When We First Met – A Heart-Touching Love Story That Will Melt Your Soul
Author: Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay
Published: 1866
Language: Originally in Bengali
Genre: Romantic Fiction, Social Commentary
Note: "Kapal Kundala" (also spelled "Kopal Kundala") is one of the earliest and most famous Bengali novels, known for its romantic plot, poetic descriptions, and tragic ending.
Nabakumar – A young man from Saptagram who is saved by Kapalkundala and falls in love with her.
Kapal Kundala (Mrinalini) – A beautiful and mysterious girl raised in a forest by a Tantric priest.
The Kapalik (Tantric Priest) – A worshipper of Kali who raised Kapalkundala with evil intentions.
Padmabati – Nabakumar's first wife (appears later in the novel).
Nabakumar is traveling through a dense forest near the Bay of Bengal, where he gets lost and faints from exhaustion. He is rescued by a beautiful girl named Kapal Kundala, who lives in the forest with her foster father — a Tantric priest (Kapalik) who worships the goddess Kali.
The Kapalik had an evil plan: he wanted to sacrifice Nabakumar to Kali. But Kapal Kundala, innocent and pure-hearted, rescues Nabakumar, defying her foster father.
Kapal Kundala and Nabakumar fall in love. Nabakumar is impressed by her beauty and innocence, while she is drawn to his kindness and bravery.
They decide to run away from the forest and get married. Kapalkundala agrees, leaving behind her forest life and foster father. They settle in Saptagram, a busy and cultured town.
However, problems begin soon after their marriage. Kapalkundala, having grown up in the forest, is naΓ―ve and unaware of social customs. She finds it hard to adjust to city life and the rigid rules of society.
Nabakumar, although he loves her, becomes increasingly frustrated by her wild and natural behavior, especially under the influence of gossip and societal pressure.
Meanwhile, the Tantric priest (Kapalik), furious that Kapalkundala betrayed him, comes to Saptagram in disguise. He plots revenge on both her and Nabakumar.
He manipulates people and tries to create misunderstandings between the couple. Eventually, he tricks Kapalkundala into thinking that she is the reason Nabakumar is unhappy.
Heartbroken and misunderstood, Kapalkundala believes she has no place in society or her husband’s heart anymore. Feeling helpless and alienated, she runs away to the sea.
Nabakumar realizes too late what has happened. He goes searching for her, but by the time he finds her near the shore, it is too late. She either drowns or disappears, and Nabakumar is left in deep sorrow.
Love vs. Society: The love between Nabakumar and Kapalkundala fails because of rigid societal expectations.
Innocence vs. Civilization: Kapalkundala symbolizes nature and freedom, while the city symbolizes control and culture.
Feminine Freedom: Kapalkundala, despite being a tragic figure, represents a woman trying to live on her own terms.
Religious Extremism: The Kapalik represents blind fanaticism and misuse of religious power.
This novel was one of the first romantic novels in Bengali literature and remains a classic.
It was adapted into films and dramas several times.
Kapalkundala's character is seen as one of the earliest free-spirited women in Bengali fiction
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