Rabindranath Tagore, the Greatest writer in modern Indian literature belonged to one of the most cultured families of West Bengal. He was born at Jorasanko, Calcutta on 7 May 1861. His father was Maharishi Debendranath Tagore, a religious reformer and scholar. He was a leader of the Brahmo Samaj. Rabindra’s mother was Sarada Devi, who died when he was very young. Tagore’s grandfather had established a huge financial empire for himself and financed public projects such as Calcutta Medical College. The Tagores were pioneers of Bengal Renaissance and tried to combine traditional Indian culture with Western ideas.

Tagore being the youngest started to compose poems at the age of eight. He received his early education first from tutors and then at a variety of schools. Although at the age of seventeen he was sent to England for formal schooling, he did not finish his studies there. He had an intense feeling of patriotism and love for all things Indian. In his mature years, in addition to his manysided literary activities, he managed the family estates, a project which brought him into close touch with common humanity and increased his interest in social reforms. In 1883 Tagore married Mrinalini Devi Raichoudhuri, with whom he had two sons and three daughters. He moved to East Bengal in 1890.

In 1901 Tagore started an experimental school at Shantiniketan, where he tried his Upanishadic ideals of education. It became an institution to impart nationalist education to the students during colonial rule. It became a university in 1921. The year between 1901 and 1910 were troubled ones for Tagore. In 1902 he lost his wife and between 1904 and 1906 he lost his daughter, his son and his father. It was at this time of sorrow that Tagore began to compose ‘Gitanjali’ in search of peace. In .1912 he translated it into English from its original Bengali script. In 1913 he was awarded the coveted Nobel Prize for this collection of verses, securing his place as not merely an Indian poet but as a world poet in the true sense of the term. Rabindranath was a man of many talents – a singer, painter, artist, educationist and social worker – all rolled into one.

From time to time he participated in the Indian nationalist movement, though in his non-sentimental and visionary way. Gandhi, the political father of modern India was his devoted friend. Both used to write to each other expressing their views regarding the national issues. During the Swadeshi Movement in Bengal Tagore’s role was commendable. Through his patriotic song he tried to arouse the patriotic feelings of the people. He also initiated the custom of Raksha-Bandhan i.e. tying of the rakhi as a symbol of brotherhood in protest against the partition of Bengal. On the day of partition i.e. 16 October 1905 the people of Bengal tied the rakhi on one another’s wrists as a symbol of the unbreakable unity of the Bengalis and of the two halves of Bengal. Processions were carried. Huge crowds parading the streets sang the song written by Rabindranath for the occasion.

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“Jana Gana Mana”, the national anthem of our country was composed by Tagore. It was first sung on 27 December 1911 at the Calcutta session of the Indian National congress. The song is a true expression of patriotic feelings and devotion to God. In 1915 the British government conferred on him the Knighthood. But in 1919 he was horrified and shocked at the Jallianawala Bagh Tragedy where the British General Dyer brutally killed thousands of people. He immediately renounced the Knighthood in protest against the Jallianawala Bagh massacre. He declared, “The time has come when badges of honour make our scheme glaring in their incongruous context of humiliation and I, for my part, wish to stand, shorn of all special distinctions, by the side of my countrymen who, for their so-called insignificance, are liable to suffer degradation not fit for human beings.” This expresses the feelings of a true nationalist that Rabindranath was.

Infact, Tagore’s fame attained great heights, taking him across continents on lecture tours and tours of friendship. He stressed the need for a new world order based on transnational values and ideas. Between the years 1916 and 1934 he travelled widely, attempting to spread the ideal of uniting East and West. He was an early advocate of Independence for India and his influence over Gandhi and other founders of modern India was enormous. He was a critic of colonialism. For the world he became the voice of India’s spiritual heritage and for India, especially for Bengal, he became a great living institution. He believed in world harmony and brotherhood and he symbolised the essence of Indian culture. He breathed his last in Calcutta on 7 August 1941.