Essay on the biography of Rabindranath Tagore – A Great Scholar. Rabindranath Tagore, popularly known as Gurudev, was a great poet, scholar, playwright, novelist, composer and painter. He enriched the Bengali literature and music.
Rabindranath Tagore, popularly known as Gurudev, was a great poet, scholar, playwright, novelist, composer and painter. He enriched the Bengali literature and music. He was prize for Literature in 1913. He became the first Indian and Asian to win this prestigious prize. He was awarded the Nobel Prize for his landmark work Gitanjali.
Tagore was born in a Brahmin family on 7th May 1861 in Calcutta. Tagore was very brilliant from his early childhood. His father’s name was Dabendranath Tagore and his mother’s name was Sarada. Tagore was a voracious reader from his childhood. Tagore read biographies, history, astronomy, modern science and Sanskrit. He wrote his first poem at the age of eight. At the age of sixteen, he published his first substantial poetry under the pseudonym Bhanushingho. His first short stories and drama appeared in 1877. Tagore wrote novels, short stories, songs, dance dramas and essays on political issues. His verse, short stories, and novels are marked for beauty, rhythm and elegance. Tagore was also a cultural reformer. He modernized Bengali art. He composed the national anthem of India and Bangladesh Jana Gana Mana and Amar Shonar Bangla respectively.
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Tagore wanted to become a barrister. He went to England to study law, but returned to Bengal without taking a degree. In 1883, he was married to Mrinalini Devi. Tagore prolifically wrote during the time. His works written during the time depicted a wide range of Bengali lifestyles, including village life. Tagore received knighthood from the British Crown. But he renounced the title to the Crown in protest against the Jalianwala Bagh massacre in 1919.
Tagore was a prolific composer of songs and music. He also produced great number of paintings. He wrote around 2,230 songs. Tagore’s music is inseparable from his literature. His music is largely influenced by Hindustani classical music. His music beautifully depicts various shades of human emotions. Tagore played leading role in his theatre at the age of sixteen. At the age of twenty, he wrote his first drama opera—Valmiki Pratibha. His most notable play Dak Ghar portrays the story of a childhood. Tagore’s plays articulate the natural human emotions. They touch the core of human hearts. Dance dramas based on Tagore’s plays are commonly referred to as Rabindra Nritya Natyas.
Tagore wrote many story collections. His three volume work Galpaguchha remains a masterpiece in Bengali literature. His stories are reflections on his surroundings, modern society and fashionable ideas. Tagore was a social reformer also. He criticized the hypocrisies of modern society. He condemned Sati system. He through his writings promoted Hindu-Muslim unity. Tagore strongly protested against British rule. He was a true patriot and a pioneer nationalist. He supported the freedom struggle of India. He founded an institution to propagate his ideas which later turned to become an educational institution of great repute—Santiniketan, Visva-Bharati University. This great soul breathed his last on 7 August 1941.