Vishabriksha
Originally serially published in the starting with the first issue of the Bangodarshan in [B] 1279, edited by the author, Vishabriksha was first published in book form in 1873. Here the age old problems of the Indian Hindu society - remarriage of widows and poligamy - became intertwined in the plot. Bankim did not subscribe to, nor could he accept the idea of using convenient but dogmatic interpretations of bylaws of the Shastra to justfy or deregulate poligamy. He was at odds with Vidyasagar's resort to Sanskrit shlokas to underpin his movement on this issue. Even though he was in accord with its end, did not agree with the means. Bankim looked to love and morality of the persons concerned rather than legislative or religious proclamations. He vigorously criticised Vidysagar in regards to this question in the pages of Bangodarshan on publication of Vidyasagar's second book on the subject. The storyline of Vishabriksha - the poison tree - very much brings the question of love and morality to the fore. In this context see Pally Samaj by Sarat Chandra Chatterjee.
Acknowledgement:
Much of the materials for this article was sourced from the Bankim Rachanabali (Complete Works of Bankim Chandra), Tuli-Kalam, Calcutta 1986