Rabindranath TagoreAwards:
Nobel Prize in Literature-1913Nobel Committee
in its citation stated that the prize was given for
"his profoundly sensitive, fresh
and beautiful verse, by which, with consummate skill, he has made his
poetic thought, expressed in his own English words, a part of the
literature of the West."
Born: 07/05/1861 in Jorasanko mansion, Calcutta
(now Kolkata), India
Died: 07/08/1941 in Calcutta, India
Citizen: India
Language: Bengali (an Indian language)
Rabindranath was born to Debendranath Thakur
and Sarada Devi and was the youngest of 13 surviving children. His
mother died early when he was only 14. Rabindranath grew in the
company of a large retinue of servants. His home was a hub of literary
activities.such as recital of Bengali and English classical music and
publication of magazines. Literature ran in the family. Eldest brother
Dwijendranath was a philosopher and a poet and his sister Swarnakumari
became a novelist.
Tagore did not relish formal education
and was mostly educated at home by private tutors. He read Edward
Gibbon and Kalidas. His father wanted
him to be a barrister and sent him to London to study law at
University College, London but he also dropped out from the institute after a
brief period. During his London stint, he read Shakespeare and other
literary works of famous English, Irish and Scottish writers. In 1880,
he returned back to India without a degree. In 1883, he married
Mrinalini Devi. In 1890, he was given charge of the family estate in
Shelaidaha. During this period, he traveled extensively through
the rural hinterland of river Padma which is now in Bangladesh and had
glimpse of rural India. He also came in contact with Baul Lalon Shah
whose folk songs greatly influenced him. 1891-95 was Tagore's most
productive period.
In 1901, Tagore moved to Shantiniketan.
There, his wife, two children and Father died.
Tagore's last 5 years were marked by
suffering and chronic illness. In late 1937, he suddenly lost
consciousness. He was in comatose for sometime. In late 1940, he had a
similar experience.
Before death, he had this poem--
I'm lost in the middle of my birthday. I want my friends, their touch,
with the earth's last love. I will take life's final offering, I will
take the human's last blessing. Today my sack is empty. I have given
completely whatever I had to give. In return if I receive
anything—some love, some forgiveness—then I will take it with me when
I step on the boat that crosses to the festival of the wordless end.
Notable Works:
Manashi
-- (1890),
Galpa Guccha --Bunches
of Tales (1912),
Sonar Tari-
The Golden Boat
(1893) ,Chitra
-- Chitra(1896),
Chaitali --
Late Harvest(1896),
Kalpana --
Dreams (1900),
Naivedya -
Offerings
(1901),
Chitrangada-
Chitra
(1892/1913),
Malini-
Malini
(1895),
Gitanjali-
Gitanjali
(1910),Gora-
Gora
(1910/1924)
Order Rabindranath Tagore's Books below
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