Context: Prime Minister of India paid heartfelt tributes to Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore on the occasion of Pochishe Boishakh.
About Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore:
Who He Was?
- Rabindranath Tagore (1861–1941) was a myriad-minded polymath—a poet, writer, philosopher, musician-composer, painter, and visionary educationist. Known as the Bard of Bengal, he was the first Asian to win the Nobel Prize (Literature, 1913) and served as a global cultural ambassador of Indian heritage.
- His core philosophy was rooted in Harmony, believing in the inherent unity of the world and the noble ideals of human emotion.
Early Days:
- Birth: Born on May 7, 1861 (25 Baishakh 1268 B.S.), into the distinguished Jorasanko Tagore family in Bengal.
- Influences: He grew up during the nineteenth-century Bengal Renaissance, a period of intense intellectual and cultural awakening.
- Family Heritage: He was the son of Maharshi Debendranath Tagore, who significantly shaped the Brahmo Samaj.
Contribution to India’s Freedom Movement:
- Mantra of Atmashakti: Although he often eschewed active party politics, he captivated the nation’s soul with the concept of Atmashakti (self-reliance), teaching people the importance of social and moral strength over mere political agitation.
- National Anthems: He is the unique composer of the national anthems of two nations: India (Jana Gana Mana) and Bangladesh (Amar Shonar Bangla).
- Rural Reconstruction: He actively put his philosophy of self-reliance into practice through innovative experiments in rural development in East Bengal and by establishing Sriniketan in 1922.
- Protest Against British Rule: He famously renounced his Knighthood in 1919 as a protest against the Jallianwala Bagh Massacre, reflecting his deep commitment to human rights and national dignity.
Literary & Creative Works:
- Versatility: He was equally adept at poetry, novels, short stories, and plays.
- Major Works: His most famous collection of poems, Gitanjali (Song Offerings), won him international acclaim. Other notable works include Ghare-Baire (The Home and the World) and Gora.
- Music and Art: He created a unique genre of music known as Rabindra Sangeet and took up painting in his later years, producing thousands of works.
- Educational Innovation: He founded Santiniketan (1901) and Visva-Bharati University (1921), based on the motto Yatra visvam bhabatyeknidam—where the world makes a home in a single nest.
Last Days:
- Legacy of Peace: In the post-World War I era, he focused heavily on spreading a message of global peace and ancient Indian wisdom to a fractured world.
- Passing: Gurudev relinquished his mortal form on August 7, 1941 (22 Shravana 1348 B.S.).
- Enduring Light: Even today, he is remembered as a lambent light who guards against intellectual parochiality and moral darkness, remaining a permanent fixture in India’s cultural and spiritual identity.
