7th August is the death anniversary of the renowned poet and philosopher, Rabindranath Tagore. He was a prolific writer with works ranging from poetry and songs to short stories and plays.
Rabindranath is famous by many names like Gurudev, Biswakabi, and Kabiguru and is referred to as 'the Bard of Bengal'. The life and times of Tagore were extraordinary, to say the least.
When India was under British rule, he raised his voice through his writing. Some of Rabindranath Tagore's best-known works include Gora, Ghare-Baire, Gitanjali, The Postmaster, and Kabita among others.
He was the first Indian as well as Asian to receive Noble Prize in the year 1913 for his book of songs, "Gitanjali. The man, who never had formal schooling, won Nobel Prize.
Surprising, but his journey was all about gathering knowledge and adopting it in real life. He came up with a sense of modernity from the informal tutoring he got at home.
He was a multifaceted personality and started writing poetry at the age of eight years. When Rabindranath was only 16 years old, he released his first collection of poems under the pseudonym 'Bhanusimha'. His contributions to music, literature, and his several works are unforgettable.
The story of Rabindranath is incomplete without mentioning Shantiniketan. He founded this residential schooling system where students would not just learn literature but enhance their creativity in singing, dancing, painting, and more. He was also an expert in music and wrote over 2,000 songs."
No doubt Rabindranath has transformed the dimensions of Bengali literature. From famous poets to active social reformers to wonderful singers to composers, Tagore was a complete package. Present-day, the nation remembers him on his 78thdeath anniversary, but the man is still alive with his devotion and work.
Rabindranath Tagore was born May 7, 1861, in the Jorasanko mansion in Calcutta. He was the son of Debendranath Tagore, a leader of the Brahmo Samaj and Sarada Devi.
He spends his last few years in severe pain and even in 1937, he went into a comatose condition. After a lot of suffering, he died on 7 August 1941 in the Jorasankomansion, where he was brought up.
It is tough to script the complete story of such a legend that is composed national anthem of two countries- India and Bangladesh.
"Don't limit a child to your learning, for he was born in another time." – Rabindranath Tagore