Rabindranath Tagore

 Rabindranath Tagore was an eminent poet and writer of India, The collection of poems 'Gitanjali' won Rabindranath Tagore the Nobel Prize.He was born in a rich Brahmin family in Kolkata and was the youngest sibling in his family.

Rabindranath Tagore: Childhood and  Early life 

Rabindranath Tagore, born on 7 May, 1861, hailed from a distinguished Bengali family in Calcutta, a part of British India then. His upbringing was a blend of tradition and modernity. His father, Debendranath Tagore, was a leader of the Brahmo Samaj, a reformist Hindu sect believing firmly in reason and social justice. This was a reason for a deep spirituality and questioning mind in Tagore since his youth.

Despite attaining his formal education in England, Tagore felt a strong connection to his Bengali roots. His youth was filled with artistic pursuits - poetry, music, and theater, as described in his autobiography, ‘Boyhood Days’. He began writing prolifically at a young age. By his teenage years he had published several volumes of poetry, establishing himself as a rising literary star.

Tagore's early life was marked by privilege and loss. He experienced the loss and grief of his mother and several siblings, shaping his sensitive nature. These experiences would later infuse his work with profound themes of love, loss, and the human condition.

Rabindranath Tagore: Education

His traditional education began in Brighton, East Sussex, England, at a public school. In 1878, he went to England to become a barrister to fulfill his father's wish. He was not much interested in school learning and later he joined University College in London to learn law but he dropped this and learned various works of Shakespeare on his own. He also learned the essence of English, Irish and Scottish literature and music. He returned to India and married Mrinalini Devi.

Rabindranath Tagore in Santiniketan

Tagore moved to Santiniketan ashram in 1901, where he started an experimental school based on traditional guru-shishya teaching methods from the Upanishads. He hoped that the revival of the ancient methods of teaching will be more beneficial than the British imparted modern education system.

His wife and two of their children died during this time which left him distraught.

After his return from England and during his stay in Santiniketan, Tagore wrote several literary works of poetry, stories, and novels. His works had started gaining immense popularity in India as well as abroad.

In 1909, Rabindranath Tagore started writing Gitanjali. In 1912, Tagore went to Europe for the second time. On the journey to London, he translated some of his poems/songs from Gitanjali to English. He met William Rothenstein, a noted British painter, in London who was impressed by the poems, made copies, and gave to Yeats and other English poets. Yeats was enthralled and later wrote the introduction to Gitanjali when it was published in September 1912 in a limited edition by the India Society in London. And in 1913, this collection of poems won the Nobel Prize in Literature. He was the first non-European to receive the prestigious award.

In 1915, he was awarded a knighthood by King George V.

Contribution to the Freedom Struggle

Rabindranath Tagore's contribution to India's freedom struggle was unique and multifaceted. While not an active political leader, he wielded immense power through his words and actions. He championed the revival of India's rich cultural heritage, emphasizing the importance of self-reliance and economic empowerment. His writings awakened a sense of national pride, particularly through his songs like "Jana Gana Mana" (later adopted as India's national anthem) and "Bangla Mata" (Mother Bengal). These songs became rallying cries for unity during times of political unrest, fostering a sense of shared identity among Indians.

Tagore wasn't afraid to confront British injustices. He vehemently opposed the brutal Jallianwala Bagh massacre in 1919. He believed that education was key to achieving self-governance. He established Visva-Bharati University, a unique institution that was beyond national boundaries. This emphasis on education empowered Indians with the knowledge and skills necessary to challenge British dominance.

While Tagore supported the cause of freedom, he didn't advocate for violent resistance. He believed that true freedom required a moral and spiritual awakening, a vision that resonated with many Indians seeking a peaceful path to independence. Through cultural revival, symbolic protests, and educational initiatives, Rabindranath Tagore left an indelible mark on India's freedom struggle. His legacy reminds us that the fight for liberation can be waged on multiple fronts, with the power of words and ideas playing a crucial role alongside political action.

Literary works of Rabindranath Tagore

Although Tagore wrote successfully in all literary genres, he was, first of all, a poet. Among his fifty and odd volumes of poetry are:

Manasi (1890) (The Ideal One), Sonar Tari (1894) (The Golden Boat), Gitanjali (1910) (Song Offerings), Gitimalya (1914) (Wreath of Songs), and Balaka (1916) (The Flight of Cranes).

The English renderings of his poetry, which include The Gardener (1913), Fruit-Gathering (1916), and The Fugitive (1921), do not generally correspond to particular volumes in the original Bengali.

Tagore’s major plays are Raja (1910) [The King of the Dark Chamber], Dakghar (1912) [The Post Office],  Achalayatan (1912) [The Immovable], Muktadhara (1922) [The Waterfall], and Raktakaravi (1926) [Red Oleanders].

He is the author of several volumes of short stories and many novels, among them Gora (1910), Ghare-Baire (1916) [The Home and the World], and Yogayog (1929) [Crosscurrents].

Besides these, he wrote musical dramas, dance dramas, essays of all types, travel diaries, and two autobiographies, one in his middle years and the other shortly before his death in 1941. Tagore also left numerous drawings and paintings, and songs for which he wrote the music himself.

He also played the title role in his first original dramatic piece- Valmiki Pratibha.

Death

After an extended period of suffering, Tagore died on August 7, 1941, in the same mansion in which he was brought up.

Legacy of Rabindranath Tagore:

Rabindranath Tagore changed the way Bengali literature was perceived as he left an everlasting impression on the readers.

Many countries have his statues erected and host many yearly events to pay tribute to the legendary writer.

Many of his works have been made global, thanks to a host of translations by many famous international writers.

There are five museums dedicated to Tagore. While three of them are situated in India, the remaining two are in Bangladesh. The museums’ house his famous works, and are visited by millions every year.