Biography of Rabindranath Tagore
Rabindranath Tagore (May 7, 1861 – August 7, 1941) is also known as
Gurudev. He is a world-renowned poet, litterateur, philosopher and the only Nobel laureate in Indian literature. He is the first Nobel laureate of Asia. He is the only poet whose two compositions became the N
ational Anthem of two countries. India's National Anthem '
Jana Gana Mana' and Bangladesh's National Anthem 'Amar Sonar Bangla' are the compositions of Gurudev.
Early Life :
Rabindranath Tagore was born on
May 7, 1861 at
Jorasanko Thakurbari in Kolkata, to Debendranath Tagore and Sarada Devi. He did his schooling at the prestigious St. Xavier's School. He enrolled at the Public School in Bridgeton, England in 1878, wanting to become a barrister. He studied law at the University of London but returned home in 1880 without obtaining a degree. He was married to
Mrinalini Devi in 1883.
Literary works/ Creations :
From childhood, people started getting a sense of his wonderful talent in poetry, verses and language. He wrote his first poem at the age of eight and his short story was published in 1877 when he was only sixteen.
Gitanjali, Purabi Pravahini, Shishu Bholanath, Mahua, Vanvani, Parishesh, Puscha Vithika Seshalekha, Chokherbali, Kanika, Naivedya Mayer Khela and Kshanika etc. are included in the world of creation of Tagore, a visionary who breathed new life into Indian cultural consciousness. He read all the literature, philosophy, culture etc. of the country and foreign countries and absorbed them within himself. As his father was a Brahmo Samajist, he was also a Brahmo Samajist. But through his creations and deeds, he also took Sanatan Dharma forward.
Tagore composed about 2,230 songs. Translation :
The eternal contact between man and God emerges in different forms in his creations. There is hardly any such branch of literature, in which he did not compose poetry, songs, stories, novels, plays, management, sculpture. He composed in all genres.
Gitanjali, Gitali, Gitimalya, Katha o Kahani, Shishu, Shishu Bholanath, Kanika, Kshanika, Kheya etc. are prominent in his published works. He also translated some books into English. After English translation, his talent spread all over the world.
Harmony with Nature :
Tagore loved the company of nature since childhood. This nature lover is the only person who has deep attachment towards nature, who wrote the national anthem for two countries. He always thought that students should study in the company of nature. To give shape to this thought, he left
Sealdah in 1901 and came to
Shantiniketan to establish an ashram. Tagore established Shantiniketan with trees, gardens and a library in the midst of nature.
Ravindra as a Painter :
Gurudev started painting in the last phase of his life. In this, the voices of doubt, fascination, fatigue and despair of the era have appeared. The eternal connection between man and God emerged in different forms in his creations. There was always an ideological difference between Tagore and Mahatma Gandhi regarding nationalism and humanity. Where Gandhi put nationalism on the first place, Tagore gave more importance to humanity than nationalism. But both respected each other very much. Tagore had given the epithet of Mahatma to Gandhiji. There was a time when Shantiniketan was struggling financially and Gurudev was collecting money by staging plays across the country. At that time, Gandhiji had given Tagore a grant check of Rs.60,000. Shortly before the last time of his life on 7 August 1941, when he was being taken from Shantiniketan to Kolkata for treatment, his granddaughter said that you know a new power house is being built here. In response to this he said that yes the old light will go away and the new one will arrive.
Prize :
He received the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1913 for his poetry Gitanjali.
