed more affection to children in particular.

Deyron S.
Deyron S.
7 years ago

this is very helpful

Keerthana seha
Keerthana seha
Reply to  Deyron S.
6 years ago

Good😊

Bhargavi
Bhargavi
6 years ago

Its is a nice story

C. Tode
C. Tode
7 years ago

Its really helpful!!
.

Aklesh
Aklesh
4 years ago

That is good bro or sis thanks for helping

Hriti B.
Hriti B.
6 years ago

Not bad, but need more detail

Prinsa
Prinsa
2 years ago

What is the theme/central idea of the story ‘the cabuliwallah’

POONAM HARIRAM JADHAV
POONAM HARIRAM JADHAV
Reply to  Prinsa
10 months ago

HUMAN RELATIONSHIPS, FRIENDSHIP & FATHERLY LOVE

Aarav Sharma
Aarav Sharma
3 years ago

good great liked it!

Krisveen
Krisveen
5 years ago

Nice and easy to understand