Khirer Putul

Khirer Putul (lit. 'Doll of Kheer') is a children's fantasy novel written by Abanindranath Tagore in 1896.^[1][2] Khirer Putul is considered a masterpiece^[3] and landmark by writers in Bengali language children's literature.^[4] Khirer Putul is a simple and touching tale about the sugar doll, the fate of Duorani and a tricky and extraordinary monkey.^[5] Aadi Brahmosamaj press first published this book. Later on, it was translated into other languages.^{[6][page needed]} The story was adapted into a film of the same name by Indian writer and director Purnendu Pattrea in 1976.^[7] Khirer Putul, an Indian television soap opera based on the novel aired on Zee Bangla in 2020.^[8]

Khirer Putul

Queen and monkey
Author	Abanindranath Tagore
Language	Bengali
Subject	Children's Literature
Published	1896
Publication place	India

It was also adapted into a play by the Indian theatre group Nandikar in 2017, with Anindita Chakraborty as its director.^[9]

Plot

The king of Deepnagar had two queens, Suo Rani and Duo Rani. The king gave Suo Rani 7 palaces, 700 female slaves, best ornaments from 7 kingdoms, 7 gardens, 7 chariots. He neglected Duo Rani and gave her a broken home, a deaf and dumb maid, torn clothes and a dirty bed.^[10][11]

Khirer Putul

Translations

The work has been translated into several languages:

• French – La poupée de fromage.^[12]
• Swedish – Ostdockan.^[13][14]
• English – The Make-Believe Prince;^[15] Caramel Doll.^[16]

Development

Abanindranath who was Rabindranath Tagore's nephew found this story in Rabindranath's wife Mrinalini Devi's diary after her death. The novel is based on the story written in her diary.^[17] The illustrations were done by Abanindranath Tagore.^{[18][page needed]}

Analysis

According to scholar Sanjay Sircar, the tale can be classified in the Aarne-Thompson-Uther Index as tale type ATU 459, "The Make-Believe Son (Daughter)",^[19][20] a tale type "widespread throughout North India and other Asian areas, but never found in Europe".^[21] Similarly, German scholar Ulrich Marzolph [de] listed four Iranian variants of the same type, which he named Der Prinz verliebt sich in eine Puppe ("The Prince falls in love with a Doll").^[22]