Rabindranath Tagore: The Versatile Genius



Rabindranath Tagore

What comes to your mind when you hear the name of Rabindranath Tagore? An old man with a long white beard who wears a big  jubba ? You're not wrong but you'll be amazed to know that he was a genius who wrote poems, dramas, short stories, novels, essays, autobiographies, travelogues and  many songs. He was also a gifted painter! Today we'll discuss his versatile talent and also some of his most notable works.


Rabindranath: The Poet


Title page of Gitanjali ( 1913 Macmillan edition )

Undoubtedly, Tagore's best known collection of poetry is Gitanjali. He was awarded the nobel prize in literature in 1913 for it's English translation Gitanjali : Song Offerings. His poetic style ranged from the classical formalism to the comic, ecstatic and also visionary. His most innovative and mature poetry showed his exposure to the rural folk music of Bengal. When new poetic ideas began to develop in Bengal he absorbed new poetic concepts and developed a unique identity. Some of his notable works include
Sonar Tori ( Golden Boat ), Balaka ( Wild
Geese ) etc.


Rabindranath: The Short Story Writer


Cover of the book The Very Best of Rabindranath Tagore Short stories

When Tagore was only 16 he wrote his first short story Bhikharini ( The Beggar Woman ).
With this he effectively invented the short story genre in Bengali literature. Among the many short stories he wrote Galpaguchchha contains 84 of those stories. These stories usually showcased his reflection upon his surroundings, on modern and fashionable ideas and on interesting mind puzzles. He examined the lives of indian common and poor people with a penetrative depth and feeling which was never seen before in indian literature. Some of his notable short stories are Kabuliwala ( The Fruitseller from Kabul ), Kshudita Pashan ( The Hungry Stones) etc.


Rabindranath: The Dramatist












  
Rabindranath Tagore ( right ) performing in Valmiki Pratibha with his niece Indira Devi ( left )

Tagore wrote his first drama Valmiki Pratibha
when he was only 20. His finest drama is Visarjan. These dramas included intricate subplots and extended monologues. Later,  his drama used themes which were more allegorical and philosophical. Some of his notable dramas include Dak Ghar ( The Post Office ), Chandalika ( Untouchable Girl ) etc.


Rabindranath: The Novelist


Cover of Tagore's novel Chaturanga

Tagore wrote a total of 4 novellas and 8 novels. It can be said that his novels remain among the least appreciated of his work. But they have been given renewed attention via film adaptations by many famous directors such as Satyajit Ray. Some of his famous novels are Chaturanga, Shesher Kobita, Char Odhay, Ghare Baire ( The Home and the World ) etc.


Rabindranath: The Songwriter

       

Tagores translation of the song  Jana Gana Mana

Tagore was a prolific composer and he composed around 2230 songs which are known as rabindrasangit. The tonal color of classical ragas was emulated in his songs
to varying extent. Some of his songs mimicked a raga's melody and rhythm faithfully. Others blended elements of different ragas. His song Amar Shonar Bangla became the national anthem of Bangladesh and his other song Jana Gana Mana became the national anthem of India. The national anthem of Sri Lanka was also inspired by his songs.                                                          


Rabindranath: The Artist 


Tagore's art Primivitism. It is a pastel-coloured rendition of a Malagan mask from northern New Ireland, Papua New Guinea
 
Tagor started drawing and painting when he was 60. Many of his works were succesfully exhibited throughout Europe. Tagore was influenced by numerous styles including scrimshaw by the Malanggan people of northern New Ireland in Papua New Guinea, Haida carvings from the Pacific Northwest region of North America and woodcuts by the German Max Pechstein. His simple artistic and rhythmic leitmotifs embellishing the scribbles, cross-outs and world layouts of his manuscripts revealed his artist's eye for handwriting.

We should be glad that such a versatile genius was born on Bengal's soil. His contribution to Bengali art and literature  will be remembered forever.

Blog by
 Rubait Ferdous Ruhan


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

How Anime Became One of the Most Popular Entertainment Source Worldwide

Image
 Anime is a style of Japanese film animation that is usually aimed at adults as well as children. It was a very niche category for entertainment ,because it was only popular amongst the hardcore fans. During COVID-19 when people couldn't go out of their home people had to look for indoor activities to get some entertainment and that is when anime became really popular. Just like other tv shows, movies etc. people started watching anime. During the pandemic the anime industry released its biggest success of all time. In 2020, Demon Slayer the Movie: Mugen Train was released which made $48 million in North America, $365 million in Japan and $504 million worldwide. Demon Slayer Movie So it is very clear how popular anime has become after the COVID-19 pandemic from the profit it makes worldwide. Anime is mostly targeted towards adults and has a very in depth story or plot. The depth in story, introducing different kinds of characters, high quality animation is what anime does the best....
Read more

Bangladesh Railway

Image
  Bangladesh Railway is the largest passenger carrier system in the country. Every day it operates more than hundreds of intercity passenger trains and a few freight trains. Whereas, freight trains have a better profit margin than passengers. The first railway line in Bangladesh was opened in 1862 and connected Jagati and Darsana in Kushtia. The railway network gradually expanded over the years, connecting various regions in Bangladesh, including Dhaka, Khulna, Rajshahi, Sylhet, Mymensingh, and other major cities. Kamalapur Railways Station First and foremost, highlighting the passengers' view of our railway. A train journey is always thrilling for a passenger of all ages but it's more joyful among children. Kids feel freedom whenever they are on a train journey as they are closely viewing the scenic beauty of this country. A train isn't only used for need-based journeys but also for having a relaxing time. It’s more comfortable and affordable than other vehicles and also m...
Read more

F.Z.S. (A Brand)

Image
After reading the title you might think it will be a blog about the bike YAMAHA F.Z.S which is one the most renowned bikes in our country. Unfortunately, your assumption is incorrect. It’s the abbreviation of my school’s name, Faridpur Zilla School(F.Z.S). I get it, this might come across as a bit cringe. But it is a brand for its strong identity, quality education, distinctive culture, achievements, alumni success, and emotional connection. I have spent almost 7 years from class 4 to class 10. These years have been an absolute treasure trove of unforgettable and cherished memories. Though I may not be able to encapsulate my entire incredible school journey in a single blog, I'll strive to convey its essence through the meaningful moments and lessons that have shaped me at Faridpur Zilla School.          Allow me to introduce you to a place that holds a parti...
Read more