Tags: Domestic strife, secret wills in locked ivory boxes, nefarious villains, meddlesome Irish constables, virtuous heroines


Rajmohan's Wife, published in 1864, is notable as the first English novel written by a Bengali author, Bankim Chandra Chatterjee. 

Characters and Domestic Tensions

The novel centers on Matangini, a woman trapped in a miserable marriage to Rajmohan, a man of "brutal temper" and "unprincipled" character. In contrast to the abusive Rajmohan is Madhav Ghose, Matangini’s brother-in-law. Madhav is a wealthy, Western-educated, and noble young man who is married to Matangini’s younger sister, Hemangini. The two families live in the village of Radhaganj, where Madhav has generously provided Rajmohan with a house and a small income despite Rajmohan’s obvious resentment.

The antagonist of the story is Madhav’s cousin, Mathur Ghose, a "tall and stout man" known for his skill in "chicane, fraud and torture". Mathur is driven by greed and a desire to seize Madhav’s estate. He is supported in his household by two wives: the noble and kind Tara, and the proud, beautiful, and jealous Champak.

The Conspiracy and the Warning

The plot is set in motion when Madhav receives news that his aunt has filed a lawsuit against him, claiming his uncle’s will is a forgery. This lawsuit is secretly instigated by Mathur Ghose. Simultaneously, Matangini overhears a midnight conversation behind her house between Rajmohan and a dacoit (bandit). They plot to rob Madhav’s house and, specifically, to steal an ivory box containing the contested will to ensure Madhav loses his fortune.

Driven by her secret, long-held love for Madhav and her desire to protect her sister, Matangini risks her life to travel through the dark, dangerous woods to Madhav's house. Along the way, she narrowly avoids discovery by the dacoits by hiding in a pool. She successfully warns Madhav, telling him to secure the ivory box. During this late-night visit, the two share a poignant and painful confession of their mutual love, acknowledging that while they have always loved one another, they must remain "faithful to the path of duty" and separate forever.

Capture and Imprisonment

Upon returning home, Matangini is confronted by a furious Rajmohan, who has discovered her absence and suspects her of infidelity. He is about to kill her when the dacoit leader and his associate, Bhiku, break into the house. They accuse Rajmohan of treachery, believing he warned Madhav. In the ensuing struggle between the men, Matangini manages to escape into the night.

However, her safety is short-lived. She is intercepted by Suki’s mother, a servant of Mathur Ghose, who tricks her into seeking shelter in a secret part of Mathur's mansion known as the "godown-mahal". Mathur Ghose, who has become obsessed with Matangini's beauty, imprisons her in a hidden upper-story room. He attempts to force her to submit to him, but Matangini fiercely resists, even vowing to starve herself to death rather than yield to his "lust".

Meanwhile, the dacoits, still seeking the will, kidnap Madhav Ghose and bring him to the same secret dungeon. They attempt to coerce him into signing away the document.

The Rescue and Resolution

The turning point occurs through the vigilance of Mathur’s eldest wife, Tara. Suspicious of her husband’s restless behavior and his clandestine visits to the godowns, she steals his keys while he sleeps. She enters the godown-mahal and discovers Madhav. Together, they hear an "unearthly moan" and find a hidden staircase leading to the room where an emaciated and nearly lifeless Matangini is being held. Tara and Madhav successfully rescue Matangini and provide her with food and safety.

The climax of the novel is precipitated by the arrival of the police and a "meddlesome" Irish Magistrate. One of the dacoits, Bhiku, is captured and confesses to his crimes, implicating Mathur Ghose as the mastermind behind the dacoities and kidnappings. Realizing that his "good name is lost" and that he faces legal ruin, Mathur Ghose commits suicide by hanging himself in the very dungeon where he had imprisoned his victims.

Conclusion and Fates

The story concludes with the legal and personal fallout for the survivors. Rajmohan is also implicated in the crimes and is transported along with Bhiku. Because she cannot remain under Madhav’s roof due to societal expectations, Matangini returns to her father’s house, where she dies an early death. Tara lives out her life in quiet widowhood, remembered for her nobility, while Madhav continues his life at Radhaganj. The narrator ends by reflecting on the transient nature of life, noting that some of the characters are dead and the others will eventually follow.