Biography
Rabindranath Tagore was a great Bengali polymath which include his skills in poetry, philosophy, musical composing and art. As a leader of the Brahmo Samaj, he took Indian culture and tradition to the view of the entire world and became the voice of Indian Heritage. Tagore was most famous for his work in poems and short stories most of which he contributed to Bengali, his mother tongue, in the late 19th and early 20th century. He became the first Asian Nobel Laureate after receiving the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1913.
Childhood & Education
On May 7, 1861 he was born to a family of thirteen siblings which he was the youngest of and his parents Debendranath Tagore and Sarada Devi. In childhood he developed an early interest in literature and began to read biographies, poems and history by the age of 12. He studied the classical works of poet Kalidasa, the father of Indian poetry. In 1877, he wrote his first poem, composed in a Maithili style which was his first step to becoming a poet.
Tagore admitted a public school in Brighton, England in 1878 after being home schooled till the age of 17. Even though he was a fantastic poet, he went to study law at University College London but, dropped out before finishing his degree and returned to Bengal, India in 1880. He married Mrinalini Devi in 1883 and had a family of five children two of which died in childhood. In 1890, he had taken responsibility of his father's land in Shilaidaha and also began running the family business. His 'Sadhna Period', the duration between 1891 and 1895, he published some of his greatest works.
Early Life & Work
After moving to Shantiniketan, Bengal in 1901 and set up an ashram which included an experimental school, garden and a library. The point of this experimental school was to attempt to teach using Upanishads. During this period, his wife and two children passed away. After his father's death, he became the recipient of his estates which made him financially stable. Additionally he received income from his family's jewelry and royalties from his works. Until this time he had completed more than thirty different works such as Manasi, Gitanjali, Gitimalya and many English and Bengali works which Gitanjali was most famous of.
He was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in the year 1913 for his remarkable contributions to the literature of India and the world. This made him the first Non-European to be a Nobel Laureate. Furthermore, he obtained the title of Knighthood from the government of Britain in 1915 which he gave up as a result of the Jallianwala Bagh massacre in order to protest against British rule over India. In 1921, he had created a experimental school, Shantiniketan, as an Institution for Rural Reconstruction where scholars from many places to spread their knowledge with the students using the Upanishad style of learning and helped to educate the villagers.
Notable Work
Tagore wrote eight novel and a number of poems most of which were written in Bengali. He wrote essays, lectures and short stories about science to history to arts when he got time from fictions and autobiographical works. As an abundant musician, he influenced the musical stylings of musician such as Amjad Ali Khan and Vilayat Khan. At this time in his life he also had privilege of writing a poem and the music that the current national anthem on India, Jana Gana Mana, is based on. This poem was adopted as the national anthem of India on January 24, 1950. His music was also accepted as the national anthem of Bangladesh thus making him the first person to write the national anthems of two countries.
In his early sixties, he unveiled his talent in painting at an art exhibition in Paris. Until his mid-sixties he had written a minimum of eighty-four stories. Most of his stories gave a glance at the lives of common Bengali people. His poems are recited by Bengali families on all important occasions by Bengali families. Gitanjali, his best collection of poems, was what had gained him the Nobel Prize in Literature during 1913.
Political Views & Death
Tagore's political perspective were at odds with those of Mahatma Gandhi yet, they had a good bond and had a modest friendship. He still criticized the Swadeshi Movement in a strong essay. His support to the Indian nationalist movement continued but, in his personal non-sentimental and creative ways. His main way of support was through his moving poems and songs for the Indian Independence movement.
As of his hectic schedule and extensive travel began to suffer from ruthless pain and two extensive periods of illness. During the second phase of his illness he was not given a chance to fight it. He first lost his consciousness in 1937 and had to face it once again in 1940 which was the cause of his death on August 7, 1941. Across the world he still lives in his works of literature and art.
Childhood & Education
On May 7, 1861 he was born to a family of thirteen siblings which he was the youngest of and his parents Debendranath Tagore and Sarada Devi. In childhood he developed an early interest in literature and began to read biographies, poems and history by the age of 12. He studied the classical works of poet Kalidasa, the father of Indian poetry. In 1877, he wrote his first poem, composed in a Maithili style which was his first step to becoming a poet.
Tagore admitted a public school in Brighton, England in 1878 after being home schooled till the age of 17. Even though he was a fantastic poet, he went to study law at University College London but, dropped out before finishing his degree and returned to Bengal, India in 1880. He married Mrinalini Devi in 1883 and had a family of five children two of which died in childhood. In 1890, he had taken responsibility of his father's land in Shilaidaha and also began running the family business. His 'Sadhna Period', the duration between 1891 and 1895, he published some of his greatest works.
Early Life & Work
After moving to Shantiniketan, Bengal in 1901 and set up an ashram which included an experimental school, garden and a library. The point of this experimental school was to attempt to teach using Upanishads. During this period, his wife and two children passed away. After his father's death, he became the recipient of his estates which made him financially stable. Additionally he received income from his family's jewelry and royalties from his works. Until this time he had completed more than thirty different works such as Manasi, Gitanjali, Gitimalya and many English and Bengali works which Gitanjali was most famous of.
He was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in the year 1913 for his remarkable contributions to the literature of India and the world. This made him the first Non-European to be a Nobel Laureate. Furthermore, he obtained the title of Knighthood from the government of Britain in 1915 which he gave up as a result of the Jallianwala Bagh massacre in order to protest against British rule over India. In 1921, he had created a experimental school, Shantiniketan, as an Institution for Rural Reconstruction where scholars from many places to spread their knowledge with the students using the Upanishad style of learning and helped to educate the villagers.
Notable Work
Tagore wrote eight novel and a number of poems most of which were written in Bengali. He wrote essays, lectures and short stories about science to history to arts when he got time from fictions and autobiographical works. As an abundant musician, he influenced the musical stylings of musician such as Amjad Ali Khan and Vilayat Khan. At this time in his life he also had privilege of writing a poem and the music that the current national anthem on India, Jana Gana Mana, is based on. This poem was adopted as the national anthem of India on January 24, 1950. His music was also accepted as the national anthem of Bangladesh thus making him the first person to write the national anthems of two countries.
In his early sixties, he unveiled his talent in painting at an art exhibition in Paris. Until his mid-sixties he had written a minimum of eighty-four stories. Most of his stories gave a glance at the lives of common Bengali people. His poems are recited by Bengali families on all important occasions by Bengali families. Gitanjali, his best collection of poems, was what had gained him the Nobel Prize in Literature during 1913.
Political Views & Death
Tagore's political perspective were at odds with those of Mahatma Gandhi yet, they had a good bond and had a modest friendship. He still criticized the Swadeshi Movement in a strong essay. His support to the Indian nationalist movement continued but, in his personal non-sentimental and creative ways. His main way of support was through his moving poems and songs for the Indian Independence movement.
As of his hectic schedule and extensive travel began to suffer from ruthless pain and two extensive periods of illness. During the second phase of his illness he was not given a chance to fight it. He first lost his consciousness in 1937 and had to face it once again in 1940 which was the cause of his death on August 7, 1941. Across the world he still lives in his works of literature and art.
Life Timeline
1861
1878 1880 1883 1890 1901 1911 1913 1915 1937 1940 1941 |
He was born in the Tagore family on May 7
He joined a public school in Brighton, England He dropped out of University College London to finish studies in Bengal He marries Mrinalini Devi He began to take care of his family estates He decided to move to Shantiniketan, Bengal He got the privilege to write the national anthems of India and Bangladesh He became the first Non-European Nobel Laureate He was given the title of Knighthood from the British government His long travels and busy schedule was taking a toll from his body His second phase of illness had began Tagore died on August 7 |