Rabindranath Tagore

Rabindranath Tagore (রবীন্দ্রনাথ ঠাকুর), also known by his sobriquets Gurudev, Kabiguru, and Biswakabi, was a Bengali polymath from the Indian subcontinent, and a pivotal figure in the Indian Renaissance. Tagore was born on May 7, 1861, in Kolkata, India, and died on August 7, 1941. He was a poet, writer, playwright, composer, philosopher, social reformer, and painter. He reshaped Bengali literature and music, as well as Indian art in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Tagore became the first non-European to win the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1913.

Early Life and Education

Main article: Early Life of Rabindranath Tagore Tagore was born to Debendranath Tagore and Sarada Devi in the Jorasanko mansion in Kolkata, which was the cultural hub of the Brahmo Samaj. He was the youngest of thirteen surviving children. He began writing poetry at the age of eight and was published by sixteen. He founded a school at Santiniketan, which later evolved into the Visva-Bharati University.

Literary Work

Main article: Literary Work of Rabindranath Tagore Tagore's literary reputation is disproportionately influenced by regard for his poetry; however, he also wrote novels, essays, short stories, travelogues, dramas, and thousands of songs. Of Tagore's prose, his short stories are perhaps most highly regarded; he is indeed credited with originating the Bengali-language version of the genre. His works are frequently noted for their rhythmic, optimistic, and lyrical nature.

Philosophy and Views

Main article: Philosophy of Rabindranath Tagore Tagore's philosophical and political beliefs were deeply influenced by his upbringing and his travels around the world. He denounced the British Raj and advocated for India's independence, yet remained a proponent of the intermingling of Eastern and Western philosophies.

Impact and Legacy

Main article: Impact and Legacy of Rabindranath Tagore Tagore's influence on both Bengali and Indian culture is immense; he modernized Bengali art by rejecting rigid classical forms and resisting linguistic strictures. His legacy endures also in the world of music, as the composer of two national anthems: India's Jana Gana Mana and Bangladesh's Amar Shonar Bangla.

Nobel Prize in Literature

Main article: Rabindranath Tagore and the Nobel Prize Tagore won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1913 for his book Gitanjali, a collection of poems. The Swedish Academy appreciated his 'profoundly sensitive, fresh and beautiful verse,' which they felt had a universal appeal.

Works

• Gitanjali
• Ghare-Baire (The Home and the World)
• Shesher Kobita (The Last Poem)
• Chokher Bali (A Grain of Sand)

See Also

• Indian Literature
• Bengali Culture
• Nobel Laureates in Literature

External Links

• Rabindra Rachanabali - The complete works of Rabindranath Tagore in Bengali
• TagoreWeb - A comprehensive site about Rabindranath Tagore