# Bara Rani — The Home and the World character guide > Bara Rani in The Home and the World by Rabindranath Tagore. **Role:** supporting **Also known as:** The Bara Rani, Mother, The Rani Mother, Rani Mother, The Mother **First appearance:** 0001-bimala-s-story ## Snapshot Nikhil's widowed elder sister-in-law, sharp-tongued and traditional, who guards the old household's claims with jealous, unsentimental love. ## Who they are The Bara Rani has watched Bimala displace her in Nikhil's affections and feels the loss keenly, though she has no right to complain. She clings to custom, to small domestic tyrannies, and to the weight of family obligation, insisting that women would rather bind men than be freed themselves. Her prickly devotion to Nikhil and her unspoken grief over a life she would not live again give the novel its clearest voice of traditional womanhood. ## Relationships ### [Nikhil](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_home_and_the_world_se/characters/nikhil) _family_ Bara Rani is Nikhil's elder sister-in-law, and they share a respectful, affectionate family relationship. ### [Bimala](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_home_and_the_world_se/characters/bimala) _family_ Bara Rani and Bimala are sisters-in-law, with a relationship marked by subtle rivalry and Bara Rani's disapproval of Bimala's choices. ### [Amulya](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_home_and_the_world_se/characters/amulya) _family_ Amulya and Bara Rani share a warm, familial bond, with Bara Rani treating him like a younger relative. ### [Sister Rani](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_home_and_the_world_se/characters/sister_rani) _family_ Bara Rani and Sister Rani are sisters-in-law, with a relationship of mutual respect and occasional tension over household matters. ### [Sandip Babu](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_home_and_the_world_se/characters/sandip_babu) _rivalry_ Bara Rani is suspicious and antagonistic toward Sandip, seeing him as a disruptive and dangerous influence on the family. ### [Chota Rani](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_home_and_the_world_se/characters/chota_rani) _family_ Bara Rani and Chota Rani are sisters-in-law, with a relationship of mild rivalry and shared domestic life. ### [Dewan](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_home_and_the_world_se/characters/dewan) _professional_ Bara Rani and Dewan have a professional relationship, with Dewan serving as a household manager and advisor. ### [Nikhil](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_home_and_the_world_se/characters/nikhil) _family_ Bara Rani is Nikhil's elder sister-in-law, and they share a respectful, affectionate family relationship. ### [Chota Rani](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_home_and_the_world_se/characters/chota_rani) _family_ Bara Rani and Chota Rani are sisters-in-law, with a relationship of mild rivalry and shared domestic life. ### [Amulya](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_home_and_the_world_se/characters/amulya) _family_ Amulya and Bara Rani share a warm, familial bond, with Bara Rani treating him like a younger relative. ### [Bimala](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_home_and_the_world_se/characters/bimala) _family_ Bara Rani and Bimala are sisters-in-law, with a relationship marked by subtle rivalry and Bara Rani's disapproval of Bimala's choices. ### [Bimala](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_home_and_the_world_se/characters/bimala) _family_ Bara Rani and Bimala are sisters-in-law, with a relationship marked by subtle rivalry and Bara Rani's disapproval of Bimala's choices. ## In the story ### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_home_and_the_world_se/chapters/i) Mentioned as part of the household, representing the traditional women's world Bimala came from. ### [Bimala's Story](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_home_and_the_world_se/chapters/bimala-s-story) Bimala's widowed sister-in-law, who is beautiful but resentful of Bimala's happiness. ### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_home_and_the_world_se/chapters/i) Bimala's widowed sister-in-law, who is beautiful but scornful of Bimala's modern ways. ### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_home_and_the_world_se/chapters/ii) The grandmother who kept the household together and was fond of Bimala, though she disapproved of Nikhil's modern gifts. ### [Bimala's Story IV-V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_home_and_the_world_se/chapters/bimala-s-story) Bimala's sister-in-law; seen eavesdropping near the window. ### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_home_and_the_world_se/chapters/ii) The senior queen who ordered Nanku's punishment, leading to a conflict with Nikhil. ### [VIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_home_and_the_world_se/chapters/viii) Observes Bimala's behavior and comments on her going to the outer apartments. ### [X](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_home_and_the_world_se/chapters/x) Appears briefly, taking blame for the scene with the maid, but her subtle smile suggests she is aware of Bimala's secret. ### [Bimala’s Story](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_home_and_the_world_se/chapters/bimala-s-story) Sister-in-law; feigns enthusiasm for Swadeshi to please Nikhil, while privately using European goods, highlighting her manipulative nature. ### [XII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_home_and_the_world_se/chapters/xii) Pretends to embrace Swadeshi products to please Nikhil, but uses European goods in private; she warns Bimala about being Nikhil's 'dissipation.' ### [VIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_home_and_the_world_se/chapters/viii) The Bara Rani represents the traditional domestic sphere, offering a contrasting voice to the political fervor, and her interactions with Bimala reveal generational and ideological divides. ### [Bimala's Story XIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_home_and_the_world_se/chapters/bimala-s-story) Mentioned as part of Bimala's dismissive thoughts about the household, contrasting with her current state of mind. ### [Bimala’s Story](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_home_and_the_world_se/chapters/bimala-s-story) Joins Bimala and Nikhil for a meal, expressing fear over threatening letters and discussing the safety of her money, which is kept in Nikhil's safe. ### [XV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_home_and_the_world_se/chapters/xv) Mentioned as the intended recipient of the stolen money; her past actions are contrasted with Bimala's current theft. ### [XVII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_home_and_the_world_se/chapters/xvii) Briefly appears when Bimala attempts to leave her jewels with her, but declines the responsibility. ### [Nikhil's Story](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_home_and_the_world_se/chapters/nikhil-s-story) Expresses anxiety over the treasury raid and urges Nikhil to go to Calcutta. ### [XIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_home_and_the_world_se/chapters/xiii) Expresses fear and anxiety over the raid, urging Nikhil to leave for Calcutta and showing concern for his safety. ### [Bimala's Story](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_home_and_the_world_se/chapters/bimala-s-story) Receives Bimala's obeisance and offers a blessing, showing a moment of reconciliation. ### [XVIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_home_and_the_world_se/chapters/xviii) Receives Bimala's unexpected obeisance and blessing request, showing a shift in their relationship. ### [Bimala’s Story](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_home_and_the_world_se/chapters/bimala-s-story) Bara Rani informs Bimala about the treasury raid and expresses concern about the safety of the house. ### [XXI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_home_and_the_world_se/chapters/xxi) Bara Rani informs Bimala of the treasury raid and expresses concern about the safety of her money, planning to send it to Calcutta. ### [XXII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_home_and_the_world_se/chapters/xxii) Sends for Bimala to hear a gramophone, but Bimala refuses. ### [Nikhil's Story](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_home_and_the_world_se/chapters/nikhil-s-story) Prepares to leave with Nikhil, revealing her deep attachment and jealousy; she expresses the burdens of womanhood. ### [XV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_home_and_the_world_se/chapters/xv) Packing to leave with Nikhil, expressing her desire to die on the banks of the Ganges and her deep bond with Nikhil. ### [XVI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_home_and_the_world_se/chapters/xvi) Tries to comfort Nikhil, makes excuses for Bimala's behavior, and attempts to smooth over the situation. ### [Bimala’s Story XXIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_home_and_the_world_se/chapters/bimala-s-story) She blames Bimala for Nikhil's departure and prays for his safety. ### [XXIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_home_and_the_world_se/chapters/xxiii) Furiously blames Bimala for letting Nikhil go and prays in the temple as the night unfolds. ### [Endnotes](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_home_and_the_world_se/chapters/endnotes) Mentioned in the note defining the terms 'Bara' (Senior) and 'Chota' (Junior) in joint families of rank. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_home_and_the_world_se/characters/bara_rani - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_home_and_the_world_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_home_and_the_world_se/characters