Tagore's thoughts on the eternal journey

Mita started singing even before she knew how to formulate proper words. "All these weird uii kuii noises would come out of my mouth as I would try and imitate my elders. Since I can remember I used to barge into family music gatherings and demand in my childish local dialect ami gaan gamu, ami bajamu (I want to sing, I want to play)."

Today, Mita is well-versed in Tagore songs. She has been a music teacher for over 16 years. Mita elaborates on the maestro's philosophy on death and her own ideas: about his death. "It is a complicated emotion," expresses Mita. "Tagore enriched us with his songs and poetry on death. Though he is no longer with us, a sense of loss should not overcome us. He has left so much for us that I personally feel his presence everyday.

"Besides, Tagore himself never believed that death is an ultimate end. In his songs, he depicts death as a joyous journey. Many people do not understand the depth of his lyrics and don't relate to many of his songs with death, though they were written explicitly with the phenomenon in mind." She gives an example:

Shomukhey shanti parabar, bhashao toroni he kornodhor, tumi hobey chiroshathee...

It is tough to translate or get the right essence in English, clarifies Mita: "Even though he sensed death nearby he was not sad about it, rather he was looking forward to get closer to the creator in whom he looked for an eternal partner, he wanted this partner to embrace him and take him in His cradle."

In another song, Tagore, who went by the pseudonym Bhanu Shingho, said:

Moronorey tuhu momo shyam shoman...

Elaborates Mita, "What he means by this song is that death is the only inevitable thing on earth. It will not leave you, it will not deceive you. Death is bound to come and will never part with anyone. It is one's ultimate partner."

For Mita, Tagore's death is just biological and not spiritual: "Tagore always spoke and wrote about death with a realistic approach. Perhaps we need to take a cue from the great bard."