The Financial Infrastructure Of The Industrial Revolution

The financial infrastructure that allowed Western Europe to rise to prominence during the Industrial Revolution was mainly created during the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries. During this period, one saw financial innovations including the creation of basic banking systems and the arrival of multinational firms. In this essay, Carlos and Nicholas’ Early Chartered Companies: Analogues of the Modern Multinationals will be analyzed along with Liam Brunt’s Rediscovering Risk: Country Banks as Venture Capital Firms in the Industrial Revolution in order to further understand the similarities and differences between country banks and joint-stock companies as well as to see how the financial foundation was built in the era that became the industrial revolution. In order to clearly compare and contrast country banks and joint-stock companies, it is first imperative to define them. Research by Haber, Maurer, Lamoereaux, Temin and Voth show that country banks provided a lot of the same services that modern banks do, including â€Å"taking deposits and making loans† as well as â€Å"offering safety deposit services, means of remittance, and holding and trading securities for clients.† On the other hand, joint-stock companies or ‘chartered companies’ were early trading companies that allowed retail (individual) investors to buy and sell shares of a firm. While on the surface, the two ideas seem vastly different, there were many commonalities between them. One common theme between country banks andShow MoreRelatedThe Industrial Revolution in Europe1217 Words   |  5 Pagesliberalism, the enlightened age, Infrastructure, and the economic climate allowed Great Britain to seek new job opportunities and exploit new business ideas. In addition, literacy, public education and the middle class was rising immensely. Concepts like partnerships and selling shares were introduced during this time period. The process of the Industrial Revolution was rapid in Western Europe however, by the 1900 all of Europe was involved. Over all, the effects of the revolution changed the way materialsRead MoreRole Of Infrastructure And Rural Development1243 Words   |  5 PagesResearch Question For my dissertation, I am to examine The Role of Infrastructure and Rural Development in Explaining the Banking-Growth Nexus in India: Evidence from State Level Data.The relation between financial development and economic growth has been under debate for a long time, despite there being evidences of financial and banking sector devolvement playing an important role in economic development the evidences from within the developing economies is rather mixed. Literature Review EconomistsRead MoreBritain During The 19th Century809 Words   |  4 Pagescreated steam engine, industries such as the iron and textile developed into major providers of wealth in the trade network of Britain. With growing industries and a source connection to new technologies, Britain simultaneously became the first urban industrial society. (Harley 396). However, no great progression occurs without a form of opposition. Britain’s complex system of coins, which included pences, shillings, pounds, crowns, farthings, guineas, marks and nobles, became a target for counterfeitingRead MoreImportant Factors Leading to Industrial Revolution1606 Words   |  7 PagesNowadays, it is almost taken for granted that the industrial revolutions are the result of changing technology and the proper application of that in the industrial production. However, from my point of view, these two factors did play a vital role in stimulating industrial revolutions, but they were not the only catalyzer propelling monumental development in industry. Influentially, the improvements in organizations of politics, social patterns, commerce, finance, and transportation alsoRead MoreThe Dynamics of Military Revolution1505 Words   |  6 Pages1918, western warfare went through four periods that saw such profound change that it can fairly be said that a military revolution occurred. According to historians MacGregor Knox and Williamson Murray, military revolutions fundamentally change the framework of war and recast society and the state as well as military organizations. While all of the military revolutions studied in H100 were important in the evolution of warfare, one clearly stimulated greater change than the others. ThesisRead MoreThe Industrial Revolution And The French Revolution1264 Words   |  6 PagesBoth the Industrial Revolution and the French Revolution induced great social transformations from the end of the 18th century on. The revolutions laid the foundation for the journey of modernization for Great Britain and France. Although the two countries were merely separated by the English Channel, the relatively low degree of pre-industrial international communications hindered the interaction of both events. Nevertheless, it is not coincidental that the revolutions occurred roughly at the sameRead MoreTheories or Concept Practices of Developing Countries1234 Words   |  5 Pagespractices of Developing Countries Developing nations have undergone many transformations in terms of governance, education, infrastructure, economy and on human rights issues. Developing countries have utilized a lot of concepts and practices in order to meet society needs. Over the last decade, African countries had dictatorial leaders, but since the beginning of this century, revolutions have taken place, a very good example is the fall of Gaddafis, Mubaraks governments in Libya and Egypt respectivelyRead MoreThe Industrial Revolution936 Words   |  4 Pageseconomist Robert Emerson Lucas wrote in regards to the Industrial revolution: For the first time in history, the living standards of the masses of ordinary people have begun to undergo sustained growth. The novelty of the discovery that a human society has this potential for generating sustained improvement in the material aspects of the lives of all its members, not just the ruling elite, cannot be overstressed.† (Lucas 2002). The revolution itself was centred in Britain before spreading to theRead MoreThe Industrial Revolution Was A Movement1335 Words   |  6 PagesThe Industrial Revolution was a movement which contributed to significant progress in America which began in the later 1700’s throughout the later 1800’s. During the industrial revolution, dramatic economic and cultural shifts took place. The discovery of the mineral wealth, technological advancements, and the construction of a nationwide railway changed the transportation industry as well as its labor force. These changes ushered in an intense need for manufacturing factories, laborers, and resourcesRead MoreSummary : Forging The National Economy1664 Words   |  7 Pagesfrom all over the country were pushed west in search of cheap land and opportunity, alongside European immigrants Newly invented machinery quickened the cultivation of crops and manufacturing of goods, with more laboring working demands Better infrastructure and transportation helped move people, raw materials, and manufactured goods The recent momentum led to a more dynamic national economy The Westward Movement The rise of the first western president exemplified westward expansion The nation

Reaganomics and Its Effect on Minority Groups - 1519 Words

The most noteworthy component of Ronald Reagan’s two terms as leader of the free world are the laws, regulations, and policies passed under his two terms as President of the United States. These regulations soon became known as â€Å"Reaganomics†, a term that is still used today to describe these policies. Hidden underneath the manufactured depiction of Reaganomics policies by mass media lies a controversial observation: these policies may have created a permanent shift in American society which, as a result, disenfranchised minorities since they went into effect over thirty years ago. This particular idea or theory is exceptionally contradictory and has been distorted by not only various media outlets but by subsequent pro-Reaganomics†¦show more content†¦The income received by the top 5% of highest incomes increased by 5%. This also increased the income wage gap between races (primarily white and black) and the wage gap between social classes (middle class a nd wealthy) as the number of Americans below the poverty line increased by more than 2 million. Despite its successes on the American economical structure and more significantly, its benefits for the rich, Reaganomics jeopardized the welfare of Americans of the lower class as Reagan’s administration cut 60% of funding towards social programs that primarily assisted mothers, children, and minorities like Social Security, Medicaid, Food Stamps, and federal education programs. The administration also proved to be detrimental to the citizens in the urban area with budget cuts to federal legal services for the poor as well as decreased funding for public transportation and the eliminated anti-poverty programs such as the Community Development Block program. When Reagan first came into office, city budgets used over 20 percent of federal funding but towards 1988, it decreased to 6 percent. The results of these cuts were so destructive that many inner city schools, public libraries, hospital/clinics, police and fire departments were forced to close down indefinitely. With thirty percent of African Americans below the poverty line, these spending cuts sparked the onset of several implications for African American family life, such as the halving of the housing andShow MoreRelatedThe Changing American Culture Essay1324 Words   |  6 Pagessolution. According to Peter Ferrara in â€Å"Reaganomics vs Obamanomics† Ronald Reagan said in his speech during his first inauguration â€Å" In this present crisis government is not the solution to our problem; government is the problem†. This shows that people of his generation tended to be more independent and solve their own problems rather than be dependent and expect the government to do it for them. According to William Niskanen in â€Å"Reaganomics† Ronald Reagan adjusted the tax code soRead MoreThe 80s Of Ronald Reagan1441 Words   |  6 Pagesconservatism that liberals have not succeeded in reversing. Reagan is part of a select group of political leaders, including Thomas Jefferson and W. Wilson, whose names because watchwords for political creeds and stances toward Reagan was indeed the guy for the job as his ideals and promises couldn t been more like what the people wanted. Regan after cleverly dealing with Congress, he obtained legislation known as Reaganomics, based on liberal doctrines of stimulation of economic growth, reduction of inflationRead MoreGender Analysis : The War On Drugs 3624 Words   |  15 PagesReagan administration. The War on Drugs led to lots of arrests because the stereotypical drug user was African Americans. Police also used corrupt practices targeting African Americans. Media defined the typical criminal as an African American male. Minority neighborhoods are a focus of police. Officers are given an unacceptable amount of discretion that creates racism. When these people get issued a sentence that adds more racism. When released from prison, they face an unsupportive uncompassionateRead MoreEssay about The Many Benefits of Affirmative Action2038 Words   |  9 PagesAffirmative Action   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Affirmative action has helped the income, promotion and labor force participation rates of both women and minorities. For example, between 1982 and 1995, the percentage of female managers and professionals in the U.S. rose from 40.5 to 48.0 percent; blacks from 5.5 to 7.5 percent, and Hispanics from 5.2 to 7.6 percent. By comparison, these groups form 51.2 percent, 12.6 percent, and 10.2 percent of the population, respectively. Progress has been steady, but still incompleteRead MoreEconomics And Classical Liberal Economics1900 Words   |  8 Pagessystem in most countries around the world. However, this soon changed after the oil crisis in the 1970’s and after government intervention was blamed for stagflation, paving the way for the rise in neoliberal economics dominated by Thatcherism and Reaganomics. The difference between neoliberal economics and classical liberal economics is the rejection of Adam Smith’s theory of the invisible hand of supply and demand and believe it will worsen the economy. However, even though neoliberal economics thrivedRead MoreUs History Reagan, H.W Bush, Clinton, Reaganomics3670 Words   |  15 PagesJohnson had brought into action a policy that ensured underprivileged minorities and women access to education, jobs, and promotion. However, in 1978 during the landmark Supreme Court case of Regents of the University of California v. Bakke, a white man, Bakke, applied twice to a California medical school but was rejected both times on the grounds of his age and also because the medical school had sixteen reserved seats for minority applicants. The final verdict of the court case declared that collegeRead MoreEssay about Occupy Wall Street Movement1817 Words   |  8 Pageseconomic implication is that â€Å"†¦they really owe us [the taxpayers] for saving their necks. It’s high time they started paying what they owe.† (Haidt, 2011) http://reason.com/archives/2011/12/30/the-moral-foundations-of-occupy-wall-str The minority of OWS is the view of those on Wall Street (â€Å"the 1 percent†). In order to justify their amount of wealth, they make the claim that everybody gets what they deserve, and a person must earn his way. They argue that the stories of rising from ragsRead MoreEssay His 135 Week 9 Final Project3576 Words   |  15 Pagesviewpoints, and the Senator J. McCarthy’s allegations. (Halberstam, 1994). The Civil Rights Movement, in the 1950s, did have some rather impressive improvements. These improvements occurred not because of an individual person or single group, but of a movement that seemed to unite and solidify even through adversity. Possibly it was the best time cause, Blacks had served in World War II, exposing some White Americans to race issues for the first time; the country was centered on anti-communismRead MoreLeadership Style of Sir Richard Branson2305 Words   |  10 Pagesangry with me that he urged my impeachment. I was very relaxed. The odds were that, if the issue ever did reach the president, he would just have a good laugh. Of course, the threat of my impeachment quickly evaporated. Lesson 5: Use Humor to Good Effect. Yes, Ronald Reagan loved to tell funny stories. One of his favorite ones concerned the boy who was digging through a manure pile. His explanation for that strange action was that there had to be a pony in it somewhere. But usually the presidentRead MorePre-Columbian Period9302 Words   |  38 Pagesago.[10] Some of these groups migrated south and east, and over time spread throughout the Americas. These were the ancestors to modern Native Americans in the United States and Alaskan Native peoples, as well as all indigenous peoples of the Americas. Many indigenous peoples were semi-nomadic tribes of hunter-gatherers; others were sedentary and agricultural civilizations. Many formed new tribes or confederations in response to European colonization. Well-known groups included the Huron, Apache

Explain “The Time Machine’s” View Of Humanity Free Essays

H. G. Wells was fascinated by the theory of evolution and how far that mankind could control its own destiny. We will write a custom essay sample on Explain â€Å"The Time Machine’s† View Of Humanity? or any similar topic only for you Order Now This is evident in other novels of Wells such as â€Å"War of the Worlds† and â€Å"The Shape of Things to Come†. However nowhere is his fear for mankind’s future more evident than in his novel â€Å"The Time Machine†. His love of humanity in crisis and scientific theories have produced this great book, that has a surprising reflection of what could be seen as the views and pessimistic jitters of the author. Personally I believe there are two characters in the novel that present Wells’ views. I believe that the main character of the book named â€Å"The Time Traveller† was meant to represent the author’s fear and disillusion for the future of humanity. The other character being â€Å"Filby† who is the â€Å"Time Traveller’s† best friend seems to be an eternal optimist whom is hoping that one day mankind will see the error of its ways and make an about turn from the fate that Wells portrays to be that of man in the future. To study in depth the â€Å"Time Machine’s† portrayal of humanity we must further look into the different societies at different periods of the novel and find out the â€Å"Time Machine’s † views on these social groups. Being strictly chronological, the first society that we must look at in order to make a comparison was the society of law and order to which he belonged, Victorian England. A poor time and place to live in, the common folk scarcely made enough money to survive and disease soon spread among the cities and eventually caused London to smell repulsively. These times were of flourish to those in the upper classes who wallowed in more money than one ordinary human could ever aspire to accumulate. These people thought of themselves only as as the upper class this was to the extent that those lower would not be allowed to address the upper class citizens. Unjustly those poorer than themselves were not treated as a society in poverty but they were treated as lazy ungrateful mob that were treated as slaves. At this point in history child labour had not yet been abolished and children were still treated like slaves carrying out all the tasks that the upper class would have never even known how to complete. Most citizens of the lower classes were poorly spoken and were uneducated, these people new of only their trade that could earn them a small amount of money to eat and sleep. In comparison to this grueling shameful era, Wells, in the early part of the book is using Filby as the narrator and the only part of this society that is touched upon by the novel is the upper class. I think this shows an ignorance to the people below him almost to the extent where one could say that Wells was ashamed or embarrassed to live in the era that he did and he portrayed this through the early chapters of The Time Machine. We can tell this by looking at the complexity of scientific understanding that Filby and The Time Traveller posses. In and around that period in history only the very upper class would be this finely schooled. Further evidence to support this claim of ignorance towards the lower class is that only the high ranking important local figures are present at the introduction and demonstration of the time machine. Such figures include a Provincial Mayor, a psychologist, a medical man and an Editor. These high class figures all well spoken and showed good understanding of the Time Traveller’s theories. I think that all this shows that Wells who is portraying his views through the novel is not happy with the scum and diseased era in which he resides but will do anything to get out into the future. At this point social status played a key part in society and it seems that Wells wants to experience a world with out this binding moral code. After the The Time Traveller takes his first dive into the future he encounters a new society in the very distant future. Which for no apparent reason he names the Eloi. This new society functions in very different way to what The Time Traveller is used to. â€Å"Apparently, the house or even the idea of a household, had vanished. â€Å",†Ã¢â‚¬ËœCommunism! ‘† I said to myself. † These two quotes show The Time Traveller’s great shock to seeing the degrading of society, if you could call it society. He reaches the conclusion that the human species had eventually evolved so far that they no longer had any need to fend for themselves or work at all. All work equal in this new communist society and meat was not anywhere on the menu. The Eloi strictly feasted on the fruits that they each harvest when they feel like it from the large fruit garden which is now earth. All reminiscence of architecture and civilization has completed vanished without trace from mankind. The Time Traveller seems to be disappointed at the simple relaxed society he has entered in the far future. As it seems to him that the all of mankind’s history and long evolutionary process has all been for nothing. He found nothing that would please him in this place. I think that at this point Wells becomes pessimistic about what mankind’s future could hold. When The Time Traveller sees that man has evolved into simple communist beings his hopes of meeting an advanced modern world are destroyed and he will begin to explore the new world to find something that will give him a reinvestment of hope to keep him motivated. Later on in the story The Time Traveller discovers a second underground race. He draws the conclusion that the Eloi or upper world may have evolved from the once favored aristocracy or upper class and the underworld society or â€Å"The Morlocks† by name given by The Time Traveller evolved from the labouring mechanical servants of that very aristocracy. The Morlocks hunted and fed on the Eloi. They hunted in packs and banded together showing the strong social bond similar quest for survival and social gain that the lower classes of Victorian England showed. Discovering the new race did not make The Time Traveller anymore optimistic, in fact this may of even made him even more hopeless than before. Now he has seen the future result of two races evolving to form a simple body of simple beings doing nothing more than providing for their needs and pleasure. There was no technological advance or social advanced. Almost like the human race had reached a peak many years before The Time Traveller had stopped to examine things and then began to devolve into simple happy communist beings that were all equal. I think that The Time Traveller’s final view of humanity is not one of hope or optimism, â€Å"Once again I saw the dim shadows, that were evidence of decadent humanity†. This is his final point of view, he has seen the end. He has seen what is referred to in the novel as the sunset of mankind. He has nothing to look forward to. He knows that man is one day or another to become extinct. So do we all, but we still have the greatest hope that our final hour won’t be so soon. The Time Traveller gives up all hope of ever being able to change the world enough to avoid the terrible decadence of our race. I think it is hard to tell whether Wells’ is a pessimist or not through the actions and words of his characters. I think The Time Traveller’s personality is inconsistent. He started out as an optimist with every hope of going forward or back in time and saving or changing humanity for the better. But as The Time Traveller sees more and more of the dim and distant future he becomes a pessimist with nothing in his aspirations. Whereas Filby, has a positive outlook from the onset of the story and in the epilogue gives his opinion and motivational summary to spur on the human race to do well and stay dominant. I think it would be very difficult to decide whether Wells’ is representing himself through The Time Traveller or through Filby. But I have come to the conclusion that Wells is the optimist with a positive outlook on life. I think this although without the epilogue the book would have an inappropriate cinematic ending it still is the only place, I believe, where Wells has put his true hopes for humanity into the story. I think Wells has used the Time Traveller to convey some of his other views and theories into World. In conclusion I think that Wells would not have described today’s modern world as a dystopia. This is because all that humanity has worked for over the years is in effect and benefiting a lot of people. There is still social order and a justice system. Wells’ final view is one of distant but prosperous hope, and I think so long as the book leads the reader to believe this it will draw their ideal world into a brighter future. How to cite Explain â€Å"The Time Machine’s† View Of Humanity?, Essays

Failure is the stepping stone to success free essay sample

?Rahmat (Chhabi Biswas), a middle-aged fruit seller from Afghanistan, comes to Calcutta to hawk his merchandise and befriends a small Bengali girl called Mini (Tinku Thakur) who reminds him of his own daughter back in Afghanistan. He puts up at a boarding house along with his countrymen. One day Rehmat receives news of his daughter’s illness through a letter from his country and he decides to leave for his country. Since he is short of money he decides to sell his goods on credit for increasing his business. Later, when he goes to collect on his money, one of his customers abuses him and in the fight that ensues Rehmat warns that he will not tolerate abuse and stabs the guy when he does not stop the abuse. In the court Rehmats lawyer tries to obfuscate the facts but in his characteristic and simple fashion Rehmat states the truth in a matter of fact way. The judge, pleased with Rehmats honesty, gives him 10 years rigorous imprisonment instead of the death sentence. On the day of his release he goes to meet Mini but discovers that she has grown up into a 14-year old girl and is about to get married. Mini does not recognize Rehmat, who realizes that his own daughter must have forgotten him too. Minis father gives Rehmat the money for travel out of Minis wedding budget to which Mini agrees; she also sends a gift for Rehmats daughter. Summary[edit] Abdur Rehman Khan (Balraj Sahni), a middle-aged dry fruit seller from Kabul (Afghanistan), comes to Calcutta to hawk his merchandise and befriends a small Bengali girl called Mini the daughter of Rabindranath Tagore who reminds him of his own daughter Amina back in Afghanistan. He puts up at a boarding house along with his countrymen. Since he is short of money he decides to sell his goods on credit for increasing his business. Later, when he goes to collect his money, one of his customers abuses him and in the fight that ensues Rehman warns that he will not tolerate abuse and stabs the man when he does not stop the abuse. In the court Rehmans lawyer tries to obfuscate the facts but in his characteristic and simple fashion Rehman states the truth in a matter of fact way. The judge, pleased with Rehmans honesty, gives him 10 years rigorous imprisonment instead of the death sentence. On the day of his release, he goes to meet Mini but discovers that she has grown up into a woman and is about to get married. Mini does not recognize Rehman, he realises that his own daughter must have forgotten him too. Minis father gives Rehman the money for travelling back to Afghanistan out of Minis wedding budget to which Mini agrees; she also sends a gift for Rehmans daughter. The film ends with Rehman travelling back to his homeland. Dinesh Raheja Kabuliwala, a cinematic adaptation of Rabindranath Tagores famously poignant short story, brings a lump to your throat each time you watch it. It makes you wish that more filmmakers would emulate Sanjay Leela Bhansali (who has recently adapted Sarat Chandras popular classic, Devdas) and tap into the rich treasure trove of literary works. The opening frames of Kabuliwala establish an idyllic middle class Bengali family of three, comprising a genial father (Sajjan), a contented hausfrau Rama (Usha Kiron), and their full-of-beans child, Mini, who has an imaginative mind and the curiosity of a puppy. Like in Roys Sujata, the Hemen Gupta-directed Kabuliwala too felicitously captures the ethos of a middle-class but educated and essentially progressive family. When a Kabuliwala (Balraj Sahni) knocks at their door to sell his spices and dry fruits, Mini, dressed in a mini sari and blouse, hides below her fathers writing desk her favourite hideaway. When her indulgent father cajoles her to speak to the Kabuliwala, little Mini innocently asks, Kabuliwala, mujhe jhole mein daalkar le gaya toh? [What if Kabuliwala carries me off in his sack? ] It is a fear that has been encouraged by her mother (Usha Kiron), who does not want the gullible Mini to talk to strangers. But the Kabuliwala soon wins the childs confidence with his gift of the gab. He tells Mini that his sack contains an elephant and produces a fistful of dry fruits for her. Mischievous Mini reminds the lonely-at-heart Kabuliwala of his own motherless daughter who he has left behind in his native Kabul. A close bond is established between Kabuliwala and Mini as he proves to be attentive listener and also a magnanimous admirer. When Mini warbles, he raves, Tum toh bulbul se bhi jyaada achha gaata hai. [You sing better than a Nightingale. ] This portion of the film is touching in its portrayal of an innocent childs unabashed fascination for adults who treat them as individuals; and the need for affection that is common to all humanity. Meanwhile, a disapproving Rama, in a bid to prevent Mini sneaking out to meet the Kabuliwala, makes her wear payals [anklets]. But the sparkly-eyed Mini outsmarts her and tiptoes to meet her Kabuliwala. However, when the Kabuliwala brings red bangles for Mini on her birthday, he is not allowed to meet her. Next morning, she scours the city for the Kabuliwala, while her frantic father anxiously sets out in search of her. Kabuliwala chances upon Mini and kisses her small hands while she feeds him mithai [sweetmeats]. The search party arrives just then and the prejudiced adults, misread the Kabuliwalas intentions they think he is going to kidnap her. They pounce on him and pound him to pulp while Minis cries rent the air. A series of further crisis crisscross their lives, but their bond remains unbroken. The Kabuliwala, in a moment of rage, stabs a debtor. A weeping Mini wants to know why the handcuffed Kabuliwala is being led away. Harking back to an earlier conversation about Mini going to her sasural [inlaws house] after marriage, the Kabuliwala gently replies, Bachchi woh aaj hamare sasural ke ghar ko jaatee hai. [I am on my way to your inlaws house] When the Kabuliwala returns from his jail term, 10 long years have elapsed. The world has moved on, unrelentingly, but time seems to have frozen for the Kabuliwala. He buys red bangles that would fit a toddler and goes to meet Mini. But the realisation that Mini has grown into a girl about to be married, coupled with the fact that Mini now has no recollection of the Kabuliwala, shatters the old spiceseller. He is apprehensive if his daughter will remember him at all. The high point of the climax is Minis father gifting away the money set aside for Minis wedding lights to the Kabuliwala to pay the Kabuliwalas fare to his wattan [homeland] and his eventual reunion with his daughter. As he reasons with his wife, Ek majboor baap ko uski aankhon ka noor mil jaye, toh yehi sabse badi roshni hogi. [What can be better than seeing a hapless father re-unite with his daughter? ] Mini supports him and offers her gold bangle for Kabuliwalas daughter. Please keep a kerchief around to muffle your sobs. As one father prepares to part with his daughter; another father prepares to meet his long-lost offspring. The films biggest strength is the evocative story and the heartfelt performances by Balraj Sahni as Kabuliwala and Sonnu as Mini. Sahnis interactions with Mini are suffused with tenderness, his laughter robust, his walk, regal. To give his character a more rounded feel, he is belligerent and boisterous with the adults including a tuneless singer, and has a philosophical side too as reflected in his response to Ganga aaye kahan se, Ganga jaaye kahan re. Sonnu as Mini is uninhibited, the camera seems to be her best ally. Homespun wisdom and everyday humour is abundant in S Khalils dialogue. When Minis father gently reprimands her for telling lies with, Jo jhooth bolte hai unka chhera bigad jaata hai[Liars end up with a distorted face] Mini spontaneously recalls her domestic Bhola and queries, Bhole ka chehra aisa kyon hain? Woh bahut jhooth bolta hain? [How come Bhola does not look any different? He lies all the time. ] Kabuliwalas philosophy, Pyar mohabbat mein ehsaan nahin hota, sirf pyar mohabbat hota hain [One does not do favours in love, just gives unconditionally] is admittedly not the most eye-opening definition of love. Nevertheless, when woven into a story with as much affection as Kabuliwala mends Minis cloth doll, it holds you enthralled Sidelights: * Before he joined films, Balraj Sahni had taught Hindi and English at Rabindranath Tagores famed institution of learning, Shantiniketan. Its therefore fitting that Sahni be chosen to play the title role of this Tagore story. * Though she plays a deglamorised role here, Usha Kiron had done films with Dev Anand (Patita) and Dilip Kumar (Musafir) in the 1950s and played the crucial role of Raj Kapoors wife in Nazrana in the same year as Kabuliwala! * Director Hemen Gupta had worked with Balraj Sahni earlier in the stark Taksaal [1956]. * Kabuliwala had been made five years earlier in Bengali by Tapan Sinha with the renowned Bengali actor Chabhi Biswas in Sahnis role. Bemen Gupta is the second Indian director to bring Rabindranath Tagores tale about a man and his struggles in a foreign land, to the silver screen. The stranger is from Afghanistan, and when he sets out for India to make enough money to save his farm, he is heartbroken at leaving his little daughter behind. Once in India, the people in the neighborhood where he settles nickname him the Kabuliwala the wala or vendor from Kabul (Afghanistans capital). He finds an emotional stand-in for his daughter in the daughter of a famous poet, and while constantly remembering his own offspring, he showers attention on the adopted little girl. Then one day a corrupt landlord drives him to commit murder and his future with his own daughter and the surrogate daughter suddenly takes a downward turn as he goes off to prison for ten years. Not maudlin or mawkish, this drama by Gupta occasionally still strays toward that emotional end of the spectrum. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, Rovi A poor Afghani leaves his family behind to earn a living as a dried fruit vendor in India. Profoundly homesick, he befriends a young girl who reminds him of his own daughter. Meanwhile, the locals are distrustful of all foreigners. Storyline Widowed Abdul Rehman Khan is an Afghani Pathan who lives a simple and poor lifestyle with his widowed mom, and daughter, Amina, in Kabul. He owes money to a money-lender that he had borrowed for Aminas medical treatment, and is unable to re-pay it. He decides to secretly re-locate to Hindustan, without the knowledge of Amina, and he does so in the dark of the night. Upon arrival in Hindustan, he finds that the locals actually fear him and his kind, and blame them for kidnapping young children. A depressed Abdul is unable to get Amina out of his mind, and spends a week without doing any business. After that he sets out to sell dry fruits on the streets. It is here that he meets a young girl, Mini, who lives with her mom, Rama, and her dad, a Writer. Rama is overly cautious and will not permit Mini to see Abdul, while her dad permits her to do so. Abdul sees Amina in Mini and visits her everyday, pampering her with dry fruits. On her birthday Mini misses him and goes to look for him Widowed Abdul Rehman Khan is an Afghani Pathan who lives a simple and poor lifestyle with his widowed mom, and daughter, Amina, in Kabul. He owes money to a money-lender that he had borrowed for Aminas medical treatment, and is unable to re-pay it. He decides to secretly re-locate to Hindustan, without the knowledge of Amina, and he does so in the dark of the night. Upon arrival in Hindustan, he finds that the locals actually fear him and his kind, and blame them for kidnapping young children. A depressed Abdul is unable to get Amina out of his mind, and spends a week without doing any business. After that he sets out to sell dry fruits on the streets. It is here that he meets a young girl, Mini, who lives with her mom, Rama, and her dad, a Writer. Rama is overly cautious and will not permit Mini to see Abdul, while her dad permits her to do so. Abdul sees Amina in Mini and visits her everyday, pampering her with dry fruits. On her birthday Mini misses him and goes to look for him and gets lost. Rama thinks that Abdul has abducted her, so does an angry crowd, who find her with him and beat him. Minis dad apologizes to Abdul when he finds out the truth. But this outing has a serious repercussion on Mini and she becomes very ill, but with prayers from Rama and Abdul, she does recover. Then their lives are again turned upside down when Abdul is arrested by the Police for knifing to death a man named Ram Bharose. Watch what happens when Abdul is found guilty and sentenced to 10 years in jail. Synopsis Rehmat (Chhabi Biswas), a middle-aged fruit seller from Afghanistan comes to Calcutta to hawk his merchandise and befriends a small Bengali girl called Minnie (Tinku Thakur) who reminds him of his own daughter back in Afghanistan. He puts up at a boarding house along with his countrymen, which is owned by a rude landlord. One day Rehmat receives news of his daughters illness through a letter from his country and he decides to leave for his country. When the landlord demands rent from him an argument ensues and Rehmat stabs the man. He is arrested and put behind bars for 8 years. On the day of his release he goes to meet Minnie but discovers that she has grown up to a 14-year old girl and is about to get married. Rehmat realizes that his own daughter also has grown up and he sets out for his country after 10 long years Upperstall Review The character of the kabuliwala swathed in his long loose garments and an intimidating but fanciful turban and carrying a huge mysterious sack slung across his sturdy shoulder that contained god knows what, had an iconic presence in the Bengali mindscape till at least 15 years ago. The advent of globalization has gradually displaced this moneylender whose tales of extracting dues by unfair means from debtors at high rate of interests evoked mostly fear and loathing in the minds of the timid Bengali middle-class. To build a story around such an appalling character and his relationship with a little frolicking girl was a masterly stroke of imagination. The story was already there and it was left to the temerity of a young director to take the risk of translating it into the big screen and bring it to huge commercial success, specially since it did not involve a regular boy meets girl stuff. Tapan Sinhas Kabuliwala remains a favourite diet of Bengali cinegoers till date. In fact, the charm of the film lies in its simplistic narration, which is actually not so simple if one looked at the original source material, a popular short story by Rabindranath Tagore. Tagores stories have always been difficult to film because they are not plot driven but read more like a narration told in first person in this case by the father of the little girl. Director Tapan Sinha does a commendable job in working up situations and incidents and subplots and threading them together to form a cohesive narrative despite a tad too long 8-minute exposition of Afghanistan at the beginning. The bulk of the film of course is the relationship between the protagonist and the 6-year old Minnie played absolutely wonderfully by Tinku Thakur, the younger sister of Sharmila Tagore. Undoubtedly, she is the USP of the film and it is a wonder why she was never seen in any other film later. The indomitable Chhabi Biswas who essays the role of the swarthy trader from Afghanistan perfectly catches the nuances and accents of the rugged foreigner despite over done makeup by todays standards. In fact, all the actors deliver commendable performances, be it Radhamohan Bhattacharya as the father of the child who is a writer of romantic adventures or the beautiful Manju Dey as the paranoid and finicky mother who keeps the entire household in tenterhooks with her undue demands on hygiene and imagined tales of child lifting and slavery in a faraway land called Afghanistan. The actress playing the elderly maid servant and fills her mistresss mind against the Afghani stranger and the popular Johor Roy who plays the servant add the right light notes in the film. The whole family represents an old world charm belonging to a bygone era but is identifiable and immensely likable. In fact it is a feel good film with all the correct notes and even the jailors and guards in the jail where the protagonist is lodged come across as nice souls despite their assumed strictness. The main track of Minnie and Rehmat is well worked out, starting from the moment when Rehmat first spots Minnie amongst a group of kids who teases him on the streets and she runs for her dear life when the tall kabuliwala looks at her. Minnie spots him again few days later from her window and runs to her father in panic and it is left to her refined father to melt the ice between the improbable pair. Rehmat begins to bribe her with nuts and raisins and gradually warms himself into her little heart till she has the big man swirling around her little finger. In perhaps the films most memorable scene, she even makes him sing and dance to a popular Tagore song but not with much success. Each time they meet it not only sets off sparks between the two characters where the elderly kabuliwala regales her with fanciful stories and raisins, but also gives rise to a whole lot of tensions in the minds of the kids mother and the elderly maid servant, quite natural reactions in people who have led cloistered lives throughout and suspect people who do not belong to their ilk and language group. It is only the sensitive father who does not bother about this relationship but in fact pampers it; if there is one thing he does not quite like it is the free nuts and raisins that the kabuliwala loads on the little girl and he forces him to take money for it much to the embarrassment of the otherwise no-nonsense trader. The major turning point comes an hour into film when Rehmat refuses to part with the 5-rupee note that has been personally given to him by Minnie on the eve of his departure to Afghanistan; this leads to a scuffle with the owner of the lodge that culminates in Rehmat stabbing the man. He is packed off to jail for a period of 8 years where his good behaviour earns him the kudos and respect of his jailors. Minnie and his family conveniently forget him over the period and when he comes out of jail after 8 years and goes to meet her, it is the day of her marriage. Rehmat thinks that she is still the little girl and is blissfully unaware of the unrelenting passage of time. Realisation dawns on him as the grown up Minnie, now 14 years old, does not recognize him and after a brief unspoken meeting between the two old friends, she turns and goes back inside her house. It is a heartrending climax; he realizes that his daughter, if she is still alive would also be of Minnies age. Rehmat also turns back and is about to step out of the courtyard of the house when Minnies mother has a change of heart; she hands the money saved to put up electric lights on the facade of the house and hire an English band to play at her daughters wedding to her husband and asks him to give it to Rehmat so that he can take it back to his land and meet his daughter. The two fathers look at each other as Minnies father hands over the money to Rehmat. It is a very poignant moment in the film; only a father can understand the pain of another father. Rehmat takes the money and embarks on his long journey back. The few tracks in this otherwise old-fashioned feel-good sentimental tale, which could have been avoided and helped reduce the length, are the subplots of the death of a convicts girl (Kali Banerjee in a cameo role as the convict) and the false charge of theft that is heaped on Rahamat when he is accused of stealing the necklace of a young girl who happens to be the daughter of the jailors boss. One feels that these are overloaded subplots added primarily to underline the protagonists pain of separation from his own daughter and Minnies memories. Ravi Shankars score does not impinge on the film and goes with the subject. But a point here. The use of Tagores songs are more of an obligation since the story belonged to him and perhaps could have been avoided; but then it was prestigious to have a couple of the Nobel laureates songs for commercial reasons and more importantly also to gain respectability. The art direction is elementary and the city of Calcutta is also not well exploited in this urban tale except the scenes set in the parks. The interior scenes look most set-like and stand out like sore thumbs against the real locations of the city. Kabuliwala won the Presidents Gold Medal for the Best Film for the year 1956 and inspired a Hindi remake five years later starring Balraj Sahni and Usha Kiron. The Hindi version was directed by Hemen Gupta and produced by Bimal Roy with music by Salil Choudhury. The Hindi version is a fine film in its own right but die hard Bengali cinema fans still swear by this 1956 film as the definitive version of Tagores short story. The film also won a special mention for its music at Berlin in 1957. synopsis Kabuliwala was adapted from a story by Indian novelist Rabindranath Tagores. The central character is a farmer who hopes to strike it rich in the big city. Forced to leave his daughter behind, the hero all but adopts the offspring of a renowned poet. Sentenced to jail for 10 years for resorting to violence with a crooked landlord, the farmer seeks out his daughter-substitute, only to find that she is irrevocably beyond his reach. Returning home, he learns that his natural daughter has likewise grown away from him. The honest sentiment of Kabuliwala is compromised by the films substandard technical credits.