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Rabindranath Tagore

Rabindranath Tagore was a Bengali poet, novelist and painter best known for being the first non-European to be awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1913 with his book Gitanjali, Song Offerings . He was highly influential in introducing Indian culture to the West and is generally regarded as the outstanding creative artist of modern India. He was hailed by W.B Yeats and André Gide.

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• Article Title: Rabindranath Tagore Biography
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• Last Updated: June 24, 2021
• Original Published Date: April 2, 2014

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Rabindranath Tagore

Poet, writer and humanitarian, Rabindranath Tagore was the first Indian to be awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature and he played a key role in the renaissance of modern India. Tagore is most widely known for his poetry, but he was also an accomplished author of novels, short stories, plays and articles. He took an active interest in a widespread range of social, cultural and artistic endeavours. He has been described as one of the first Twentieth Century’s global man.

“So I repeat we never can have a true view of man unless we have a love for him. Civilisation must be judged and prized, not by the amount of power it has developed, but by how much it has evolved and given expression to, by its laws and institutions, the love of humanity.”

— Sadhana: The Realisation of Life, (1916)

Short Biography Rabindranath Tagore

Rabindranath began writing from an early age and impressed with his free-flowing style and spontaneous compositions. He mostly rejected formal schooling; he spent much time being taught at home. In 1878 he travelled to England and sought to study law at University College, London, but he left before finishing the degree.

After returning to India, in 1901, Tagore moved to Shantiniketan to found an ashram which became his focal point for writing and his view on schooling. He chose the name for the ashram – Shantiniketan meaning ‘Abode of Peace.’

“Love is the ultimate meaning of everything around us. It is not a mere sentiment; it is truth; it is the joy that is at the root of all creation.”

– Tagore, Sādhanā : The Realisation of Life (1916)

Friendship with Gandhi

Tagore was firm friends with Gandhi and admired him very much. But, despite this friendship, he could be critical of his views. For example, he disagreed with Gandhi’s views on Swaraj protests and upbraided Gandhi when Gandhi claimed an earthquake was ‘divine retribution for the mistreatment of Dalits in India.’ Yet despite the frequent divergence of opinions, they could admire each other. When Gandhi went on a fast unto death, it was Tagor who was able to persuade Gandhi to give up his fast and look after his health.

Nobel Prize for Literature 1913

In 1913, Tagore was awarded the Nobel Prize for literature for his work ‘ Gitanjali ‘ This made his writings internationally known and his fame spread throughout the world.

“My debts are large, my failures great, my shame secret and heavy; yet I come to ask for my good, I quake in fear lest my prayer be granted.” – Gitanjali

Rabindranath Tagore with Einstein

This gave Tagore the opportunity to travel extensively giving lectures and recitals in many different countries. He also became acquainted with many of the leading cultural contemporaries of the day; this included W.B.Yeats, George Bernard Shaw , Romain Rolland, Robert Frost and Albert Einstein .

Tagore had a great love for nature and many of his poems invoke the simple beauties of the natural world. For Tagore, his religion could be found in the wonders and mysteries of nature – as much as in temples and sacred books.

Tagore was a prolific composer of music. He composed over 2,000 songs which have been popularised and sung widely across Bengal. Like his literature, he broke away from classical constraints to offer a great emotive and spiritual appeal. Tagore is unique for being the official composer for the national anthem of two countries – India’s Jana Gana Mana and Bangladesh’s Amar Shonar Bangla .

Tagore was an opponent of British imperialism, though he also felt Indians had a duty to improve their self-education; he said that British rule was partly due to the state India had fallen into. In particular, he was very denigrating about India’s obsession with caste.

‘the ultimate truth in man is not in his intellect or his possessions; it is in his illumination of mind, in his extension of sympathy across all barriers of caste and colour, in his recognition of the world, not merely as a storehouse of power, but as a habitation of man’s spirit, with its eternal music of beauty and its inner light of the divine presence.’ – Tagore, The Poet’s Religion’ in Creative Unity (1922) [ 1 ]

In 1919, Tagore returned his knighthood in protest at the Jallianwala Bagh Massacre, in which many peaceful Indian protesters were killed.

Tagore was a polymath, and towards the end of his life he took up art and also pursued an interest in science. Tagore was also very much an internationalist, criticising nationalism, though also writing songs and articles in support of the general principle of the Indian independence movement.

“Patriotism cannot be our final spiritual shelter; my refuge is humanity. I will not buy glass for the price of diamonds, and I will never allow patriotism to triumph over humanity as long as I live. “

– Rabindranath Tagore

Tagore view on Religion

Tagore had mixed views on religion. He was brought up in a traditional Hindu family and taught to pray and meditate from an early age. He remembers the peace of mind he developed from chanting the Gayatri Mantra, but at the same time was detached from the more formalistic aspects of religion. He tended to see religion as not scriptures and places of worship but the life we lead. As he explained:

“My religion is my life – it is growing with my growth – it has never been grafted on me from outside.” ~ Tagore to Robert Bridges, 8 July 1914.

He was keen to avoid any fanaticism and saw the strength of his own Hindu religion as its ability to see more than one path to the goal. His life-long aspiration was to see a harmony of religions flourish in India – not from mere tolerance but an appreciation of the different merits other religions had.

‘The Idea of freedom to which India aspired was based upon realization of spiritual unity…India’s great achievement, which is still stored deep within her heart, is waiting to unite within itself Hindu, Moslem, Buddhist and Christian, not by force, not by the apathy of resignation, but in the harmony of active cooperation.’ ~ Tagore in Berlin, 1921.

However, he was also critical of the Hindu caste system.

Tagore’s poetry frequently hint at a mystical view of the world.

“In this playhouse of infinite forms I have had my play, and here have I caught sight of him that is formless.” – Gitanjali “The human soul is on its journey from the law to love, from discipline to liberation, from the moral plane to the spiritual.” Sādhanā : The Realisation of Life (1916)

Tagore died on 7th August 1941, after a long and painful illness, aged 80. He died in his family home.

Citation: Pettinger, Tejvan . “ Rabindranath Tagore ”, Oxford, UK www.biographyonline.net , 1st Jun. 2009. Last updated 1 March 2019.

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• Short poems of Rabindranath Tagore 
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Rabindranath Tagore (1861-1941) was the youngest son of Debendranath Tagore, a leader of the Brahmo Samaj, which was a new religious sect in nineteenth-century Bengal and which attempted a revival of the ultimate monistic basis of Hinduism as laid down in the Upanishads. He was educated at home; and although at seventeen he was sent to England for formal schooling, he did not finish his studies there. In his mature years, in addition to his many-sided literary activities, he managed the family estates, a project which brought him into close touch with common humanity and increased his interest in social reforms. He also started an experimental school at Shantiniketan where he tried his Upanishadic ideals of education. From time to time he participated in the Indian nationalist movement, though in his own non-sentimental and visionary way; and Gandhi, the political father of modern India, was his devoted friend. Tagore was knighted by the ruling British Government in 1915, but within a few years he resigned the honour as a protest against British policies in India.

Tagore had early success as a writer in his native Bengal. With his translations of some of his poems he became rapidly known in the West. In fact his fame attained a luminous height, taking him across continents on lecture tours and tours of friendship. For the world he became the voice of India's spiritual heritage; and for India, especially for Bengal, he became a great living institution.

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; and in spite of its title, Gitanjali: Song Offerings (1912), the most acclaimed of them, contains poems from other works besides its namesake. 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 a number of 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.

Rabindranath Tagore died on August 7, 1941.

From Nobel Lectures, Literature 1901-1967, Editor Horst Frenz, Elsevier Publishing Company, Amsterdam, 1969

Acknowledgement: This autobiography/biography was written at the time of the award and first published in the book series Les Prix Nobel. It was later edited and republished in Nobel Lectures. For more details, visit the Tagore's biography page in Nobelprize.Org.

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Rabindranath Tagore

Rabindranath Tagore was born in Calcutta, India, on May 7, 1861. He was the son of Debendranath Tagore, a prominent philosopher and religious reformer. Throughout his childhood, Tagore was educated by tutors and wrote extensively, despite a marked disinterest for traditional schooling. In 1877, he sailed to England to study. He remained for just fourteen months, during which he was schooled in Brighton, East Sussex and at University College, where he studied law and attended lectures on English literature. He expressed dissatisfaction with the constraints of Western educational practices in England, however, and returned to India. 

Throughout his career, Tagore not only wrote and translated poetry, but published numerous novels, short stories, plays, letters, essays, memoirs, and criticism. He was also known for his musical compositions. Tagore’s most notable work of poetry is Gitanjali: Song Offerings (Macmillan, 1912), for which he received the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1913. He was the first non-European, as well as the first lyricist, to win the prize. Other notable poetry publications, written and published in Bengali, include Sonar Tari [The Golden Boat] (1894) and Manasi [The Ideal One] (1890). Tagore often published first in Bengali, then translated his own work to English. He wrote novels, plays, and short stories in both languages, including the plays Chitra (India Society of London, 1914) and The Post Office (Cuala Press, 1914). He is credited with pioneering the short story form in Bengali literature, with some of his best work collected in The Hungry Stones and Other Stories (Macmillan, 1916) and The Glimpses of Bengal Life (G. A. Nateson & Co., 1913). His short stories were especially famous in India, as many were based on his ten years in Shilaidah and Shazadpur, where he went to manage his family’s estates in the 1890s. During this time, he lived on a houseboat on the Padma River and socialized with the neighboring villagers. His compassion for them, and his belief in education for all, deeply influenced his short stories, as well as his later activism. Tagore’s stances on Indian independence, the caste system, education, religion, and other sociopolitical issues were expressed through his work. 

In his introduction to the English translation of Gitanjali , W. B. Yeats lauds Tagore’s poetic vision, writing: “these lyrics […] display in their thought a world I have dreamed of all my life long. The work of a supreme culture, they yet appear as much the growth of the common soil as the grass and the rushes. A tradition, where poetry and religion are the same thing, has passed through the centuries, gathering from learned and unlearned metaphor and emotion, and carried back again to the multitude the thought of the scholar and of the noble.” 

In 1901, Tagore’s work as an educator and activist led to his founding an experimental school at Shantiniketan, a retreat in rural Bengal that his father created in 1863. There, he hoped to merge Eastern and Western educational traditions. He believed there might be a more natural way for young people to learn, utilizing a method which would foster their imagination and instincts. For a time, he lived at the school, which became the international Visva-Bharati University. In 1912, Tagore left the school to read his work across Europe, America, and East Asia, and to lecture and advocate for Indian independence. In 1919, as a protest against the Jallianwala Bagh Massacre, he rejected the British knighthood in 1915. Six years later, Tagore and Leonard Elmhirst founded the “Institute for Rural Reconstruction,” a feature of the Visva-Bharati University experiments. Through the institute, many of the concerns that Tagore expressed in his early short stories came to fruition: he believed rural India was barred from mainstream intellectual and urban life, and sought to facilitate a collaborative education. He requested aid from various artists, donors, and scholars across the world for this project. 

While Tagore pursued writing, teaching, and activism during much of his life, he became recognized as a painter when he was in his sixties, with many of his works enjoying success at exhibitions in Europe. 

Tagore died on August 7, 1941, in Calcutta.  

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Rabindranath Tagore: Poet and Painter

Rabindranath Tagore (1861 – 1941) is best known as a poet, and in 1913 was the first non-European writer to be awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature. Highly prolific, Tagore was also a composer – he wrote the national anthems for both India and Bangladesh – as well as an educator, social reformer, philosopher and painter. In India, he is regarded as a national figure whose achievements are as important as those of the anti-colonial nationalist Mahatma Gandhi (1869 –1948).

Rabindranath Tagore grew up in an intellectual and artistic family. His nephews Abanindranath and Gaganendranath were leaders of the new art movement in Bengal during the early 20th century, which later came to be known as the Bengal School . However, he was immune to the impact of the movement and produced works that were unique in his time and later served to inspire many modern Indian artists.

Tagore took up painting relatively late in his career, when he was in his sixties. Nevertheless, he produced thousands of works and was the first Indian artist to exhibit across Europe, Russia and the United States. His painting style was very individual, characterised by simple bold forms and a rhythmic quality.

His first paintings were highly imaginative works, usually focusing on animals or imaginary creatures, which are full of vitality and humour. Human figures are depicted either as individuals with expressive gestures or as groups in theatrical settings. In portraits produced during the 1930s, he rendered the human face in a way reminiscent of a mask or persona. Tagore also produced landscape paintings, although these represent the smallest output among his works.

Animals / Composites

Tagore's earliest visual work began with doodles that turned crossed-out words and lines into images that became expressive and sometimes grotesque forms. They were unplanned and shaped by accidents and intuitive decisions. Many of them represent animals described by Tagore as "a probable animal that had unaccountably missed its chance of existence" or "a bird that only can soar in our dreams". Tagore enjoyed projecting a human gesture onto an animal body and vice versa. This exchange between the familiar and the unknown led him to create forms that are as expressive as they are inventive.

Although he was untrained as an artist and sometimes referred to his paintings as "foundlings", the act of painting made Tagore increasingly observant and sensitive to the visible world, which he referred to as "a vast procession of forms". In his landscape paintings, which he focussed on later in his life, he often depicts nature bathed in evening light with radiant skies and forms coagulating into ominous silhouettes, invoking mystery and a foreboding silence.

Tagore did not name his paintings, by leaving them untitled he tried to free them from a literary connection and encourage the viewer to generate their own understanding and meaning of the images. His depiction of figures in his paintings were informed by his experience of the theatre as a playwright, director and actor. His figures have a dramatic presence, animated by gestures which do not suggest everyday activities. Sometimes their costumes, and the furniture and objects that surround them, play a role in this transformation of the ordinary into a dramatic motif. Rather than merely recognising situations and emotions in his paintings, they invite us to construct a narrative.

Human faces

The human face is a constant in Tagore's work, demonstrating his ongoing interest in human persona. As a writer, especially of short stories, he was used to linking human appearance with an inner human essence. Through his painting he found a similar opportunity in the representation of the human face. In the beginning, this usually led him to turn the face into a mask of a social type. Later, as his skills developed, shadows of faces he encountered began to meld with the painted faces and give them the resonance and expansiveness of characters.

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(Detail) Lithograph, reproduction of drawing by Rabindranath Tagore, about 1930 – 40, Bengal, India. Museum no. IS.74-1961. © Victoria and Albert Museum

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• Rabindranath Tagore Biography

Introduction

Rabindranath Thakur was a man of various talents. He was recognized by people all over the globe for his literary works - poetry, philosophies, plays, and especially his songwriting. Rabindranath Tagore was the man who gave India, its National Anthem. He was one of the greatest entities of all time and the only Indian to receive a Nobel Prize.

Rabindranath Tagore was awarded the Nobel Prize in 1913, becoming the first non-European to receive the honour. He was only sixteen years old when he was to publish his first short story called “Bhanisimha”, was published. Rabindranath Tagore was born on the 07th of May, 1861 in Kolkata. Rabindranath Tagore was the son of Debendranath Tagore, one of Brahmo Samaj’s active members, a known and celebrated philosopher, and literate. R.N Tagore died after a prolonged illness on the 07th of August, 1941.

Rabindranath Tagore Childhood and Education

While growing up, R.N Tagore shared a very intimate relationship with his elder brother and his sister-in-law. Rabindranath Tagore's father's name is Debendranath Tagore, and his mother’s name is Sarada Devi. Rabindranath Tagore's birthday is on the 7th of May, 1861, and he was born in Calcutta, Bengal Presidency then. It is believed that they did everything together. Rabindranath Tagore's education didn’t seem too impressive. 

R.N Tagore did not enjoy schooling, and he was mostly found procrastinating and pondering for hours. He went to one of the most prestigious St. Xavier’s School, and later, he went to the University of London in Bridgton, England, to study law and become a barrister. Still, as we know, he did not enjoy schooling much; he returned home in two years but without a degree. Even though he did not enjoy schooling much, he was always found with books, pen, and ink. He would always be scribbling things in his notebook; however, he was shy to reveal his writings.

Growing Years and Career

R.N Tagore was only eight years old when he first wrote a poem. By the age of sixteen, his short story got published, titled “Bhanusimha”. R.N Tagore’s contribution to literature is beyond any measure. He was the one who had introduced new verses and prose and also lingua franca in his mother tongue, which is Bangla. R.N Tagore after returning to India after leaving his education, but he did not leave literature. 

R.N Tagore published several books of Rabindranath Tagore poems and short stories, plays, and songs. His most renowned work, called “Gitanjali”, was very well received all over India and England. He is the author of two National Anthems, which are “Amar Sonar Bangla” for Bangladesh and  “Jana Gana Mana” for India. He worked with very unfamiliar and different styles in Bangla Language. Some of them are heavily immersed in social and political satire. He was one of those who believed in global peace and equality. He is one of the pioneers of contemporary Bengali literature. 

After returning to India, he completed and published his book of poems called “Manasi” which was believed to contain his best poems. “Manasi” contained several verse forms which were fresh to contemporary Bengali literature, and it also contained some political and social satire that questioned and mocked R.N Tagore’s fellow Bengalis. 

Besides writing and working on literature, R.N Tagore also participated in the family business. In 1891, he went to East Bengal, which is now in Bangladesh, to look after his ancestral estates and lands at Shahzadpur and Shilaidaha for almost 10 years. He spent some time in a houseboat at Padma river, and his sympathy for village folk became the keynote of most literature later in his life. In East India, poems and other works of Rabindranath Tagore were published as a collection in the book called “Sonar Tari” and a very notable and celebrated play called “Chitrangada”. He has written over two thousand songs which are very popular in Bengal until now. When R.N Tagore was in his 60s, he tried his hand at painting, and for the talented man he was, his works won him a good name among India’s topmost contemporary artists.

Rabindranath Tagore and Shantiniketan

Rabindranath Tagore received his nickname “Gurudev”, out of respect by his pupils at his very unique and special school, which he established in Shantiniketan, called “Visva Bharati University” Santiniketan was developed and founded by the Tagore family. This little town was very close to Rabindranath Tagore. 

R.N Tagore wrote several poems and songs about this place. Unlike other universities, “Visva Bharati” University was open to each student who was eager to learn. The classrooms and the scope for learning in this university were not confined within four walls. Instead, classes took place in open space, beneath the massive banyan trees on the university grounds. To this date, this ritual of attending classes in open spaces is practiced by the students and the teachers. R.N Tagore permanently moved to the school after.

Rabindranath Tagore Death and His Encounters with Death

R.N Tagore was only fourteen years old when Sharada Devi, his mother, passed away. After his mother's sudden and heartbreaking demise, R.N Tagore was mostly seen avoiding classrooms and schooling. Instead, he would roam about his town Bolpur. He had to face the death of several of his loved ones, that too, one after the other, which left him devastated and heartbroken. After his mother, R.N Tagore lost a very close friend and a very significant influence, Kadambari Devi, his sister-in-law. It is presumed that R.N Tagore’s novella called “Nastanirh” was about Kadambari Devi.

It is also believed that she had committed suicide four months after R.N Tagore’s marriage to Mrinalini Devi. There are some serious speculations made about R.N Tagore, and his sister-in-law sharing a very intimate relationship and that maybe the two were in love; however, there has been no confirmation on the same. Later, his wife, Mrinalini Devi, too died due to an illness. He lost his two daughters, Madhurilata, who R.N Tagore adored and was fond of the most due to tuberculosis, and Renuka and his son Shamindranath due to cholera. These deaths shook him to the core, but he never failed to pick up his pen again. Even though all these encounters with death gave him shaping his personality and writing style, he kept longing for a companion who shares the same interests as he does. 

Life was a little less cruel to him at this point. When he found that companion, he had been longing for - his niece Indira Devi, who was highly educated and well-read. R.N Tagore wrote to her about some sensitive details about his life. These letters to Indira Devi witnessed the sheer vulnerability of his emotional state, sensibilities, and experiences. Since Indira Devi had copied all his letters in a notebook; it eventually got published. “Chinnapatra” can give one a glimpse of Tagore’s growth as a human and as an artist. Grief had been a constant part of R.N Tagore’s life, which is often reflected in his literary works; after losing Rabindranath Tagore's wife and daughters, he lost his father too. These years of sadness and sorrow, which were very actively reflected in his literary works, were introduced as “Gitanjali” which won him the Nobel Prize.

Rabindranath Tagore and His Nationalism

R.N Tagore was politically very aware and very critical at the same time, he not only criticized the British Raj, but he was also very vocal about the mistakes his fellow Bengalis and Indians made. These were reflected in the socio-political satires he wrote and published. When R.N Tagore had been awarded a knighthood, as a sign of protest against the Jallianwala Bagh Massacre, he repudiated the award. Recognition, fame, money nothing mattered to him when it came to his country. He loved his country, the lands, rivers, and the people of his country very much. 

It is thus quite right to say that Tagore opposed European colonialism and supported Indian nationalists. He also shunned the Swadeshi Movement and urged Indians to accept that education is the way forward. A blind revolution will only lead to the loss of lives and unwanted and unnecessary loss of life.

Rabindranath Tagore and His Love For Literature, Art, and Music

Some of the most renowned works of Tagore which are highly recommended works of literature are “Noukadubi'', “Shesher Kobita”, “Chaturanga”, “Gora”, “Char Adhyay”, “Jogajog”, “Ghare Baire”. “Ghare Baire'' was also produced as a film by another precious talent Satyajit Ray. His novels were very underappreciated in his time but gained a lot of respect after film directors like Tapan Sinha, Tarun Majumdar and of course, Satyajit Ray adapted and made feature films based on his novels. In popular culture, even his songs, poems and novels are employed in Movies and as background scores. The genre of the songs by Rabindranath Tagore are known as “Rabindra Sangeet'' and movies have been adapted and made out of his novels “Noukadubi” and “Chokher Bali”. It is highly recommended to read “Gitanjali'' to appreciate Tagore's poetic style and to appreciate some very heartfelt and moving songs that he wrote, it is recommended to listen to “Tobu Mone Rekho”. 

In addition to all this, Rabindranath Tagore was a commendable artist and musician too. His paintings are celebrated both nationally and internationally and have received wide acclaim. His songs are considered to be at the heart of Bengal culture and his compilations are fondly termed Rabindra Sangeet. These songs elaborate on themes of love, worship, devotion, and so on. RN Tagore started painting at the age of 60. His brilliant artwork is displayed to this day in several museums globally.

Rabindranath Tagore And His Last Days

Rabindranath Tagore died in the place he loved the most. However, the last few years of his life were quite painful.  He was affected by chronic illness during the last 4 years of his life. In 1937, he went into a comatose condition due to this prolonged suffering he was enduring. On August 7th in 1941, this great novelist, poet, musician, and painter passed away quietly in the same Jorasanko mansion in which he was brought up.

Conclusion 

Here is everything students should know about Rabindranath Tagore, his life, his works and his achievements in life.

FAQs on Rabindranath Tagore Biography

1. What are the Famous Books Written by Rabindranath Tagore?

We all know that Rabindranath Tagore took a keen liking to write from a young age. Although he was frequently seen skipping school, you could always find him scribbling something in his notebook. This paved the way for a great future novelist who even received the Nobel Prize for Literature. His works talked about nationalism, social evils, and the need for harmony between Indians. Gitanjali is RN Tagore’s most acclaimed work. It has received critical praise internationally and is loved by all literary aficionados. Here are some famous books are written by Rabindranath Tagore: 

The Home and the world

The Post Office

2. Why is Rabindranath Tagore so Famous?

Rabindranath Tagore is famous for the Nobel Prize Award for literature and he was the first Indian to achieve such huge respect and honour. He had many talents apart from writing great poems. It should be noted that RN Tagore’s popularity in English speaking nations grew in leaps and bounds after the publication of his book Gitanjali. Later in 1913, he was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature for this critically acclaimed book. Another huge factor contributing to Tagore’s growing popularity was the renunciation of his knighthood. He did not accept this honour conferred by the British crown on him in protest against the Jalianwala Bagh massacre. This great poet also toured extensively around Japan and the U.S., where he talked about the importance of nationalism. This helped him earn deep admiration and respect from foreigners all over the world.

3. Why Did Rabindranath Tagore Receive the Nobel Prize for Literature?

The Nobel Prize award was awarded to Rabindranath Tagore in the year 1913 because of his sensitive, impeccable, fresh, unique, and beautiful verse. He expressed his poetic thoughts in his own words that are mostly followed in the West. Rabindranath Tagore is considered responsible for the modernization of Bengali literature. He preserved the cultural heritage of this beautiful language all while breathing some new life into it. Gitanjali is a collection of song offerings that have been penned down by this legendary novelist and poet. It was this book that won him the revered Nobel Prize in Literature. In total, there were 157 poems in that book that touched upon various themes such as devotion, nationalism, worship, etc.

4. What was Tagore’s Stint as an Actor?

We all know that Rabindranath Tagore is famous for writing many dramas that have derived inspiration from Indian mythology and contemporary social issues facing society in those days. He began his drama career writing alongside his brother when he was only a young teenager. At 20 years of age, RN Tagore penned a drama named ‘Valmiki Pratibha’ and also played the lead role of the titular character in it. The drama was based on stories about the legendary dacoit named Valmiki. It is Valmiki who later changed his ways and wrote one of the two greatest Indian epics – Ramayana. This was Tagore’s short stint as an actor.

5. Did RN Tagore Receive a Formal Education?

Rabindranath Tagore’s family always wished that he became a barrister. They sent him to elite schools and universities, in the hopes that he would pursue a career in law. However, young Rabindranath always shied away from rote learning and spent most of his time scribbling down ideas in his notebook. RN Tagore was also enrolled in the University College in London but he dropped out without completing his formal education. However, his love for English, Irish, and Scottish literature soon helped him morph into the much revered and loved novelist he is known as today.

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Rabindranath Tagore: Biography

Last updated on April 8, 2024 by ClearIAS Team

Rabindranath Tagore was an iconic figure in the Indian cultural renaissance. He was a polymath poet, philosopher, musician, writer, and educationist.

Rabindranath Tagore became the first Asian to win the Nobel Prize in 1913 for his collection of poems, Gitanjali.

He was called Gurudev, Kabiguru, and Biswakabi affectionately and his songs are popularly known as Rabindrasangeet.

The national anthems of India and Bangladesh – the Jana Gana Mana and the Amar Shonar Bangla respectively are from the Rabindrasangeet.

Table of Contents

The early life of Rabindranath Tagore

Rabindranath Tagore was born on 7 th May 1861 in Calcutta as the youngest son of Debendranath Tagore and Sarada Devi.

His grandfather Dwarkanath Tagore was a rich landlord and social reformer. His father, Debendranath Tagore was a leader of the Brahmo Samaj , a new religious sect in nineteenth-century Bengal which attempted a revival of the ultimate monistic basis of Hinduism as laid down in the Upanishads.

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The Tagore family was a treasure trove of talent in every field. They hosted the publication of literary magazines; theatre and recitals of Bengali and Western classical music featured there regularly. Tagore’s father invited several professional musicians to stay in the house and teach Indian Classical music to the children.

Tagore’s oldest brother Dwijendranath was a philosopher and poet. Another brother, Satyendranath, was the first Indian appointed to the formerly all-European Indian Civil Service. Another brother, Jyotitindranath, was a musician, composer, and playwright. His sister Swarnakumari became a novelist.

Also read: Modern Indian Sculpture

Rabindra Nath Tagore had his initial education in Oriental Seminary School. But he did not like the conventional education and started studying at home under several teachers. He was mostly trained by his siblings both in literary as well as physical activities like gymnastics and martial arts.

Tagore was a child prodigy when it comes to writing as he has started writing and publishing poetry by the age of eight.

In 1873, at the age of eleven, Tagore and his father left Calcutta to tour India for several months. He visited his father’s Santiniketan estate and Amritsar before reaching the Himalayan hill station of Dalhousie where he read biographies, studied history, astronomy, modern science, and Sanskrit, and examined the classical poetry of Kalidasa.

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At the age of seventeen, he was sent to England for formal law schooling but he did not finish his studies there. He rather took up independent studies of Shakespeare.

He returned from England in 1880 and regularly published poems, stories, and novels in Bengali, slowly starting to transform Bengali literature.

In 1883, he married Mrinalini Devi, a child bride as was the tradition in those times.

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.

Rabindranath Tagore in Independence movement

Tagore participated in the Indian nationalist movement from time to time, though in his own non-sentimental and visionary way; and Gandhi, the political father of modern India , was his devoted friend. Tagore came to be recognized as one of the architects of modern India.

India’s first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru , wrote in  Discovery of India , “Tagore and Gandhi have undoubtedly been the two outstanding and dominating figures in the first half of the twentieth century. Tagore’s influence over the mind of India, and especially of successive rising generations has been tremendous. Not Bengali only, the language in which he wrote, but all the modern languages of India have been molded partly by his writings. More than any other Indian, he has helped to bring into harmony the ideals of the East and the West, and broadened the bases of Indian nationalism.”

In 1905, Viceroy Curzon decided to divide Bengal into two parts. Rabindranath Tagore strongly protested against this decision. Tagore wrote many national songs and attended protest meetings. He initiated the Rakhibandhan ceremony, symbolizing the underlying unity of undivided Bengal.

In 1919, following the Jallianwala Bagh massacre , Tagore renounced his knighthood condemning the act. He was a supporter of Gandhiji but he stayed out of politics. He was opposed to nationalism and militarism as a matter of principle, and instead promoted spiritual values and the creation of a new world culture founded in multi-culturalism, diversity, and tolerance.

Tagore the educationalist

1n 1921, Rabindranath Tagore established Viswabharati University and gave all his money from Nobel Prize and royalty money from his books to this University.

Tagore was quite knowledgeable of Western culture, especially Western poetry and sciences. Tagore had a good grasp of modern – post-Newtonian – physics and was well able to hold his own in a debate with Einstein in 1930 on the newly emerging principles of quantum mechanics and chaos. His meetings and tape-recorded conversations with his contemporaries such as Albert Einstein and H.G. Wells, epitomize his brilliance.

In 1940 Oxford University arranged a special ceremony in Santiniketan and awarded Rabindranath Tagore with a Doctorate of Literature.

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.

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.

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Paragraph on Rabindranath Tagore [100, 150, 200, 250 Words]

Paragraph on Rabindranath Tagore: Rabindranath Tagore is one of the greatest poets in the world. In this article, you are going to learn how to write a paragraph on Rabindranath Tagore in English. Here, we’ve provided 4 paragraphs on Rabindranath Tagore (100, 150, 200, and 250 words). These paragraphs will be very helpful for students of all classes (class 1 to class 12). So, let’s begin.

Table of Contents

Paragraph on Rabindranath Tagore [100 Words]

Rabindranath Tagore was a great Indian poet. He was born at Jorasanka, Kolkata on 7th May 1861. His father’s name was Devendranath Tagore . His mother’s name was Sarala Devi. He started writing poems from his childhood. Rabindranath wrote many poems, short stories, essays, dramas, novels and songs.

He was also a great composer. He composed the national anthem of our county, Jana Gana Mana . His Important works are Gitanjali, Ghare Baire, Rabindra Sangeet, Amar Sonar Bangla, etc. He was the first Indian to win the noble prize in 1913 for ‘Gitanjali’. He died on 7th august 1941. Rabindranath tagore will remain in our hearts forever.

Paragraph on Rabindranath Tagore [150 Words]

Rabindranath Tagore, one of the greatest sons of India, was born in a very rich, cultured and zamindar family at Jorasanko, Calcutta, in 1861. His father’s name was Maharshi Devendranath Tagore. He went to England several times in his early childhood.

Tagore showed great promise as a writer and composer from his early childhood. His first opera Bhanu Singher Padabali created a sensation. He was married to Mrinalini Devi . Rabindranath wrote a large number of dramas, novels, short stories, poems, etc. His most brilliant work was Geetanjali for which he was awarded the Nobel Prize for literature in 1913.

However, his greatest creation was Santiniketan . Rabindranath was not only a great writer and composer but also a strong supporter of the nationalist movement. He also worked for international brotherhood and advocated equality among mankind. He died at the age of 80 in 1941.

Also Read: Paragraph on Swami Vivekananda 

Paragraph on Rabindranath Tagore [200 Words]

Nothing can be said enough for Rabindranath’s genius. Rabindranath Tagore popularly known as Gurudev was born in a rich aristocratic Bengali family in 1861. His father’s name was Debendranath Tagore and his mother’s name was Sarada Devi. Rabindranath was the youngest member of his family.

Rabindranath had no formal University education. But he went to England at the age of 17. He joined the University of London but he returned home soon after. His poetic career started quite early. His first collection of lyrics ‘Manashi’ was published in 1890. That was followed by two more collections of lyrics- ‘Chitra’ and ‘sonar Tari’ .

‘Gitanjali’ was published in 1909. That won for him the Nobel Prize of Literature in 1913. Rabindranath was a versatile literary master. He was a novelist and dramatist of repute. Rabindranath wrote innumerable poems, Dramas, essays, plays, short stories, novels etc. He was a sincere educator and social reformer.

He founded Viswa-Bharati University at Santiniketan, Bolepur in 1901. As a man Rabindranath was outstanding. He was a great patriot and peace-lover. Rabindranath wrote our national anthem, Jana Gana Mana. He ever stood against social wrongs. The great poet passed away on August 7, 1941.

Also Read: Paragraph on Mother Teresa

Rabindranath Tagore Paragraph [250 Words]

Rabindranath Tagore was a great Indian poet. He was lovingly called Gurudev or Kabi Guru . He was born at Jorasanka, Kolkata on 7th May 1861. His father was Devendranath Tagore and his mother was Sarada Devi. He was born in a rich Brahmin family in Kolkata. He was the youngest sibling in his family.

Rabindranath was educated at home. At the age of seventeen, he was sent to England to become a barrister to fulfill his father’s wish. He was interested in writing poems from his childhood. His first poem was published when he was only eight. He started publishing his poems under the pseudonym Bhanusingha .

Tagore was a multi-talented personality with a great desire to learn new things. He was a novelist, essayist, playwright, short-story writer, painter and song composer. Rabindranath Tagore wrote ‘Jana Mana Gana’, which was adopted as the National Anthem of India.  His notable works are Gitanjali, Chokher bali, Ghare Baire, Kabuliwallah, Rabindra sangeet, Amar Sonar bangla etc.

He was the first Indian to win the noble prize in literature in 1913 for ‘Gitanjali’. He was married to Mrinalini Devi.  Rabindranath Tagore found Visva Bharati University at Shantiniketan, Birbhum. Tagore was also a great patriot, he participated in the Indian nationalist movement.

Tagore was awarded Knighthood by the ruling British Government in 1915. But he renounced his Knighthood as a protest against the Jallianwala Bagh massacre in 1919. This eminent person died at the age of 80 on 7th august 1941. He will remain in our loving memory forever.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q. where was rabindranath tagore born.

Rabindranath was born on May 7, 1861 in a wealthy Brahmin family in Calcutta.

Q. Why Tagore was awarded Noble Prize?

He won the Nobel Prize for his collection of poems, Gitanjali, in 1913

Q. Why did Rabindranath give up his Knighthood?

Rabindranath Tagore gave up his knighthood as a protest against the Jallianwala Bagh massacre in 1919 .

Q. What are the famous books of Rabindranath Tagore?

His famous books are Chokher Bali, Kabuliwallah, Ghare Baire, Gora, The Post Office, Gitanjali, The Astronomer, etc.

Read More Paragraphs: 1. Paragraph on Mother Teresa 2. Paragraph on APJ Abdul Kalam 3. Paragraph on Swami Vivekananda

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7 thoughts on “paragraph on rabindranath tagore [100, 150, 200, 250 words]”.

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In the paragraph of 250 words, I think it should be Sarada Devi not Sarala Devi. Otherwise, this website is awesome….

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Rabindranath Tagore Birth Anniversary: History, His Contribution And Other Things To Know

This year, the world is celebrating the 163rd birth anniversary of rabindranath tagore..

Rabindranath Tagore wrote the national anthems of India and Bangladesh.

May 7 is celebrated as the birth anniversary of Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore. It is known as Pachishe Boisakh in West Bengal. Tagore - the poet, novelist, essayist, philosopher and musician - is part of the everyday life of an average Bengali. He was born on this day in Kolkata (then known as Calcutta) in 1861. Rabindranath Tagore is best known for his contribution to the field of Bengali literature and politics. His poems, short stories, songs (referred to as Rabindra sangeet), plays and novels are still revered and analysed in different fields of art.

He was the first non-European to receive the Nobel Prize (1913) for his contribution to world literature.

This year, the world is celebrating the 163rd birth anniversary of Rabindranath Tagore. He penned more than 2,000 songs and several novels, dance dramas and short stories. Some of Tagore's best works are Gora, Gitanjali, Rakta Karabi, Ghare Baire, Shesher Kobita, Raja O Rani, Tasher Desh, Dena Paona and Shanchayita .

The official handle of Nobel Prize posted a tribute for Tagore on this day, saying he received the prize "because of his profoundly sensitive, fresh and beautiful verse".

We're celebrating the anniversary of the birth of a true great: Rabindranath Tagore, who was born #OnThisDay in 1861 in Calcutta, India. The first non-European literature laureate, he was awarded the #NobelPrize "because of his profoundly sensitive, fresh and beautiful verse..." pic.twitter.com/5059btyZ6n — The Nobel Prize (@NobelPrize) May 7, 2024

Tagore started writing short stories at the age of 16. His first short story was released in 1877. He wrote many stories between 1891 and 1895. The famous short stories written by him include Kabuliwala, Kshudita Pashan and Atithi .

Tagore penned the national anthem of India (Jana Gana Mana) as well as Bangladesh (Amar Shonar Bangla).

Several events are organised across West Bengal to celebrate Rabindranath Tagore's birth anniversary. These include dramas, songs, recitals and many localities.

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A champion of social reform and universal humanism, Tagore's works advocate for harmony, empathy, and the celebration of diversity.

As a philosopher, Tagore's ideas on education continue to provoke thought and inspire discourse, leaving an indelible mark on modern Indian thought.

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Rabindranath Tagore Biography: Early Life, Education, Literary Work, Achievements & More

i mg src="https://img.jagranjosh.com/images/2021/May/752021/Rabindranath-Tagore-Biography-education.png" width="1200" height="675" />

Rabindranath Tagore Jayanti 2023: The birth anniversary of Rabindranath Tagore is observed on May 7, according to the Gregorian calendar but according to the Bengali calendar, he was born on the 25th day of Boishakh month. So, in West Bengal, his birthday, as per the Bengali calendar, is being celebrated this year on 9 May. In the article below, learn all about Tagore's early life, his family, education, career and more. 

Rabindranath Tagore's birth anniversary is also known as Pochishe Boishakh. He was born in a rich Brahmin family in Kolkata (Calcutta) and was the youngest sibling in his family.

Let us tell you that Rabindranath Tagore was a multi-talented personality with a great desire to learn new things. His contributions to literature, music and several other works are unforgettable. People not only in West Bengal but also in the whole of India remember him and his contributions on his birth anniversary. Even in 1913, he was awarded the most prestigious Nobel Prize for his great contribution to Indian literature. Do you know that he was the first person from Asia to receive this award? We can't forget that he is the person who composed the National Anthem of India.

Rabindranath Tagore: Early life and Childhood Days

He was born on 7 May, 1861, to Debendranath Tagore and Sarada Devi in the Jorasanko mansion, which is the ancestral home of the Tagore family in Kolkata (Calcutta). Among his siblings, he was the youngest. He lost his mother when he was very young, his father was a traveler, and so he was mostly raised by his servants and maids. At a very young age, he was part of the Bengal Renaissance, and his family also took active participation in it. At the age of 8, he started writing poems and by the age of sixteen, he also started composing artworks and started publishing his poems under the pseudonym Bhanusimha. In 1877, he wrote the short story 'Bhikharini' and, in 1882, the collection of poems 'Sandhya Sangit'.

He was influenced by the classical poetry of Kalidasa and started writing his own classical poems. His sister, Swarnakumari, was a well-known novelist. In 1873, he toured with his father for several months and gained knowledge on several subjects. He learned Sikhism when he stayed at Amritsar and wrote around six poems and many articles on the religion.

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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: Established Shantiniketan

His father bought a huge land for meditation and named it Shantiniketan. Debendranath Tagore founded an 'Ashram' in 1863. In 1901, Rabindranath Tagore established an open-air school. It was a prayer hall with marble flooring and was named 'The Mandir'. It was also named 'Patha Bhavana' and started with only five students. Classes here were held under trees and followed the traditional Guru-Shishya method of teaching. This trend of teaching revived the ancient method of teaching, which proved beneficial when compared with the modernised method. Unfortunately, his wife and two children died and he left alone. At that time, he was very disturbed. In the meantime, his works started growing and became more popular among Bengali as well as foreign readers. In 1913, he gained recognition, was awarded the prestigious Nobel Prize in Literature, and became Asia's first Nobel Laureate. Shantiniketan is now a famous University town in West Bengal.

Let us tell you that Rabindranath Tagore envisioned a centre of learning which would have the best of both the east and the west. He established the Visva Bharati University in West Bengal. It consists of two campuses, one at Shantiniketan and the other at Sriniketan. Sriniketan focuses on agriculture, adult education, village, cottage industries, and handicrafts.

Rabindranath Tagore: Literary Works

Japajog: Published in 1929, His novel is a compelling take on marital rape.

Nastanirh: Published in 1901. This novel is about relationships and love, both requited and unrequited.

Ghare Baire: Published in 1916. It is a story about a married woman constricted in her household trying to find her own identity.

Gora: In the 1880s, it is an expansive, exhaustive, and extremely relevant novel that deals with several themes like religion, gender, feminism, and also tradition against modernity.

Chokher Bali: In 1903, a novel which consists of various facets of relationships.

His short stories are Bhikarini, Kabuliwala, Kshudita Pashan, Atottju, Haimanti and Musalmanir Golpo etc.

Poems are Balaka, Purobi, Sonar Tori and Gitanjali.

No doubt he has changed the dimensions of Bengali literature as it was earlier viewed. Many countries have even erected statues to pay tribute to the legendary writer. Around five museums are dedicated to Tagore, of which three are situated in India and the remaining two in Bangladesh.

He spent his last years in severe pain and even in 1937, he went into a comatose condition. After a lot of suffering, he died on August 7, 1941, in the Jorasanko mansion where he was brought up. 

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In South Korea, remembering Rabindranath Tagore, for inspiring a generation of freedom fighters

That his statue exists even in a country he did not visit says a lot about tagore's relevance for the korean people and their history..

Some 4,000 km from undivided Bengal, where he was born, a bust of Rabindranath Tagore stands on a busy street in Seoul’s Jongno district, near Marronnier Park, silently observing scores of passersby. It was erected in 2011 in a university neighbourhood by the South Korean government to commemorate the Nobel laureate’s 150th birth anniversary, in coordination with the Indian embassy.

Around the world, particularly in countries where Tagore travelled—from the US to Japan—it is not uncommon to find statues and plaques commemorating one of South Asia’s most prominent literary and political figures. But the memorial to Tagore in South Korea is unique.

This is because although Tagore never visited the Korean Peninsula, his work left a deep impact on people in Korea during their fight for freedom from Japanese colonisation.

While Tagore did not reach Korea’s shores during his lifetime, he did travel to neighbouring China and Japan between 1916-1924. It was during this time that Tagore got an opportunity to understand the socio-politics that were unfolding. These were very different from the perceptions that he had formed while back in his homeland.

“When Tagore visited Japan for the first time in 1916, he was disappointed to see that Japan was imitating the ways of the imperialist West. His indictment of Japan on the path of war cost him ovation and affection with which he was initially greeted,” says Dr Pankaj Mohan, formerly Professor and Dean, the Academy of Korean Studies, South Korea.

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That Tagore never visited Korea was not for the paucity of invitations. Sometime during the 20th century, Korean intellectuals discovered his works in translation. “In the early 1920s, about 250 of Tagore’s works were introduced. And in the history of Korean translated literature before Independence, there is no example of so many works by a foreign poet being translated,” says Professor Kim Woo Joo, who previously taught Hindi literature at Hankuk University of Foreign Studies in Seoul. She obtained her Ph. D from Visva Bharati University in Bolpur, West Bengal .

While Tagore knew little about the extent of Japan’s brutal colonial practices and heaped praise on the Empire in what was called pan-Asian solidarity, Korean intellectuals who looked up to him as an anti-colonial figure very much knew of Tagore’s opinions on Japan and tried to inform him about their lived realities.

It was in Japan that Tagore first met Koreans who had been living under Japanese imperial rule. And this truly shaped his opinions on the empire’s colonial policies. Japan’s colonisation of the Korean Peninsula from 1910-1945 was brutal. While imperialist policies meant the imposition of several rules and curbs on freedoms and the human rights of Koreans, there were also other forms of violence.

Approximately 1,50,000 Koreans were forced to work in factories and mines in Japan during the Second World War. Thousands of Korean girls and women were also forced into sexual slavery in military brothels. These historical occurrences have remained points of contention between Japan and South Korea since both countries formally established diplomatic relations in 1965.

Dr Mohan points to the writings of Charles Freer Andrews, an English Anglican priest and social reformer who also worked for the cause of Indian independence and was a close friend of both Mahatma Gandhi and Tagore.

“Charles F. Andrews, who accompanied the poet to Japan, noted: ‘When (Tagore) spoke out strongly against the militant imperialism which he saw on every side in Japan and set forward in contrast his ideal picture of the true meeting of East and West, with its vista of world brotherhood, the hint went abroad that such ‘pacifist’ teaching was a danger in war time and that the Indian poet represented a defeated nation’,” Dr Mohan says.

The Song of the Defeated

When the Japanese realised that Tagore was becoming more critical of Japan’s imperialist policies in the Korean Peninsula, their sentiments towards the laureate began to change. Andrews states that accusations of Japanese critics that Tagore preached the sermon of peace because he was poet of the “defeated country” inspired Tagore to write the poem entitled The Song of the Defeated. This would go on to become an iconic poem associated with Tagore with immense relevance in the study of colonial Korea.

This poem reads:

“She is silent with eyes downcast; she has left her home behind her.

From her home has come wailing in the wind.

But the stars are singing the love-song of the eternal to a face sweet with shame and suffering.”

“Tagore gave this poem to a Korean student in Japan named Chin Hak-mun, who visited him at the Yokohama residence of Hara Tomaitaro (in July) 1916 and requested him to contribute either an essay or verse to the Korean journal “Cheongchun” or Youth. By giving the poem to a Korean student, the poet wished to underscore the common destiny of India and Korea, and to boost the sinking morale of the Korean people, yoked to the repressive colonial rule of Japan. After composing this poem in July 1916, the poet apparently added it to the manuscript of Fruit Gathering which MacMillan, published in October 1916,” says Dr Mohan.

One of the first invitations to Tagore to visit Korea came in 1916 through young Korean students whom he met while in Japan. Unable to travel to the peninsula, Tagore instead shared a poem with a young Korean writer. That poem came to be known as The Song of the Defeated.

“I think he recognised Korea as ‘the defeated’ country just like his native India. This poem can be interpreted in multiple ways, and one of them is that it can be understood as a poem describing the longing to meet the lost homeland,” explains Professor Kim.

Researchers believe that one of the reasons why some of Tagore’s poems resonated with the Korean people living under Japanese colonial rule was that they exhibited his empathy towards others suffering from the violence and brutality of colonial rule. However, some historians believe that for many anti-colonial Koreans, what made Tagore stand apart from his contemporaries who were also writing about colonial oppression was that unlike them, he had openly expressed his criticism to the Japanese.

“Stephen H. Hay in his book Asian Ideas of East and West: Tagore and His Critics in Japan, China, and India tells us on the evidence of his 1955 interviews with key figures associated with Tagore during his 1916 sojourn in Japan…that several Korean students visited his residence at Yokohama and also talked to him at campuses of Japanese universities where he was invited to deliver lectures. It was indeed through these private conversations that Tagore was awakened to the harsh reality of Japanese imperialism. He was deeply aggrieved to learn about the atrocities Japan perpetrated on Korea which it had annexed six years earlier,” says Dr Mohan.

It was not that people in the Indian subcontinent were completely unaware of Japan’s colonial brutality. Archival documentation indicates that the nationalist press, run by revolutionaries and freedom fighters, had been highlighting the colonisation of Korea and the fight for freedom by the Koreans. But perhaps there was a lack of sufficient knowledge about the extent of the violence that was being perpetrated on the Koreans. It took in-person interactions with Koreans for Indian freedom fighters and revolutionaries to understand the shared grief and resistance of both peoples.

Japan from the lens of Indian freedom fighters

While it is true that during their own quest for freedom from British rule, many freedom fighters and revolutionaries looked up to Japan for inspiration, it would be doing a disservice to their contributions to believe that they were entirely uncritical of Japan’s imperialist and colonial policies, scholars told indianexpress.com .

Till the early 1900s, Indians at the forefront of the freedom struggle, like Tagore and Gandhi, harboured romantic views of Japan, but they were also astute and perceptive enough to analyse and criticise Japan’s policies.

It was not that Tagore believed Japan was the “leader” of Asia, a label that is sometimes inaccurately ascribed to him. “He believed that great Asian powers such as India and China were reduced to the status of colonies or semi-colonies respectively, but Japan maintained its independence. So Japan needed to ‘fulfil its mission of the East’ and to ‘infuse the sap of full humanity into the heart of modern civilisation’,” says Dr Mohan.

On Tagore’s last visit to Japan in 1929, another invitation to visit Korea came, this time from Seol Eui-sik, the Tokyo correspondent of Dong-A Daily, a Korean newspaper. Seol invited (Tagore) to visit Korea as the guest of his paper, and also requested him to write a few words to celebrate the tenth anniversary of the March First Independence Movement, arguably the most powerful symbol of Korea’s will to gain independence and the greatest expression of anti-imperialist protest in the colonial history of Korea, says Dr Mohan. “Tagore obliged him by composing the famous quatrain,” he adds.

“That poem later went on to be named as ‘Lamp of the East’ and only recently, during research by Korean scholar Dr Kim Jae-young, was Seol identified as the Korean journalist whom Tagore met in Japan,” Dr Mohan says.

During this visit to Japan, Tagore also agreed to finally visit the land that he had inspired so deeply through his words. However, the development of a heart ailment while in Japan compelled him to put a stop to his travel to Korea.

Tagore would go on to write about his interactions with Seol in an essay which was originally published in a Bengali magazine titled Koriyar Yubaker Rahtrik Mat (Nationalist View of a Korean Youth), and later it was included in his book Russiar Chithi (Letters from Russia), as an appendix, according to Dr Mohan.

“When Tagore met Gandhi at Ahmedabad in January 1930, they discussed a range of topics, but it is remarkable that on this occasion the poet also shared with Gandhi the views about national independence that he had exchanged with a Korean youth in Japan the previous year,” Dr Mohan says.

The remarkable conversation that Gandhi and Tagore had about Koreans and their fight for freedom from Japanese was documented by Madhav Desai, Gandhi’s personal secretary and exists in archival records.

Tagore poem in Korean school textbooks

Today, Korean middle school textbooks feature Tagore’s poem Lamp of the East. One reason for the inclusion of this poem in the official curriculum is its use during commemorations for the March First Movement or the Independence Movement Day in South Korea, pronounced Sam Il Jeol, a national holiday in remembrance of people who spearheaded Korea’s independence movement and liberation from Japanese colonial rule.

Instrumental in taking the voices of Indian independence leaders to the Korean people were the newspapers Chosun Ilbo and Donga Ilbo, which remain in publication in South Korea today. Founded in 1920, these newspapers would regularly carry articles about Gandhi and Tagore, using Indian independence leaders living in exile overseas in East Asia as their sources for information.

This national holiday is important in South Korea. Dr Mohan says, “Tagore’s poem that commemorated and eulogised the March First spirit was often quoted as an evidence of the international influence of the March First Movement. It was, perhaps, against this background that the poem was included in middle school textbooks.”

When Tagore sent his four-line poem as a message to the Korean people in 1929, he sent it without a title. “The Lamp of the East is a short ode reflecting Tagore’s views on the East at the time, but he wrote it himself and sent it to Korea,” says Kim.

This short poem is also inscribed on a plaque beneath Tagore’s statue in Seoul today:

“In the golden age of Asia,

Korea was one of its lamp-bearers

And that lamp is waiting to be lighted once again

For the illumination in the East.”

“The message that Korea would shine in the East gave great comfort, encouragement and hope to the Korean people who were suffering during the dark times of cruel and severe Japanese colonial rule around the 1930s,” says Kim. When the poem reached Korea, it took on the title it is now known by, The Lamp of the East.

The reason why Tagore’s connection with colonial Korea does not get enough attention may have to do with the quantity of his writing on the country.

“Tagore wrote only one poem and one article on Korea, but in contrast he composed many essays and poems on China and Japan. He also directly interacted with and influenced a large number of Japanese and Chinese scholars, literary figures, artists and politicians. This is also evident in Jorasanko Thakurbari Museum in Kolkata , where one sees several rooms dedicated to Tagore’s connections with China and Japan. It is natural, therefore, that a large number of books and research papers deal with the topic of Tagore’s view of China and Japan and his influence on the Chinese and Japanese minds,” says Dr Mohan.

But that is changing now, with more scholars, particularly those in East Asia, investigating Tagore’s bonds with colonial Korean and its people.

‘Young Koreans interested in India but…’

Despite his poem being taught in middle school, whether ordinary Koreans would immediately recognise Tagore and his work depends on whom one asks. “I think that ordinary Koreans don’t know much about Tagore. But Koreans above age 60 know that Tagore was a poet and the first Asian to win a Nobel prize with Gitanjali,” says Prof Ha Jinhee, an expert on Korea-India relations, formerly at Jeju National University.

“Young Koreans are very interested in India; they travel for tourism and they like Indian food. But sadly they are not interested in Indian culture and literature. We are educated and focused on western culture even though (India and South Korea) are under the same umbrella of Asia,” says Prof Ha.

On May 3, at Nami Island in South Korea, the embassies of India and Bangladesh jointly commemorated Tagore’s 163rd birth anniversary. In addition to performances by Indian, Bangladeshi and Korean artistes, K-pop group ‘Granada’ performed a fusion of Rabindra Sangeet with Korean traditional musical instruments.

“Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore…made seminal contributions to arts, music, and literature and was the first Asian to win the Nobel prize in 1913. His literary works, particularly poems, were closely followed in Korea,” Amit Kumar, India’s ambassador to South Korea, said during the commemoration at Nami Island.

“I remember very well when the Tagore statue was erected. Originally, it was going to be built at Gangnam Station, but the plan was postponed. Then Kim Yang-sik, director of the Indian Art Museum, connected with the Jongno-gu office and erected the bust in Daehak-ro, Hyehwa-dong, where many college students go. I offered flowers to the statue (back then). Now, the Indian ambassador and the Indian Cultural Center are leading the way. This time, for the 163rd anniversary of Tagore’s birth, several people have planned to recite Gitanjali together,” says Korean poet and author Chae In-sook, vice-chairman of the Korean Literary Association’s Recitation Committee.

Tagore and his relevance in Korean history and for the Korean people is evident in the very fact that a statue of the Nobel laureate exists even in a country that he did not visit. “The statue of Tagore on Daehakro, also known as University Street, is one of Seoul’s cultural centres. It is very rare to have a statue of a foreign writer in South Korea,” says Prof Kim.

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Celebrating Rabindranath Tagore Jayanti 2024

Rabindranath Tagore Jayanti marks the birth anniversary of the esteemed Indian poet, novelist, and scholar, Rabindranath Tagore.

Rabindranath Tagore Jayanti marks the birth anniversary of the esteemed Indian poet, novelist, and scholar, Rabindranath Tagore. His profound influence extends throughout India, particularly among the Bengali community. This commemoration falls on the 25th day of the Bengali month of Baisakhi, typically aligning with May 7 on the Gregorian calendar. This year, the observance falls on May 8.

Significance of Rabindranath Tagore Jayanti

Rabindranath Tagore Jayanti holds significant cultural importance, honouring Tagore's multifaceted contributions to literature, music, and philosophy. His works deeply resonate with human emotions, transcending time and cultural boundaries. Notably, Tagore was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1913, underscoring his global impact and literary prowess.

Celebrations Across the Nation

Celebrations for Rabindranath Tagore Jayanti are widespread, especially in Bengal, where special events are organized to pay homage to Tagore's legacy. Schools, colleges, communities, and households unite in festivities marked by song, dance, and recitations of his poetry. These celebrations serve as a testament to Tagore's enduring influence and cultural significance.

Rabindranath Tagore's Literary Legacy

Tagore's literary works, deeply rooted in classical Sanskrit forms, continue to captivate modern audiences with their profound exploration of human emotions and societal themes. His compositions, including "Jana Gana Mana" and "Amar Shonar Bangla," have been adopted as national anthems by India and Bangladesh, respectively, further solidifying his impact on national identity and pride.

Quotes of Rabindranath Tagore

Rabindranath Tagore's quotes encapsulate his wisdom, insight, and timeless relevance. Here are some of his most famous quotes:

1. "Clouds come floating into my life, no longer to carry rain or usher storm but to add color to my sunset sky."

2. "If I can’t make it through one door, I’ll go through another door- or I’ll make a door. Something terrific will come no matter how dark the present."

3. "Most people believe the mind to be a mirror, more or less accurately reflecting the world outside them, not realizing on the contrary that the mind is itself the principal element of creation."

4. "If you cry because the sun has gone out of your life, your tears will prevent you from seeing the stars."

5. "Let me not pray to be sheltered from dangers, but to be fearless in facing them. Let me not beg for the stilling of my pain, but for the heart to conquer it."

6. "A mind with all logic is like a knife with all blade. It makes the hand bleed that uses it."

7. "We read the world wrong and say that it deceives us."

8. "Do not say, ‘It is morning,’ and dismiss it with a name of yesterday. See it for the first time as a newborn child that has no name."

9. "What is Art? It is the response of man’s creative soul to the call of the Real."

10. "Music fills the infinite between two souls."

Although Rabindranath Tagore passed away in 1941, his words continue to inspire and uplift countless individuals worldwide. His enduring legacy serves as a beacon of creativity, wisdom, and cultural heritage, enriching the lives of generations to come.

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Rabindranath Tagore Jayanti 2024: PM Modi pays tribute to ‘the Bard of Bengal’ on his birth anniversary

Prime minister narendra modi on wednesday paid tribute to bengali polymath, rabindranath tagore on his birth anniversary..

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday, May 8, paid tribute to Bengali polymath, Rabindranath Tagore on the occasion his birth anniversary.

PM Modi in a social media post on platform X (formerly Twitter) stated , "I pay homage to Gurudev Tagore, on the occasion of his Jayanti. His enduring wisdom and genius continue to inspire and enlighten innumerable people across generations." The message was attached to a video clip giving insights into the life of ‘the Bard of Bengal.’ 

Also read: Rabindranath Tagore's name missing from Santiniketan's UNESCO plaque draws flak; Congress targets PM Modi

Also read: on this day: key events on may 7, from rabindranath tagore's birth to rise of vladimir putin in russia.

Rabindranath Tagore was a Bengali Brahmin from Calcutta who was born on May 7 in the year 1861, as per the Gregorian calendar. However, he was born on the 25th day of Boishakh month as per the Bengali calendar. The multitalented iconic figure was awarded the Nobel Prize in literature. He is renowned worldwide for his rich contributions as a poet, writer, playwright, composer, philosopher, social reformer, and painter.

Also read: Bank holiday today: Banks to remain closed in THIS state for Rabindranath Tagore Jayanti 2024

Rabindranath Tagore was the youngest of 13 surviving children born to Debendranath Tagore and Sarada Devi Tagore. The family resided in the Jorasanko mansion in Calcutta. The legend lost his mother in his early childhood while his father, who was an active member of the Brahmo Samaj, travelled widely. Thus, house help played an important role in raising the veteran leader. He studied history, astronomy, modern science, and Sanskrit and examined the classical poetry of Kalidasa.

Top quotes by Rabindranath Tagore

“Clouds come floating into my life, no longer to carry rain or usher storm, but to add color to my sunset sky."

“If you cry because the sun has gone out of your life, your tears will prevent you from seeing the stars."

“Let me not pray to be sheltered from dangers, but to be fearless in facing them. Let me not beg for the stilling of my pain, but for the heart to conquer it."

“You can’t cross the sea merely by standing and staring at the water."

“I slept and dreamt that life was joy. I awoke and saw that life was service. I acted and behold, service was joy."

“It is very simple to be happy, but it is very difficult to be simple."

“Faith is the bird that feels the light and sings when the dawn is still dark."

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