Rabindranath Tagore
Rabindranath Tagore was born on 7th May 1861 at Calcutta(Kolkata). He was a legendary Indian poet, writer, playwright, philosopher, social reformer and painter. He is popularly known as “Gurudev” and “Kavi Guru.” Gandhi was the first person to address Tagore as “Gurudev.”
Tagore was the first notable contemporary to refer to Gandhi as “Mahatma”. During the freedom struggle his ideologies did not match with Gandhi and many famous patriots. Rabindranath Tagore wrote many poems, songs, and stories. “Gitanjali” is the best poem by the Bengali poet Rabindranath Tagore, a collection of poems for which he won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1913. “You cannot cross the sea merely by standing and staring at the water” was the famous quote by Tagore. Rabindranath Tagore, also known as Bard of Bengal, he reshaped Bengali literature and music. The Indian National Anthem ”Jana Gana Mana” was written by Rabindranath Tagore in Bengali Language. Tagore was a true patriot, he had written poems and songs, which was a powerful weapon to raise voice against the British.
FAMILY
Tagore was from a Bengali Brahmins family. He was the youngest thirteen children in his family. His Father’s name was Maharishi Debendranath Tagore and his Mother’s name was Sharada Devi. His wife’s name was Mrinalini Devi, her father worked at the Tagore estate. In 1833 Tagore married Miralini at the age of nine. The death of his wife and two children between 1902 and 1907 are reflected in his poem.
EDUCATION
Tagore started experimental school at Shantiniketan, where he tried his Upanishad ideals of education. He was educated at home and at seventeen in the year 1878, he was sent to England to study law at University College London, but he did not complete his degree and returned to India in 1880. During his time in England, he was exposed to Western literature and culture, which had a lasting impact on his works.
GITANJALI
Gitanjali was the devotional collection of poems. It conveys to us an idea of the value of charity, love and sacrifice as a spiritual message. The word “Gitanjali” means collection of poems. His poems are virtually untranslatable.
He wrote more than 2000 songs, which he achieved for all classes of Bengali society. The Moral of the story is “God gives everything to us”. So, we should live peacefully with love and respect. On 14th November 1913, Tagore won the Nobel Prize for his book “Gitanjali” in the literature field. He is the first Indian to get a Nobel Prize. Tagore wrote poems from the age of eight years old. Rabindranath Tagore began to write drama at the age of sixteen. The book was first published in November 1912 by the Indian Society in London. This contained translations of 53 poems from the original Bengali Gitanjali, as well as 50 other poems from his other works. The Gitanjali or “The song Offerings” is a reflection of Rabindranath’s consciousness, wisdom and philosophy. The original work, which was published on 14th August 1910, composed of 157 songs.
FAMOUS POEMS & STORIES
Kabuliwala, The postmaster, Hungry, The Broken Nest are the famous stories by Tagore.
Gitanjali, Face to Face, Friends, Give me strength are the famous poems by Tagore.
DIED
Rabindranath Tagore died on August 7, 1941, in Calcutta (now Kolkata), India. He died at the age of 80, leaving behind a rich legacy of literary, philosophical, and educational contributions. His death marked the end of an era in Indian literature and culture, but his works continue to inspire and influence people around the world.
CONCLUSION
Tagore was a famous poet. In 1913 was the first non-European writer to be awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature. Tagore was also a composer of our (Indian) National Anthem “Jana Gana Mana”.
FAMOUS QUOTES
Rabindranath Tagore, known for his profound wisdom and lyrical prose, has many famous quotes. Here are some notable ones:
- “Clouds come floating into my life, no longer to carry rain or usher storms, but to add colour to my sunset sky”.
- “I slept and dreamt that life was joy. I awoke and saw that life was service. I acted and behold, service was joy”.
- “Don’t limit a child to your own learning, for he was born in another time”.
- “It is very simple to be happy, but it is very difficult to be simple”.
- “Beauty is the truth’s smile when she holds her own face in a perfect mirror”.
- “Reach high, for stars lie hidden in you. Dream deep every dream precedes the goal”.
FAQ: The Legacy of Rabindranath Tagore
1. Who was Rabindranath Tagore?
Rabindranath Tagore was a legendary Indian poet, writer, playwright, philosopher, social reformer, and painter. He was born on May 7, 1861, in Calcutta (now Kolkata) and is popularly known as “Gurudev” and “Kavi Guru.” He was the first non-European to win the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1913.
2. What are Rabindranath Tagore’s most famous works?
Some of Tagore’s most famous works include the poetry collection Gitanjali, the short stories “Kabuliwala,” “The Postmaster,” and “The Broken Nest,” and the song “Jana Gana Mana,” which became the national anthem of India. His poems “Face to Face,” “Friends,” and “Give Me Strength” are also well-known.
3. What is Gitanjali?
Gitanjali is a collection of devotional poems by Rabindranath Tagore. It means “song offerings” and reflects Tagore’s spiritual and philosophical thoughts. The collection won him the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1913, making him the first Indian to receive this honor.
4. What was Rabindranath Tagore’s contribution to Indian culture?
Tagore reshaped Bengali literature and music, blending traditional Indian culture with Western influences. He founded an experimental school at Shantiniketan, where he implemented his educational ideals. He also composed India’s national anthem, “Jana Gana Mana,” and was a significant figure in the Indian Renaissance.
5. What is Tagore’s connection with Mahatma Gandhi?
Tagore was the first notable contemporary to refer to Gandhi as “Mahatma.” Despite their mutual respect, Tagore’s ideologies did not always align with Gandhi’s, particularly concerning the methods of the Indian freedom struggle.
6. What are some famous quotes by Rabindranath Tagore?
Some of Tagore’s famous quotes include:
- “Clouds come floating into my life, no longer to carry rain or usher storms, but to add color to my sunset sky.”
- “I slept and dreamt that life was joy. I awoke and saw that life was service. I acted and behold, service was joy.”
- “Don’t limit a child to your own learning, for he was born in another time.”
- “It is very simple to be happy, but it is very difficult to be simple.”
- “Beauty is truth’s smile when she beholds her own face in a perfect mirror.”
- “Reach high, for stars lie hidden in you. Dream deep, for every dream precedes the goal.”
7. What was Rabindranath Tagore’s educational background?
Tagore was primarily educated at home and later attended University College London to study law. However, he did not complete his degree and returned to India in 1880. His exposure to Western literature and culture during his time in England had a lasting impact on his works.
8. What was the significance of Tagore’s experimental school at Shantiniketan?
Tagore founded the school at Shantiniketan to implement his educational ideals based on the Upanishads. The school emphasized holistic education, creativity, and the connection between nature and learning. It later evolved into the Visva-Bharati University, a prestigious institution in India.
9. What impact did Tagore’s personal life have on his work?
The deaths of Tagore’s wife Mrinalini Devi and two of his children between 1902 and 1907 deeply affected him and influenced his poetry, which often reflected themes of loss, grief, and spirituality.
10. When and where did Rabindranath Tagore pass away?
Rabindranath Tagore passed away on August 7, 1941, in Calcutta (now Kolkata), India, at the age of 80. His death marked the end of an era in Indian literature and culture, but his legacy continues to inspire generations.
