CHAPTER VII TAGORE THE PERSON AND THE POET

Transcription

1 CHAPTER VII TAGORE THE PERSON AND THE POET 7. Life of Rabindranath Tagore Rabindranath Tagore was born in Calcutta (Kolkata) at the Jorasanka House of the Tagores at 6, Dwarkanath Tagore Lane (Present Maharshi Bhavan) on Tuesday, 7 th May, 1861 between 2.30 and 3.00 hrs., as the fourteenth child (eighth son) of Devendranath and Sarada Devi. Even at the age of eight he attempted at versification. When he was ten he started his studies in the Anglo-Indian School. He prepared at the age of thirteen, a verse-rendering of Shakespeare s Macbeth. In his eighty illustrious years of living he conducted twelve foreign tours and three Ceylon (Sri Lanka) tours, each of them had very specific academic motives. In 1883, December 9 th at the age of twenty two he married Mrinalini Devi. In 1912, his Jubilee was celebrated and he was felicitated by Bengal s intelligentia and the public at a reception held in the Town Hall of Calcutta. This celebration was described by the Modern Review as an unparalleled ovation the first time that such an honour has been done to a literary man in India 360. At the age of fifty two he received the Nobel Prize for Literature. Tagore s association with the world leaders of the age promoted him genuinely and rightly to a Vishva Manava. One of Tagore s most devoted and dear friends was C.F. Andrews who passed away in Of him, Tagore said in the Memorial Service at Shantiniketan In no man have I seen such triumph of Christianity His sacrifice, 360 PRABHAT KUMAR MUKHOPADHYA, Kshitis Roy. A Chronicle of Eighty Years, A Centenary Volume, Rabindranath Tagore, ed. Sahitya Akademi of India, New Delhi, Thompson Press (India Ltd.) Faridabad, (1992),p 468.

2 his complete surrender of self, will ever remain treasured in our hearts 361 His Christian association enriched his attitude to human divinity. Tagore breathed his last on August 7 th, 1941 at the age of eighty. It is thus documented in A Chronicle of Eighty Years : On the evening of the 7 th August when the body was being consigned to the flames in Calcutta the community at Shantiniketan congregated in the prayer hall for a memorial service which concluded with the words of a song, And may he know in his fearless heart The Great Unknown. This was one of the songs composed for the last (1939) stage version of The Post Office, which, however, was not staged. It was the Poet s wish that the song should be sung after his death Tagore: a Literary Genius Tagore always desired to be identified as a poet Ami Kavi I am a Poet and it was his self possession. This Titan s life-long poetical literary output includes about two thousand and five hundred songs, both lyrics and music and an endless variety of understanding and innovative poems, plays and half a dozen musical ballets. His other literary works include three volumes of short stories, novels, plays in prose, essays on a wide variety of subjects and memoirs and personal letters which were, in effect, belles-letters. He gave numerous lectures in English and corresponded with friends who could not understand Bengali. Rabindranath translated some of his works including the Nobel Prize winning poems Gitanjali Alas, even within India he is 361 ibid, p ibid, p

3 mainly known as the poet of Gitanjali, which is a minor book; and the theme is but a small branch of the giant Banyan tree of his poetry 363. Honorary Doctorates of Literature were conferred upon him by a number of Universities. In 1932 the Ramsay Macdonald Award was announced and with his 70 th birthday The Golden Book of Tagore was published. The Oxford University conferred its Honorary Degree of D.Litt. in a convocation ceremony conducted at Shantiniketan on 7 th August The Works of Rabindranath Tagore A detailed list of the works of Rabindranath Tagore is given below. A few books of music (notations) and some text books are omitted. This list is taken from A Centenary Volume, Rabindranath Tagore published by Sahitya Akademi, New Delhi, 1992, p Bengali Separate Works Kavi-Kahini (1878) Verse Bana-Phul (1880) Verse Valmiki Pratibha (1881) Musical Drama Bhagnahriday (1881) - Drama, In Verse Introduction, Delhi : Shipra Publications, Rudrachanda (1881) Drama, In Verse Europe-Pravasir Patra (1881) Letters Sandhya Sangit (1882) Verse Kal-Mrigaya (1882) Musical Drama 363 JADU SAHA, The Flute, Selected Poems of Rabindranath Tagore, Shipra Publications, Delhi, (2003), p

4 Bau-Thakuranir Hat (1883) Novel Prabhat Sangit (1883) Verse Vividha Prasanga (1883) Essays Chhabi O Gan (1884) Verse Prakritir Pratisodh (1884) Drama Nalini (1884) Drama Saisav Sangit (1884) Verse Bhanusimha Thakurer Padavali (1884) Songs Alochana (1885) Essays Rabichchhaya (1885) Songs Kadi O Komal (1886) Verse Rajarshi (1887) Novel Chithipatra (1887) Essays Samalochana (1888) Essays Mayar Khela (1888) Musical Drama Raja O Rani (1889) Drama, In Verse Visarjan (1890) Drama, In Verse Manasi (1890) Verse Europe-Yatrir Diary (Part I 1891; Part Ii 1893) Travel Chitrangada (1892)- Drama, In Verse Goday Galad (1892) Comedy Sonar Tari (1894) Verse Chhota Galpa (1894) Short Stories 130

5 Viday-Abhisap (1894) Drama, In Verse Chitrangada O Viday-Abhisap (1894). Vichitra Galpa, Part I And Ii (1894) Short Stories Katha-Chatushtay (1894) Short Stories Galpa-Dasak (1895) Short Stories Nadi (1896) Verse Chitra (1896) Verse Malini (1896) Drama, In Verse Kavya Granthavali (1896) Chaitali (1896) Verse Vaikunther Khata (1897) Comedy Panchabhut (1897) Essays Kanika (1899) Verse Katha (1900) Verse Katha o Kahini, that is Katha with additional poems from other books is the version now current. Kahini (1900) Verse-Drama, And Verse Kalpana (1900) Verse Kshanika (1900) Verse Naivedya (1901) Verse Chokher Bali (1903) Novel Smaran (1903) Verse Sisu (1903) - Verse 131

6 Karmaphal (1903) Story Atmasakti (1905) Essays Baul (1905) Songs Bhartvarsha (1906) Essays Kheya (1906) Verse Naukadubi (1906) Novel Vichitra Prabandha (1907) Essays Charitrapuja (1907) Essays Prachin Sahitya (1907) Essays Lokasahitya (1907) Essays Sahitya (1907) Essays Adhunik Sahitya (1907) Essays Hasya-Kautuk (1907) Comic Plays Vyangakautuk (1907) Humorous Essays And Comic Plays Prajapatir Nirbandha (1908) Novel Raja Praja (1908) Essays Samuha (1908) Essays Svades (1908) Essays Samaj (1908) Essays Saradotsav (1908) Drama Siksha (1908) Essays Mukut (1908) Drama Sabdatattva (1909) Essays 132

7 Dharma (1909) Sermons Santiniketan, Parts I-Xvii ( ) Sermons Prayaschitta (1909) Drama Vidyasagar-Charit (1909?) Essays Gora (1910) Novel Gitanjali (1910) Songs And Poems Raja (1910) Drama Dakghar (1912) - Drama Galpa Chariti (1912) Short Stories Jivansmriti (1912) Autobiography Chhinnapatra (1912) Letters Achalayatan (1912) Drama Utsarga (1914) Verse Giti-Malya (1914) Songs Gitali (1914) Songs Phalguni (1916) Drama Ghare-Baire (1916) Novel Sanchay (1916) Essays Parichay (1916) Essays Balaka (1916) Verse Chaturanga (1916) Novel Galpasaptak (1916) - Short Stories Palataka (1918) Verse 133

8 Japan-Yatri (1919) Travel Payla Nambar (1920) Short Stories Muktadhara (1922) Drama Lipika (1922) Prose-Poems, Allegories, Stories Sisu Bholanath (1922) Verse Vasanta (1923) Musical Drama Puravi (1925) Verse Grihapraves (1925) Drama Pravahini (1925) Songs Chirakumar Sabha (1926) Comedy Sodhbodh (1926) - Comedy Natir Puja (1926) Drama Raktakaravi (1926) Drama Lekhan (1927) Epigrams Printed in facsimile of the poet s handwriting. Baikali, a collection of songs and poems, also printed in facsimile about this time, was published many years later (1951). Rituranga (1927) Musical Drama Yatri (1929) Diary Consists of Paschim-Yatrir Dairy and Fava-Yatrir Patra, now published separately (1961). Yogayog (1929) Novel Sesher Kavita (1929) Novel 134

9 Tapati (1929) Drama Mahua (1929) Verse Bhanusimher Patravali (1930) Letters Navin (1931) Musical Drama Russiar Chithi (1931) Letters Vanavani (1931) Poems And Songs Includes two musical dramas or song-sequences, Rituranga and Navin. Sampmochan (1931) Musical Drama Parisesh (1932) Verse Kaler Yatra (1932) Drama Consists of Rather Rasi and Kabir Diksha. Punascha (1932) Prose-Poems Dui Bon (1933) Novel Manusher Dharma (1933) Lectures Vichitrita (1933) Verse Chandalika (1933) Drama Taser Des (1933) Drama Bansari (1933) Drama Bharatpathik Rammohan Roy (1933) Essays and Addresses Malancha (1934) Novel Sravan-Gatha (1934) Musical Drama Char Adhyay (1934) Novel Sesh Saptak (1935) Prose-Poems 135

10 Sur O Sangati (1935) Letters (Letters on Music exchanged between Rabindranath Tagore and Dhurjatiprasad Mukhopdhyaya.) Vithika (1935) Verse Nrityanatya Chitrangada (1936) Dance-Drama Patraput (1936) Prose-Poems Chhanda (1936) Essays Japane-Parasye(1936) Travel (Travels in Persia, with a new edition of Japan-Yatri 1919 under the title Japane). Syamali (1936) Prose-Poems Sahityer Pathe (1936) Essays Praktani (1936) Addresses Khapchhada (1937) Nonsense Rhymes Kalantar (1937) Essays Sey (1937) Stories Chhadar Chhabi (1937) Verse Visva-Parichay (1937) Essays Prantik (1938) Verse Chandalika Nrityanatya (1938) Dance-Drama Pathe O Pather Prante (1938) Letters Senjuti (1938) Verse Banglabhasha Parichay (1938) Essays 136

11 Prahasini (1939) Verse Akas-Pradip (1939) Verse Syama (1939) Dance-Drama Pather Sanchay (1939) Essays And Letters Navajatak (1940) Verse Sanai (1940) Verse Chhelebela (1940) Short Stories Rogasayyay (1940) Verse Arogya (1941) Verse Janmadine (1941) Verse Galpasalpa (1941) Stories And Poems Sabhyatar Samkat (1941) Address Asramer Rup O Vikas (1941) - Essays Published after the Death of the Author Chhada (1941) Verse Sesh Lekha (1941) Verse Smriti (1941) Letters Chithipatra I (1942) Letters Chithipatra Ii (1942) Letters Chithipatra Iii (1942) Letters Atmaparichay (1943) Essays Sahityer Svarup (1943) Essays Chithipatra Iv (1943) Letters 137

12 Spulinga (1945) Verse Chithipatra V. (1945) Letters Mahatma Gandhi (1948) Addresses And Essays Muktir Upay (1948) Comedy Visvabharati (1951) Addresses Baikali (1951) Songs And Poems The title-page bears the date 1333 B.S. = It was not however issued then : see Lekhan (1927). Samavayaniti (1954) Essays Chitravichitra (1954) Verse Itihas (1955) Essays Buddhadeva (1956) Essays And Poems Chithipatra Vi (1957) Letters Khrishta (1959) Essays Chithipatra Vii (1960) Letters Chhinnapatravali (1961) Letters English Separate Works Gitanjali (Song Offerings) (1912) Poems. Glimpses of Bengal Life (1913) Short Stories. The Gardener (1913) Poems Sadhana (1913) Essays And Lectures The Cresent Moon (1913) Child Poems Chitra (1913), Drama 138

13 The King of the Dark Chamber (1914) Drama The Post Office (1914) Drama Fruit-Gathering (1916) Poems Hungry Stones and other Stories (1916) Stories Stray Birds (1916) Epigrams My Reminiscences (1917) Auto Biography Sacrifice and other Plays (1917) Plays The Cycle of Spring (1917) Drama Nationalism (1917) Essays Personality (1917) Lectures Delivered in America Lover s Gift and Crossing (1918) Poems and Songs Mashi and other Stories (1918) Stories The Parrot s Training (1918) Allegorical Satire The Home and the World (1919) Novel The Fugitive (1919) Poems Greater India (1921) Essays The Wreck (1921) Novel Glimpses of Bengal (1921) Letters The Fugitive (1921) Poems And Songs Thought Relics (1921) Creative Unity Creative Unity (1922) Essays And Lectures Letters from Abroad (1924) Letters Gora (1924) Novel 139

14 The Curse at Farewell (1924) Drama The Augustan Book of Modern Poetry; Rabindranath Tagore (1925) Talks in China (1925) Addresses Red Oleanders (1925) Drama Broken Ties and other Stories (1925) Stories Fireflies (1928)Epigrams Letters to A Friend (1928) Letters Fifteen Poems of Rabindranath Tagore (1928) Poems Sheaves (1929) Poems and Songs The Child (1931) Poem The Religion of Man (1931) Lectures The Golden Boat (1938) Poems Mahatmaji and the Depressed Humanity (1932) Addresses Man (1937) Lectures My Boyhood Days (1940) Autobiography Crisis in Civilization (1941) Address Conclusion In all his thoughts and works Rabindranath gave spontaneous expression to his innermost feelings, emotions and personal experiences. Whatever touched his heart, he profusely gave expression to it not on account of any analytical exposition, nor on any specific ideology but everything found expression in letters from his innermost feelings. The basic thrust of his poetic urgency was his humanism. No Indian poet 140

15 since Kalidasa in the fourth century wrote so much about Man and Nature. 364 But Tagore s mystic outlook in Gitanjali has been overshadowed by an undue emphasis on his humanism by Indian authors. It is argued that the idea of oneness with the Supreme Being is key to the Hindu philosophy and hence there is no originality here i.e. in Gitanjali. Here it must be noted that if the Upanishad sang to the glory of the Supreme Being in one way, the great Vaishnavites sang it in another way. Kabir, Nanak and Ramanuja gave it a third or different melody. In fact it was Tagore who brought a coordinated harmony to all these. And in this harmony of chanting, Tagore effected a completely oriental and original flavour. 365 Tagore s literary analysts point out that there is an onward movement in his poetry as he grew in age and experience. According to Jadu Saha, Rabindranath tried to build the edifice of his poetry with Diverse element. Alas, it remained incomplete at the time of his death after sixty years of tireless effort. We can say that for the first fifty of his poetic life from Sandhya Sangeeth (Evening Song) to Mahua (Indian Butter Tree) his poems have been called romantic and sweet. It is true that many poem of this period reflect detachment, sadness and even bitterness. But the change in his poems during the last ten of his eighty year s life is quite remarkable. Rabindranath has called this period his initiation to the tune of scorching sun meaning about the unpleasant things of the world JADU SAHA, tr. The Flute, Shipra Publications, Delhi (2003), p VIVEK BHATACHARYA, Relevance of Tagore, New Delhi, Metropolitan Book Co. Pvt. Ltd. (1979), p JADU SAHA, tr. The Flute, Shipra Publications, Delhi (2003), p

16 Every human being is a product of his time and environment. There is always a tradition and history for every human being in his growth to maturity. In fact the age of Tagore was ushering in influences from various fields of activities, religious, spiritual and political. The presence of East India Company, Asiatic Society of Bengal, Fort William College, Bengal Gazette, The Hindu College, Brahma Sabha established by Rammohun, Calcutta Medical College, Tattvaranjani Sabha for promotion of Indian Philosophy and Religion, The Sepoy Mutiny (1857), India coming under British rule, (1858) Railway link between Bolpur and Culcutta, The Foundation of the University of Calcutta, The presence of Brahmo Samaj- all these and many other factors promoted the person and outlook of Rabindranath Tagore Cfr. Sahitya Akademi of India, A Centenary Volume,Rabindranath Tagore , New Delhi, Thompson Press, Faridabad, (1992),p