Rabindra Jayanti:Rabindranath's Birthday

Rabindranath Tagore became a Nobel Laureate in 1913, in recognition of his poetic brilliance. His poetic work "Gitanjali" was especially venerated throughout Europe.

This prolific author wrote a number of dance dramas, plays, short stories and novels. He was also an artist. A true patriot, he used his following to further the cause of Indian nationalism during the Indian Independence struggle.

In his home state of Bengal, Tagore remains immortal largely because of his musical brilliance. Tagore once said "My poems without their melodies are like butterflies without their wings". Besides composing the Indian national anthem,this talented composer wrote a large body of songs popularly known today as Rabindra Sangeet". These extremely poetic songs, based on Indian classical ragas as well as western folk tunes, can still be heard in every Bengali home around the world.

Rabindra Jayanti or Pocheeshe Boishakh is celebrated to pay the homage to this great scholar, Rabindranath Tagore. The festival is celebrated on 8th or 9th day of the month May every year (25th of the month of Baisakh) and this year thats Today. The festival is marked by a number of cultural shows and performances based on the works of Gurudev.

Rabindra Jayanti has gained a lot of popularity in the state of West Bengal and beyond. The festival provides a platform for the budding artists and literary person, in various cultural shows that are organized in the state during the mentioned dates. Music, skits, dramas, traditional songs and dances are performed in institutes and theatres.

There is a definite form of music that has been attributed to the cultural icon gaining popularity in the region. The music, called as Rabindra-Sangeet, is a mixture of Indian classic music and popular folklore of Bengal. These performances receive a great attention and accreditation during the festival and the performers receive the patronage. In more simpler terms Rabindra Jayanti is both a test and the celebration of results.

"Hey nuton......

Chiro nutone dilo daak.....pochishe boishakh , hey nuton...."

This above is song written by Kobiguru himself to mark his birthday

Wishing a very Happy Birthday to the legend, who brought so much of music, poetry and literature in the lives of the Bengalis and into the lives of all Indians.

Happy Birthday to the legend who gifted us our National Anthem.

Happy Birthday to the legend who brought home the Nobel Prize for his literary brilliance.

Happy Birthday to the legend who is the pride of each and every bengali and also of the whole country....

Shubho Janmodin....

Thanks for the reminder Barnalidi. I donot know much about Rabindranath Tagore but have heard his name and few poems. I did not know he wrote the national anthem though... wow!😳

Would like to pa my tribute too to this great man who was not just a poet but also a composer, painter, writer, scholar and what not. Had a wonderfull evening today here at KgP listening to some of his poetry and songs.

Here's a link where we can listen to some rabindra Sangeet too.



My all time favourite of Gurudev is the poem The Hero.

The Hero

Mother, let us imagine we are travelling, and passing through a
strange and dangerous country.
You are riding in a palanquin and I am trotting by you on a
red horse.
It is evening and the sun goes down. The waste of Joradighi
lies wan and grey before us. The land is desolate and barren.
You are frightened and thinking-"I know not where we have come
to."
I say to you, "Mother, do not be afraid."
The meadow is prickly with spiky grass, and through it runs
a narrow broken path.
There are no cattle to be seen in the wide field; they have
gone to their village stalls.
It grows dark and dim on the land and sky, and we cannot tell
where we are going.
Suddenly you call me and ask me in a whisper, "What light is
that near the bank?"
Just then there bursts out a fearful yell, and figures come
running towards us.
You sit crouched in your palanquin and repeat the names of the
gods in prayer.
The bearers, shaking in terror, hide themselves in the thorny
bush.
I shout to you, "Don't be afraid, mother. I am here."
With long sticks in their hands and hair all wild about their
heads, they come nearer and nearer.
I shout, "Have a care, you villains! One step more and you are
dead men."
They give another terrible yell and rush forward.
You clutch my hand and say, "Dear boy, for heaven's sake, keep
away from them."
I say, "Mother, just you watch me."
Then I spur my horse for a wild gallop, and my sword and
buckler clash against each other.
The fight becomes so fearful, mother, that it would give you
a cold shudder could you see it from your palanquin.
Many of them fly, and a great number are cut to pieces.
I know you are thinking, sitting all by yourself, that your
boy must be dead by this time.
But I come to you all stained with blood, and say,"Mother, the
fight is over now."
You come out and kiss me, pressing me to your heart, and you
say to yourself,
"I don't know what I should do if I hadn't my boy to escort
me."
A thousand useless things happen day after day, and why
couldn't such a thing come true by chance?
It would be like a story in a book.
My brother would say, "Is it possible? I always thought he was
so delicate!"
Our village people would all say in amazement, "Was it not
lucky that the boy was with his mother?"

thanx barnali di for the reminder..👏

Long live Rabrinath Tagore !!

few short poems penned by him on life which i liked......

Life is given to us,
we earn it by giving it.

~

Let the dead have the immortality of fame,
but the living the immortality of love.

~

Life's errors cry for the merciful beauty
that can modulate their isolation into a
harmony with the whole.

~

Life, like a child, laughs,
shaking its rattle of death as it runs.

Barnali ji when I read it, it reminded me of anol.... here is the translation of 2 bangla poems he did in english for me, I will share with all of you so that other people who do not knoe bengali can enjoy too... Thanks Anol once again:

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Hi Manjudi

I promised a long time ago to translate 2 Rabindrasangeet .

One writen just after the death of his first child (Daughter) "Madhurilata" and the other after his son "Samindranath"

With all the vices I have, still, I never broke my promise in life so far. So here it goes - kind of literal translation. You can share this with other members if you want - but I promised you - so PM 😊

Warm Regards
Anol
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Tumi ki keboli Chobi

Are you only a painting, framed in a canvas?

That galaxy – far away, crowded by scintillating stars in the nest of sky

Travelers of dark, with radiance in their hands

Planets, Sun and Moon

Aren't you real like them?

Are you only a painting, framed in a canvas?

You are not in front of my eyes any more

You live in them

You are green of the forest, blue of the sky

My world found solace in you

No one knows – your tune plays in my songs

You are the poetic soul, of this poet

You are not only a painting, framed in a canvas!

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Aaj Joytsna Rate Sobai Geche Bone

In the fool moon everyone gathered in the forest fiesta

In the drunken breeze of late summer night

Everyone gathered in the forest fiesta

Everyone except me

I won't join the drunken breeze

I'll stay alone at home

At my lonesome corner

I'll dust and mop my home with fidelity

I'll have to stay awake, prepared

I don't know when he will come

If my memory splash in his heart

In the drunken breeze of late summer night