“I slept and dreamt that life was joy. I awoke and saw that life was service. I acted and behold, service was joy.”
– Rabindranath Tagore
Born on May 7, 1861, in the Jorashanko Thakurbari in Kolkata, India, Rabindranath Tagore lived a long life of service. The multi-talented artist was one of the pioneers of the Bengal Renaissance. He played a key role in shaping the literature, music, art, and culture of India in the 19th and 20th centuries. Hailing from a prestigious Brahmo family, Tagore was a man who made India proud in the international sphere with his many achievements. In fact, he represents the entire Southeast Asia even today, decades after his sad demise on August 7, 1941.
Rabindranath Tagore was truly a legend. Known as Rabindra Jayanti, his birthday is celebrated in May every year with pomp and grandeur. Let us look at some of the most interesting facts about this enigmatic multifaceted artist.
Table of Contents
Sobriquets
Rabindranath Tagore was the youngest of the thirteen children of Debendranath Tagore and Sarada Devi. Nicknamed Rabi at home, he went on to be known as Kobiguru (the poet teacher), Gurudeb (Respectable Teacher), and Biswokobi (Poet of the World). A fellow of the Royal Asiatic Society, he is also known as the Bard of Bengal.
First Non-European to Win the Nobel Prize in Literature
In 1913, Rabindranath Tagore became the first Asian and non-European to win the Nobel Prize for Literature. Tagore received the honor for his devotional collection of poem songs called the Gitanjali. The Bengali version of Gitanjali consists of 156 poems and was published in1910. The collection was translated into English and published in 1912. It included 103 poems. Unfortunately, Tagore’s Nobel Prize was stolen from the Visva Bharati University in 2004. Such is Tagore’s charisma that the Swedish Academy gifted two replicas of the award to the Visva Bharati University. One of the replicas is made of gold while the other is made of bronze. In fact, there is a 2012 Bengali film called Nobel Chor, starring megastar, Mithun Chakraborty, which presents us with a fictional rendition of Tagore’s Nobel theft.
Age is Just a Number
Tagore was only 8 years old when he first started writing poems. At such a young age, many of us just start to figure out the art of reading complex material. At 16, he published his first collection of poems under the pseudonym, Bhanusimha (Sun Lion). Since then, there was no stopping him. He went on to write a number of fiction and nonfiction books. He also composed a wide variety of songs. In his 60s, Tagore discovered his passion for painting. In a letter to Jagadish Chandra Bose in 1900, he addressed his newfound interest in painting by stating, “Just as a mother lavishes most affection on her ugliest son, so I feel secretly drawn to the very skill that comes to me least easily.” It is interesting to note that Tagore used his erasure more than his pencil. His erasures are known for their uniqueness and are displayed at the Rabindra Sadan Metro Station in Kolkata, India.
A Polymath
Rabindranath Tagore was a man of many talents. He was not only a poet, author, and playwright but also a philosopher, social reformer, painter, singer, and composer. He composed and wrote over 2,000 songs, which are popularly known as Rabindra Sangeet. In the last 17 years of life, he painted over 2,500 paintings. His paintings are mostly surrealist and abstract. They often symbolize Tagore’s profound sadness after losing most of his family members. Rabindranath Tagore’s books are studied in schools and universities even today. Some of my favorite works of his are “Shesher Kobita”, “Gora”, “Ghore Baire”, and ‘Noshtoneer”, among many others. My favorite Rabindra Sangeets are “Ami Chini Go Chini”, “Purano Shei Diner Kotha”, “Phule Phule”, “Jodi Tor Dak Shine Keu Na Ashe”, and “Mayabono Biharini”, among many others.
One Man & Three National Anthems
Rabindranath Tagore is perhaps the only man on Earth who is behind the national anthems of not one but three countries. His Jana Gana Mana is India’s national national anthem. Bangladesh’s national anthem, Amar Sonar Bangla, was penned by him. While this is common knowledge for most, very few know that he is the composer of Sri Lanka’s national anthem, Sri Lanka Matha.
A True Knight
King George V of Britain conferred the prestigious knighthood to Rabindranath Tagore in 1915 shortly after he won the Nobel Prize for Literature. Astonishingly, Tagore renounced his Knighthood in 1919 in protest of the Jallianwalah Bagh Massacre. On April 13, 1919, General Dyer ordered his troops to kill the peaceful and unarmed protestors gathered in Jallianwalah Bagh. His troops did not even spare innocent children, women, and old people. They even murdered pregnant women. Tagore could not stand this atrocity. Hence, as a symbol of his disdain, he gave up his Knighthood.
Visva Bharati University
Rabindranath Tagore was an ardent advocate of peace, education, and the environment. He established the Vishwa Bharati Univerisity as a sanctuary away from the chaos of the city. Located in Shantinketan, the land acquired by his father, Vishwa Bharati soon became a hub of the Bengal Renaissance. Here, Tagore deviated from the usual teaching norms of the day and taught his students life lessons while sitting in the lap of nature.
Famous Friends
Rabindranath Tagore was theone who conferred the title of Mahatma to Mohandas Karam Chand Gandhi, the Father of India. Tagore once had a meeting with Albert Einstein. Their conversation on God, humanity, science, truth, and beauty has been recorded in Note on the Nature of Reality. It is interesting to note that Tagore refused to accept a doctorate from Berlin University in protest of the treatment of Einstein at the hands of the Nazis. Conversely, Tagore also had a meeting with Italy’s Fascist dictator, Benito Mussolini. W.B. Yeats wrote the Foreword of Tagore’s world-renowned, Gitanjali. Tagore was also an inspiration to the English poet and soldier, Wilfred Owen.
Conclusion
Kobiguru Rabindranth Tagore was a man of his kind. His novels, plays, songs, poetry, and art continue to inspire millions even today. In fact, there is a whole new genre of music and dance known as Rabindra Sangeet and Rabindra Nritya respectively. Tagore’s books are still adapted into films, TV series, and web series. His songs are still trending after decades and his art is displayed in renowned museums around the world. The BiswaKobi truly left his mark in this world.
Do comment and let me know your thoughts about the enigma called Rabindranath Tagore.
(Photo credit: Generalstabens litografiska anstalt, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons)
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I had a children’s book with some poems by Tagore. This took me back!
How wonderful! Tagore’s poems have a timeless quality that resonates across generations. It’s lovely to hear that encountering his work brought back nostalgic memories for you.