Rabindranath Tagore was the first Indian citizen to bring Nobel Prize to India. He was the first non-European and the first Asian to be awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature. Though two Indians – Ronald Ross in 1902 for Medicine and Rudyard Kipling for literature have won Nobel Prize before him, both were foreign citizens. Thus Tagore became the first Indian citizen to receive this honorary prize. After Tagore, V.S.Naipaul won it once again in the year 2001, but he is UK citizen. So still now, only Tagore remains the only writer with Indian citizenship who has won Nobel Prize in literature. Let me mention one more Indian writer’s name who has been Nominated and shortlisted for Nobel Prize for Literature in 1984. It is Kamala Das/Kamala Surayya who also owns pen name – Madhavikutty.

Rabindranath Tagore achieved Nobel Prize for literature in 1913 for his collection of poems – Gitanjali at the age of 52. So, 2013 is the centennial year of this historic moment and countries – India, Bangladesh and Sweden are celebrating this occasion in grand way. He was the person who gave the name ‘Mahatma’ of Gandhiji, the name by which Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi is still known. Tagore was born on 1861 May 7 in Kolkata in Chitpur village as the son of Debendranath Tagore and Sarada Devi.

He started writing poems at the age of 8 and had a journey to Himalayas with his father at the age of 11. His first poem, ‘Abhilasha’ was published in ‘Tatvabhodini’ newspaper when he was only 13. His first collection of poems, ‘Kabikahini’ was published when he was 16. He used the pen name ‘Bhanusimha’ during his early age. He started painting when he reached 60 and completed approximate 3000 pictures. In 40, Oxford University gave him honorary doctorate. In 1941 August 7, he left the world. 

At this wonderful occasion I would like to briefly mention a few interesting facts related to Tagore, his Gitanjali and Nobel Prize.

Gitanjali and Nobel Prize

Gitanjali was written in Bengali and it is a collection of 157 poems. It was published in the year 1910, August 14. He chose 53 best poems from this work and took 50 more poems from other works and translated it to English. This collection of 103 poems with the same title – Gitanjali was published by India Society of London on November 1st, 1912. Its introduction was written by famous Irish poet W.B. Yeats. Tagore’s name was nominated by famous English poet T.S. Moore.

Thief stole Tagore’s Nobel

When Tagore got Nobel Prize, it brought pride and honour to India. But it became a black mark on India’s pride when Tagore’s medal got stolen from Santiniketan. It happened in the year 2004 March 25 when Tagore’s medal, along with its citation and a few personal belongings of Tagore went missing from the glass case of Rabindra Bhavan Museum of Viswabharaty University. 18 carat gold weighing 206 grams and about 50 precious belongings of Tagore including gold ring of his father and his own favourite gold pocket watch were stolen from the museum.

Government promised to give 10 lakh rupees to the person who can give any information related to this theft. Later the case was investigated by CBI. Yet even at the 100th year of this historic moment, the mystery is yet to be unfolded. Later in 2009, CBI closed this case as they couldn’t find any solid evidence behind this conspiracy. Really a matter of shame to all Indians!!!

A matter of relief – In 2005, Sweden Foundation presented two replicas of Tagore’s Nobel Prize to Viswabharaty University. One replica was made of gold while the other, of bronze. Now the gold medal is preserved safe in Rabindra Bhavan Museum and the bronze replica is exhibited for visitors. 

Santiniketan and Viswabharati

An ashram was founded by Tagore’s father in Bolpur, Santiniketan. Rabindranath Tagore expanded it as an educational institution with the name – Brahmacharya Ashram. Later it become popular worldwide and came to be known as cultural centre of India. It followed gurukula education system of our ancestors and both students and teachers stay here. Later it came to be known as Santiniketan. Started in the year 1901, it became Viswabharati University in the year 1921 December 21. Later in 1951 it came under central government’s rule.

Lost Gitanjali

Tagore translated Gitanjali from Bengali to English in 1912 during his journey to London along with his family. While train passed through a tunnel, he lost the original written copy of Gitanjali. Later it was obtained from the storage of lost possessions in an underground railway station of London. As told earlier W.B. Yeats wrote the introduction of English version of Gitanjali. They both stayed together in a hotel in London when this work was going on. Yeats used to recite Gitanjali’s poems so beautifully that many celebrities used to assemble in the hotel in those days. Gitanjali has been translated to many languages. Its Malayalam translation was done by G. Shankara Kurup, the poet to win first Jnanpith award, highest literary honour of India.

Two National songs

Our national anthem, ‘Jana gana mana’ was taken from Tagore’s Gitanjali written in Bengali. It was recited for the first time in Kolkatta, 27th December 1911 in the occasion of 28th annual conference of Indian National Congress. In 1950 January 24, it was officially adopted as National Anthem of India by the Constituent Assembly. Tagore translated this wonderful poem to English as ‘The morning song of India’. National anthem of Bangladesh, Amar Sonar Bangla was also written by none other than Tagore.

The unspoken speech

In 1913 November 14, while residing in Santhiniketan Tagore got a telegram from his friend, poet Satyendranath Dutta. The content was the happy news of Nobel Prize. But due to some reason, Tagore was not able to attend the award function held at Sweden on December. Later Tagore received this award from Kolkata Governor on January 1914. Then how did that historic speech become so popular even though Tagore didn’t attend the function? Those words were sent by Tagore 8 years later to Sweden Foundation telling that he has accepted the prize. Nobel Academy preserved it in their collection. This matter was revealed most recently through the research conducted by Indranath Chaudhary.

Renounce of Knighthood

Apart from being a great writer, educationalist, thinker and painter, he was a great political leader also. He has played a significant role in India’s struggle for independence. He had close relationship with great Indian leaders – Mahatma Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru.  He was given ‘Sir’ title by George V of British Government as an honour of his Nobel Prize achievement. But as a symbol of protest against Jallianwala Bagh massacre in 1919, he gave it back to British government. He wrote a repudiation letter to Viceroy Chelmsford showing his protest.

Rabindra Sangeet

Rabindranath Tagore was a music composer as well. He developed a distinct style of singing, by giving music to his own written poems. Though its tunes are deeply rooted in East Indian classical music, he has made it his own by adding a few more elements thus making it an independent branch of singing style. Indrani Sen, Debabrata Viswas, Suchitra Mitra, Hemant Kumarand Subinoy Roy are a few names related to Rabindra Sangeet.

Important works of Tagore

His most popular collection of poems are Gitanjali, Geetimalya, Sonar thari and Balaka. His important novels are Yogayog, Gora, Chokerbali, Khare bayre, Nauka doobi and Sesher Kobita. His dramas are Valmiki prathibha, Chirangata, Visarjan, Raja, Dhak ghar and Achalayathan. Kabuliwalah, Post master and Samapthi are his noted short stories.

Conclusion

So, we have come to the end of this article related to Tagore, his life and important works. It’s my humble tribute to one of the greatest persons of our motherland.

Image source: Wikipedia