Rabindranath Tagore

Rabindranath Tagore was a poet, novelist, dramatist, essayist, composer, painter, social reformer and educationist who wrote both in English and Bengali. In this article, you will learn about Rabindranath Tagore, contribution of Rabindranath Tagore in freedom struggle, and his work, etc.

This article will provide providing key insights for GS Paper-I Indian History section of UPSC IAS Exam.

Table of Content

• Who is Rabindranath Tagore?    
• Biography of Rabindranath Tagore           
• Nationalistic contributions of Rabindranath Tagore          
• Works of Rabindranath Tagore  
• Conclusion         
• Frequently Asked Questions       
• Reference           

Who is Rabindranath Tagore?

• Rabindranath Tagore was a poet, novelist, dramatist, essayist, composer, painter, social reformer and educationist who wrote both in English and Bengali.

Biography of Rabindranath Tagore

• Rabindranath Tagore was born on 7 May 1861 as a youngest son of Debendranath Tagore and Sarada Devi.
• Tagore’s brothers were-
  • Dwijendranath, a philosopher and poet.
  • Satyendranath was the first Indian appointed to the all-European Indian Civil Service
  • Jyotirindranath was a musician, composer, and playwright.
• Tagore has received his education at home.
• Tagore had also briefly gone to England for formal schooling at the age of seventeen, but cannot complete his studies there.
• Alongside his literary pursuits, Tagore has also managed his family estates during his adult years, which made him close to the common people and increased his interest in social reforms.
• He belonged to the Brahmo Samaj, a new religious sect in nineteenth-century Bengal that aimed to revive the monistic principles of Hinduism from the Upanishads.
• Tagore had established an experimental school called Shantiniketan to implement his Upanishadic educational ideals.
• Tagore has also established Visva-Bharati is a public central university and an Institution of National Importance located in Shantiniketan.
• Rabindranath Tagore was also known as “the Bard of Bengal”, Gurudeb, Kobiguru, Biswokobi.
• Awards and achievements: He was awarded Nobel Prize in Literature 1913.
• Tagore had died on 7 August, 1941, at the age of 80.

Nationalistic contributions of Rabindranath Tagore

• Tagore had also played a vital role in the Indian nationalist movement.
• Tagore’s close friend was Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, the political leader who played a pivotal role in India’s independence.
  • Rabindranath Tagore was the one who has quotedGandhiji as ‘Mahatma’ for the first time during the Champaran Satyagraha.
• Tagore has received knighthood from the British government in 1915 but later he renounced this honour as a protest against British policies in India specifically after the incident of Jallianwala Bagh.
• Tagore has achieved early success as a writer in Bengal and gained rapid recognition in the West through translations of his poetry.
• Tagore had emerged as a voice that represented India’s spiritual heritage amongst the global audience.
• Tagore was critical of movement such as Swadeshi movement and rather emphasised on self help through better education.
• Tagore had called the presence of British administration as a “political symptom of the social disease existing in India”. 
• Tagore was excellent in various literary genres, but his true identity remained that of a poet.
• Two of Tagore’s political poems in Bengali includes:
  • “Chitto Jetha Bhayshunyo” – Where the Mind is Without Fear
  • “Ekla Chalo Re“- If They Answer Not to Thy Call, Walk Alones
    • This was the favourite poem of Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi.

Works of Rabindranath Tagore

Poetry written by Tagore:

• Tagore had produced over fifty volumes of poetry including works like:
  • Manasi– The Ideal One (1890)
  • Sonar Tari– The Golden Boat (1894)
  • Gitanjali– Song Offerings (1910)
  • Gitimalya– Wreath of Songs (1914)
  • Balaka– The Flight of Cranes (1916)
• The English translations` of his poetry includes The Gardener (1913), Fruit-Gathering (1916), and The Fugitive (1921).
  • But they do not necessarily aligns with specific Bengali works.
• Even Gitanjali despite its title, incorporates poems from other works.

Plays written by Tagore:

• Tagore’s important plays include:
  • Raja- The King of the Dark Chamber (1910)
  • Dakghar– The Post Office (1912)
  • Achalayatan– The Immovable (1912)
  • Muktadhara– The Waterfall (1922)
  • Raktakaravi– Red Oleanders (1926) 

Stories written by Tagore:

• Tagore had authored various volumes of short stories and several novels, including:
  • Gora- The Fair-Faced (1910)
  • Ghare-Baire– The Home and the World (1916) 
  • Yogayog– Crosscurrents (1929)

Other works:

• Tagore has written many musical dramas, dance dramas, essays, travel diaries, and two autobiographies.
• Tagore has also written two autobiographies, one in his mid-age and the other shortly before his death.
• Tagore was also showcased his talents as a painter and left behind a rich legacy of songs for which he composed the music himself.
• Tagore’s compositions were chosen by two nations as their national anthems: India’s “Jana Gana Mana” and Bangladesh’s “Amar Shonar Bangla“.
• The Sri Lankan national anthem was inspired by his work.

Conclusion

Rabindranath Tagore was the first non-European Nobel laureate in Literature. Tagore’s compositions were deeply rooted in his Bengali heritage with themes of love, nature, spirituality, and humanism. His efforts to promote education and cultural exchange led him to establish Visva-Bharati University, an institution that celebrates different cultures and encourages holistic education

Ref: Source-1

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