RABINDRANATH TAGORE

RABINDRANATH TAGORE (1861-1941) was a true renaissance man — multifaceted; dreamer, thinker, and a doer. No other person could bring such recognition to Indian culture in its entirety, as he did. He was at home in the world, without losing his unique Indianness. After 150 years of his birth, if his poetic renderings are used by young men to woo their lasses, by grieving souls to get over loss of life, and by politicians in campaign speeches, his thoughts on education, nationalism and women’s emancipation turn out to be prescient.

Even while the world around him was engaged in fierce battles of national freedom, he understood the folly of extreme nationalism. To him cultures changed along the flow of river, they need not be restricted within the boundaries of barbed wires. As democracies mature and humanity evolves, a realisation dawns that his verses express a universal aspiration, which is not only utopian. The world is gradually inching towards a reality,“ Where the mind is without fear and the head is held high; Where knowledge is free; Where the world has not been broken up into fragments by narrow domestic walls; Where words come out from the depth of truth; Where tireless striving stretches its arms towards perfection…” Tagore was a visionary who could foresee the relevance of translations in a world where ideas need to flow freely. By translating Geetanjali into English, he gave the world the benefit of reading a mystic’s perspective on life which reflects beauty, love and compassion. He was the first one to introduce the saint poet Kabeer to the English speaking world by translating his poetry. On his 150th birth anniversary, the government would pay a befitting tribute to this poet laureate by promoting this much neglected aspect of our cultural ecology. The exhaustive body of his works need to be understood with the help of quality translations. Because those who do not understand Bengali and are deprived of a song like jodi tor dak sune keo na ase… fail to know what it feels to be led through the journey of life by such power of words that can take away weariness. And make one smile through all the seasons of life.