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It's the 150th birth anniversary year of Rabindranath Tagore, but are we doing enough to preserve the legacy of India's Renaissance man
If you were looking to map out the life and times of Rabindranath Tagore, then Kolkata and specifically his ashram Shantiniketan ' 136 km away from Kolkata ' are definitive stopovers. In the 150th birth anniversary year of the Bard of Bengal (who passed away on August 7, 1941), Kolkata is swathed in posters reminding the world of the contributions of one of our greatest sons. He, who was a poet, author, playwright, painter, educationist, and social reformer rolled in one, has left behind a legacy that resounds in his words oft-repeated around the world, as much as it does in the alleys and portals of Shantiniketan & Visva-Bharati University founded by him.
Apart from these landmarks, many looking to get acquainted with the world and vision of this cultural and literary giant would also be expected to make a beeline for the houses that he spent his years in, but considering the derelict state of these homes of heritage value, neither the state government nor Visva-Bharati has given it any thought.
Walking down the lanes of Kalimpong ' a small hill town in the northern part of Bengal ' one can't but notice exhaustive instructions directing you to the tourist traps of the city; conspicuously missing is any mention of Tagore's house. After enquiring of about a dozen locals, we finally met an old man who guided us to Gauripur House, one of the favourite places of the poet. Picking our way through a dingy lane and past a broken gate, we found ourselves in front of what was Tagore's summer retreat and where he's known to have stayed for more than a couple of occasions in his lifetime. Losing sight of Gurudev? The portico and the main door particularly fascinated the Nobel laureate who considered the entrance his bridge with nature. Inside, hangs a marble plaque commemorating the day ' April 25, 1940 'Tagore recited his poem Janamdin live for radio over telephone. Apart from that, there's little in this weathered abode to suggest it was here the poet-philosopher penned ten poems and short-stories and a drama. Instead of consecrating the address as a haven for seekers of Rabindranath Tagore, it is reduced to a shack frequented by junkies and urchins. 'Every evening we can hear hooligans shouting and abusing in this house; we don't even know how they manage to enter the place,' laments Praful Singh, a neighbourhood resident.
The situation isn't any better at other erstwhile shelters of the poet in towns like Kurseong, Darjeeling, Mongpu etc. The precincts that can well claim to have shaped much of Rabindranath's outlook on life now lie utterly out of shape for want of maintenance.
In "Mongpu-te Rabindranath", written by one of his dearest students, Moitri Devi, she illustrates how the place lent itself to Tagore's inspiration. It is even evident in several of the thinker's compositions from Mongpu. Reminds Shirshendu Mukhopaday, renowned Bengali author, 'The scale of Tagore's work is not only limited to Kolkata; his intellectual legacy can be witnessed in several other places.' According to Mukhopaday, there are countless fans of the Nobel laureate across the world and they should take the initiative to protect these houses. A classic example of this is Charles Dickens' home in Russell Square, London, which has been converted into a museum. Located on Doughty Street, the place is exceptionally maintained; the house mints its own maintenance cost by selling merchandise and entrance fees to the visitors. Sketches and paintings of Nicholas Nickleby and Oliver Twist remind us it was here the master writer had produced the eponymous works.
'Knowing and understanding Tagore is an exciting journey for me and I strongly believe he can be connected best with in many of those peaceful places where this legend had set his feet,' says Shabana Azmi. The journey to know Rabindranath Tagore, the prolific and multi-faceted culturist who will forever remain relevant in India and to Indophiles, is not limited to Kolkata, or Shantiniketan, or even these destinations mentioned, for as Gurudev said: 'The journey is long, and the destination far..'
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It's the 150th birth anniversary year of Rabindranath Tagore, but are we doing enough to preserve the legacy of India's Renaissance man
If you were looking to map out the life and times of Rabindranath Tagore, then Kolkata and specifically his ashram Shantiniketan ' 136 km away from Kolkata ' are definitive stopovers. In the 150th birth anniversary year of the Bard of Bengal (who passed away on August 7, 1941), Kolkata is swathed in posters reminding the world of the contributions of one of our greatest sons. He, who was a poet, author, playwright, painter, educationist, and social reformer rolled in one, has left behind a legacy that resounds in his words oft-repeated around the world, as much as it does in the alleys and portals of Shantiniketan & Visva-Bharati University founded by him.
Apart from these landmarks, many looking to get acquainted with the world and vision of this cultural and literary giant would also be expected to make a beeline for the houses that he spent his years in, but considering the derelict state of these homes of heritage value, neither the state government nor Visva-Bharati has given it any thought.
Walking down the lanes of Kalimpong ' a small hill town in the northern part of Bengal ' one can't but notice exhaustive instructions directing you to the tourist traps of the city; conspicuously missing is any mention of Tagore's house. After enquiring of about a dozen locals, we finally met an old man who guided us to Gauripur House, one of the favourite places of the poet. Picking our way through a dingy lane and past a broken gate, we found ourselves in front of what was Tagore's summer retreat and where he's known to have stayed for more than a couple of occasions in his lifetime. Losing sight of Gurudev? The portico and the main door particularly fascinated the Nobel laureate who considered the entrance his bridge with nature. Inside, hangs a marble plaque commemorating the day ' April 25, 1940 'Tagore recited his poem Janamdin live for radio over telephone. Apart from that, there's little in this weathered abode to suggest it was here the poet-philosopher penned ten poems and short-stories and a drama. Instead of consecrating the address as a haven for seekers of Rabindranath Tagore, it is reduced to a shack frequented by junkies and urchins. 'Every evening we can hear hooligans shouting and abusing in this house; we don't even know how they manage to enter the place,' laments Praful Singh, a neighbourhood resident.
The situation isn't any better at other erstwhile shelters of the poet in towns like Kurseong, Darjeeling, Mongpu etc. The precincts that can well claim to have shaped much of Rabindranath's outlook on life now lie utterly out of shape for want of maintenance.
In "Mongpu-te Rabindranath", written by one of his dearest students, Moitri Devi, she illustrates how the place lent itself to Tagore's inspiration. It is even evident in several of the thinker's compositions from Mongpu. Reminds Shirshendu Mukhopaday, renowned Bengali author, 'The scale of Tagore's work is not only limited to Kolkata; his intellectual legacy can be witnessed in several other places.' According to Mukhopaday, there are countless fans of the Nobel laureate across the world and they should take the initiative to protect these houses. A classic example of this is Charles Dickens' home in Russell Square, London, which has been converted into a museum. Located on Doughty Street, the place is exceptionally maintained; the house mints its own maintenance cost by selling merchandise and entrance fees to the visitors. Sketches and paintings of Nicholas Nickleby and Oliver Twist remind us it was here the master writer had produced the eponymous works.
'Knowing and understanding Tagore is an exciting journey for me and I strongly believe he can be connected best with in many of those peaceful places where this legend had set his feet,' says Shabana Azmi. The journey to know Rabindranath Tagore, the prolific and multi-faceted culturist who will forever remain relevant in India and to Indophiles, is not limited to Kolkata, or Shantiniketan, or even these destinations mentioned, for as Gurudev said: 'The journey is long, and the destination far..'
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