There are very few Indians who haven’t heard the name of
the great poet from Bengal, Rabindranath Tagore. He was born on the 7th
of May, 1861 and was the youngest of his thirteen siblings. Born in Jorasanko
Mansion, he was lovingly called as “Rabi” by his family members.
Rabindranath was later renamed Gurudev and was the first
non-European to bag a Nobel Prize for his literary work ‘Gitanjali’. He was a
key contributor in changing Bengal’s music and literature. Those who have met
the bard say that he was always seen with his flowing white hair and beard.
This look helped him earn the reputation of a prophet in his region though he
was against the idea.
Rabindranath Tagore’s home is a library of books and
magazines from across the globe. Due to the early demise of his mother, he was
mostly raised by servants. His father used to travel a lot and was seldom at
home. Rabindranath’s family can be said to be full of literary and artistic
talents. His eldest brother, Dwijendranath, was a well-known poet and
philosopher. Yet another brother, Jyotirindranath, was a renowned musician and
playwright. Swarnakumari, his sister, was a novelist.
Later in his life, Rabindranath Tagore moved to
Shantiniketan, where he made his ashram with a marble floored hall, meant for
prayers. He named this hall ‘Mandir’. He also made a school in Shantiniketan
amidst nature. Special significance was paid to being as close to the flora and
fauna as possible. Most classes are still held outdoors so that the mind is
free and thoughts flow naturally.
Even till this day, teachers and students of the school
perform several dance and drama routines based upon his works on his birth
anniversary. His birthday is celebrated with much pomp and enthusiasm, not just
in Shantiniketan but also across Bengal and other parts of India with a Bengali
diaspora.
In the year 1915, Rabindranath Tagore was granted
knighthood by the British Crown. However, after the Jalianwala Bagh massacre in
the year 1919, he is said to have renounced his title. Throughout his life,
Rabindranath Tagore has written numerous songs, essays, novels, dramas, and
short stories. His short stories are very popular all across Bengal and his
songs are still played in numerous radio stations and TV channels as well as in
schools and colleges.
His writings are generally popular due to their lyrical
and rhythmic nature. To mark Tagore’s 150th birthday, a special
anthology named “Kalanukromik Rabindra Rachanabali” or the total body of his
works was published. It contains all his writings, presented in eighty volumes.
He has also composed a total of 2230 songs over his entire life time, and these
compositions are known as Rabindra sangeet.
Every Rabindranath lover should visit Shantiniketan atleast once
in his or her lifetime, especially during his birthday. The colorful ambience
of this small town is sure to impress even a prosaic person and make him
appreciate poems and songs. Holi is another occasion when the place comes to
life and is a top draw for tourists across India and the world.
At Floralis, we wish Gurudev from the bottom of our hearts and
hope he continues to inspire and motivate us to spread love and happiness.
Colorful Extravaganza 
Touch of simplicity