A Wrong Man in Workers' Paradise

A Wrong Man in Workers' Paradise

( Summary )

There are some people who do everything to get some profit out of it. For them, any activity that fetches money is useful. But there are some other people who involve in such activities that do not bring them any monetary benefit but bring happiness and joy. This is called aesthetics. All forms of art are essentially aesthetics. We are not machines. We have feelings. So, aesthetics should be part and parcel of life. One must have love for art. Our motive should not always be for making money. Leisure should be used for perusing some hobby and enjoy the pleasure it gives us. This is the message Tagore gives us through this lesson.

An artist is brought to the Heaven after his death by the aerial messenger. He is then taken to the workers' paradise where everyone is a workaholic. They don't know what is leisure. They are not aware of hobby and art. Everyone is in a hurry. They give importance to time and money. These people did some good deeds while they were alive on the Earth. So, they all have got place in Heaven. As they liked to work, they were brought to the workers' paradise in the Heaven. But, this artist is brought here by mistake by the aerial messenger.

In the workers' paradise, everyone is a workaholic. But this newcomer, an artist, is totally different. He is always leisurely. He involves himself in art such as sculpture, painting, poetry etc. Naturally, the workaholics do not like this man. They think that a man who persues is mad and what he does is nonsense and useless. They are disturbed by his presence. He is a misfit in workers'paradise.

One day he finds a girl by the riverbank who comes to fill her pitchers. She feels pity on this idler and inquires if he had no work. She offers some work to him. The artist says he has been waiting to take some work from her. He requests her to lend one of her pitchres so that he can draw pictures on it. The girl gets angry and goes away. He keeps meeting her and keeps requesting for pitcher and she refuses. At last she gives in to his persistent requests and gives her pitcher. The artist draws beautiful pictures on the pitcher. The girl sees it and asks him what do the lines and colors mean and what is their purpose. The artist laughs and says they mean nothing and it serves no purpose. The girl watches the pictures stealthily at home. She gets up at night, lights a candle and sees it again and again from all angles.

The effect of seeing the picture can be seen. The next day the girl does not walk fast as usual ; she walks leisurely. She meets the artist again. This time he offers to make a colored ribbon for her hair. When she gets the ribbon, she takes a lot of time in tying it around her hair. Due to this, much of her daily work remains unfinished at the end of the day.

Slowly one by one people get affected by the influence of the picture. They start developing a sense of aesthetics in them. They start wasting their time in activities of art. The elders are worried and call a meeting. They seriously discuss the new and dangerous trend. In the meantime the Ariel messenger confesses that he made a mistake of bringing a wrong man in the Workers' Paradise.

Next day the elders summon the artist. His dress is fantastic. He is with his brushes and paint. They at once realize that he is not the right person there. They order him to leave the paradise at once. The artist starts leaving the place rather reluctantly. The girl who had given him her pitcher arrives. She offers to go with him. Elders are shocked at the decision of the girl. They say such useless and purposeless thing never happened in the workers Paradise.

The author has given indication that art is a manifestation of the divine. Art and an artist can impress upon others. And people who are open to change become better human beings.

Milan Tomic

Hi. I’m Designer of Blog Magic. I’m CEO/Founder of ThemeXpose. I’m Creative Art Director, Web Designer, UI/UX Designer, Interaction Designer, Industrial Designer, Web Developer, Business Enthusiast, StartUp Enthusiast, Speaker, Writer and Photographer. Inspired to make things looks better.