Rabi-- the sun that never set

Tagore with his family members. (L-R) Daughter Mira Devi, son Rathindranath, Tagore, Daughter-in-law Pratima Devi and daughter Madhuri Lata.

At a time when much of the country was in the grips of conservatism, Jorashako played host to dramas, poetry sessions and the Bramhmo doctrine. From an early age onwards, Rabi, as he was fondly called, found himself writing songs, giving it tune and singing it at family occasions and weddings.

Rabi was eighth among brothers and fourteenth among all of his brothers and sisters. His education began at home under the guidance of several teachers. Later on he went to the Oriental school, Normal school, The Bengal Academy which was specially meant for the English and also St. Xavier's school. But the school setting never settled well on him, and after a while he resumed taking his lessons at home, where he could always fit in time for his beloved poetry.

When he was 17, Rabi traveled to England with his second brother Sattyandranath. The young Rabi studied English literature at the College of London University under Professor Henry Morley. He returned to India a year and half later. Though he had planned to go back to study Law, as was the standard line of education for the elites at that time, he never went through with his plans, preferring instead to remain in India.

All this while, the Thakur family's vast estates were looked after by Sharada Prasad, Rabi's brother-in law. After Sharada's death and a number of other incidents including the failed shipping business of Rabi's brother, the death of his sibling Hemendranath, Rabi started to be given more responsibility in looking after the zamidari. Between being a even-minded zamidar, a dutiful father, a vocal reformist, he seldom slowed down his prolific penmanship, authoring poems, plays, novels, short stories and editorials.

Tagore's life as a composer of songs stretches over 61 years. Of his 2500 songs, the most number - totaling over 400- are love songs. His patriotic songs were as fiery as his love songs tender. Tagore was an avid nature lover and the countless hours he spent on the deck of his boat, or making out the shapes of the clouds found its way into 300-odd writing on seasons giving life to whatever in nature took his fancy. Much of Tagore's work also centered on spiritual and philosophical writings.

At one point in his life, Tagore started thinking about ways to bring changes in the society though educating the young generation. Being a reformist at heart, he decided to set up a model learning school that would blend in the best of Western and Eastern education. In 1904, at the age of 40, he went to Bolpur where his father had previously bought a 20-acre plot of land and established one such school. He named it after the house that his father had left behind there Shantiniketan. For some time to come, Tagore would support the school through his own means, often diverting funds from more pressing personal needs. In the years to follow, Shantiniketan did live up to his dreams of being the seat of culture for the young generations.

Between 1902 and 1907 Tagore lost his wife Mrinalini Devi, son Shomindronath and daughter Renuka Devi. But from his pain emerged some of his most moving work, including the Gitanjali which was published in 1910. This collection of verses, translated into English by the poet himself and named "Song Offerings", won Tagore the Noble Prize for Literature in 1913.

Two years later Tagore was knighted by the British Empire. In 1919 the horror of the Jallianwalla Bagh massacre stunned Tagore and he renounced his title. In a letter to the Viceroy he wrote "The disproportionate severity of the punishment inflicted upon the unfortunate people and the method of carrying it out, we are convinced, are without parallel in the history of civilized governments and these are the reasons which have painfully compelled me to ask your Excellency to relieve me of my title."

Between 1916 to 1941, Tagore published 21 collections of his work including songs (2232), Collection of poems (56), short stories(119) Collection of songs (4), plays (29), novels (12), and art work (2000).

Tagore died in Calcutta on 22 Srawaan, 7th August, 1941.

Like the Rabi, the sun, Tagore's work radiated across generations. Just as the setting sun leaves behind a crimson glow even when it itself is out of sight, Tagore's has left behind a legacy that is as vivid today as it was decades long gone.