Baisakh is a month of Bengali Calender, the first month. Every Bengali knows the 25th day of this month. One of the dearest human beings of almost every Bengali was born on this day, Rabindranath Tagore. I wont bother you with his biography, sorry. Because I hated reading biography or autobiographies.
Today is his 150th birthday. He has left earth a long time ago but has left behind a trail of light and beauty. His songs are still the hot favourites of too many Bengalis (including myself).
I love to write, almost every thing but fact based serious things. And after I started to write myself my respect for him shot sky high. I have always adored (almost worshipped) him but now when I explore his expertise in almost every sphere of human feelings I feel awestruck by his genius.
He is one of the reasons I thank God again and again that I am a Bengali. Because to understand and soak oneself into his works one have to clearly understand Bengali and have at least an ample amount of Bengali temperament. I have read a little bit of English translation of his works, they tasted quite lifeless and devoid of sweetness.
Tagore, Kabiguru once wrote a poem which mused that someone was reading his poem hundred year afterwards that date. Well, I can proudly say that if his works stay and Bengalis survive then people will be reading his works five hundred years later too. He was ONE poet.
Your words
Decades have passed away
You have put down your flute
Placed your pen in stand
And left for your own journey
Enchanting journey to dreamland.
Your music still resonates
Fills up our soul
Your poetries still spill out
To show us how lovely life is
You have left a trail of light.
Deities show themselves
Fairies dance in them
Nature unravels her glory
Human soul is undisclosed
Your words contain the universe.
Some times they take me
On a trip to a garden
Or a village road
To a lotus pond
Or in the endless space.
Or some palace far away
Where a beautiful spirit dwelled
Every dweller fell in love
And could never leave her
They perished yearning for her.
Not everyone knows. I did not. Thanks for the post.
ReplyDeleteThough you have mentioned that you hate "biography" and "autobiography", please read "Jibonsmriti", autobiography by Tagore himself. Highly recommended for all his fans.
ReplyDeletedear elizabeth,
ReplyDeletei am happy that you liked it. it was just my way of celebrating his birthday.
warmest affections,
dear shankha,
ReplyDeleteif i get a chance, i will certainly read it.
warmest wishes,