Honouring the Bard of Bengal
Every year on 7th May, India and the world celebrate the birth anniversary of Rabindranath Tagore – a polymath who reshaped Bengali literature, music, and art, and became the first Asian Nobel Laureate in 1913.
This day, known as Rabindra Jayanti, is observed with cultural events, poetry readings, music performances, and tributes across schools, colleges, and institutions, especially in West Bengal and Bangladesh.
🧠 Who Was Rabindranath Tagore?
Rabindranath Tagore (1861–1941) was a poet, writer, composer, philosopher, social reformer, painter, and educator. Born into a culturally rich family in Jorasanko, Kolkata, he began writing at an early age and later became one of the most important voices of the Bengal Renaissance.
✍️ His Contributions
1. Literature
- Tagore authored Gitanjali (Song Offerings), a collection of deeply spiritual poems that earned him the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1913.
- He wrote more than 2,000 poems, eight novels, 40+ plays, and countless short stories and essays.
- His works include:
- Gora
- Ghare-Baire (The Home and the World)
- Chokher Bali
- Shesher Kabita
📚 Read Gitanjali online (Project Gutenberg)
2. Music – Rabindra Sangeet
- He composed over 2,200 songs, now called Rabindra Sangeet, blending classical Indian music with folk and western influences.
- His songs capture every emotion – from romanticism and patriotism to devotion and sorrow.
🎧 Rabindra Sangeet Playlist on YouTube
3. National Anthems
- India’s National Anthem: Jana Gana Mana – composed by Tagore.
- Bangladesh’s National Anthem: Amar Shonar Bangla – also written by Tagore.
- He is the only person in the world to have written the national anthems of two countries.
🎼 Jana Gana Mana by Rabindranath Tagore – YouTube
4. Education
- Founded Visva-Bharati University in Santiniketan (1921) with a vision of global learning beyond textbooks.
- Emphasized open-air learning and artistic freedom.
🏫 Visva-Bharati University official site
5. Painting
- Took up painting in his sixties and left behind nearly 3,000 artworks, known for their abstract and expressionist styles.
🎨 Tagore’s Paintings – National Gallery of Modern Art
🌍 Legacy and Global Influence
- Influenced thinkers like W.B. Yeats, Albert Einstein, and Mahatma Gandhi.
- He was a freedom thinker, not a freedom fighter—his pen was his sword.
- Renounced his knighthood after the Jallianwala Bagh massacre in 1919 in protest.
📽️ Suggested YouTube Videos to Embed/Link
- 🔗 Rabindranath Tagore – A Brief Biography (by DD National)
- 🔗 Life & Philosophy of Rabindranath Tagore – Documentary
- 🔗 Rabindra Sangeet – Compilation by Srikanto Acharya
✨ Ending Thought
“Where the mind is without fear and the head is held high…”
– Rabindranath Tagore
On this Tagore Jayanti, let’s reflect on his timeless ideas of freedom, harmony, and humanism. His words continue to inspire generations across borders and cultures.
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