Rabindranath Tagore: The Renaissance Man of Bengal


Rabindranath Tagore was a Bengali poet, writer, musician, painter, and educator who reshaped the literature and culture of his region and beyond. He was the first non-European to win the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1913 for his collection of poems Gitanjali. He is also known for composing the national anthems of India and Bangladesh.



Quick Facts

  • Full Name: Rabindranath Thakur
  • Known As: Rabindranath Tagore
  • Nickname: Rabi
  • Father: Debendranath Tagore
  • Mother: Sarada Devi
  • Siblings: 13 (including him)
  • Wife: Mrinalini Devi
  • Mistress: Kadambari Devi (his sister-in-law)
  • Daughter: Madhurilata, Renuka, Mira
  • Son: Rathindranath, Samindranath
  • Age (Present): 80 (at the time of death)
  • Height: Unknown
  • Weight: Unknown
  • Salary: Unknown
  • Net Worth: Unknown
  • Date of Birth: May 7, 1861
  • Birthplace: Kolkata, India
  • Date of Death: August 7, 1941
  • Death Place: Kolkata, India
  • Cause of Death: Chronic kidney infection and cirrhosis of the liver
  • Remains: Cremated
  • Gender: Male
  • Zodiac Sign: Taurus
  • Religion: Brahmoism (a reformist Hindu movement)
  • Race or Ethnicity: Bengali
  • Education: Home-schooled; attended University College London briefly but did not complete a degree
  • Nationality: Indian
  • Influenced: Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, Satyajit Ray, Amartya Sen, and many others
  • Major Writings: Gitanjali, Gora, Ghare Baire, Chokher Bali, Shesher Kobita, etc.
  • Occupation: Poet, writer, musician, painter, educator
  • Social Media: None


Career

Rabindranath Tagore started writing poetry at a young age and published his first collection at the age of 16. He also wrote short stories, novels, plays, essays, and songs that explored various themes such as love, nature, spirituality, social justice, nationalism, and humanism. He was a prolific composer of music and created a new genre of songs called Rabindra Sangeet that blended Indian classical and folk music with Western influences. He was also a talented painter who experimented with different styles and forms. He founded an experimental school called Santiniketan in 1901 that later became a university called Visva-Bharati. He also established Sriniketan, a rural development project that aimed to uplift the lives of the villagers. He traveled extensively around the world and met with many prominent figures such as Albert Einstein, George Bernard Shaw, H.G. Wells, Romain Rolland, etc. He was also involved in various political and social movements such as the Swadeshi movement, the anti-partition movement, the non-cooperation movement, etc. He was a vocal critic of British imperialism and advocated for India’s independence. He also supported the cause of Bengali language and culture and opposed the partition of Bengal in 1905 and 1947.


Early Life & Childhood

Rabindranath Tagore was born on May 7, 1861, in Kolkata (then Calcutta), India to Debendranath Tagore and Sarada Devi. He belonged to a wealthy and influential Brahmo family that was involved in social and religious reforms. He was the ninth child and the youngest son among 13 siblings. His father was a leader of the Brahmo Samaj, a movement that rejected idolatry and the caste system and advocated for a rational and universalistic interpretation of Hinduism. His mother died when he was 14 years old.

Tagore grew up in a large ancestral mansion called Jorasanko Thakur Bari which was a center of cultural and intellectual activity. He was exposed to various languages such as Bengali, Sanskrit, English, Hindi, Persian, etc., and learned from various tutors at home. He also had access to a vast library that contained books on various subjects such as philosophy, religion, science, history, literature, etc. He started writing poetry at a young age and published his first collection at the age of 16.

Tagore was mostly confined to the family compound and was not allowed to leave it except for going to school. He felt restless and curious about the outside world, nature, and people. He was also intimidated by the mansion’s mysterious and ghostly atmosphere. He was often mistreated by the servants who dominated the household in his father’s absence. He also had a close and controversial relationship with his sister-in-law, Kadambari Devi, who was his muse and inspiration for many of his works. She committed suicide in 1884, four months after Tagore’s marriage, which left him heartbroken and depressed.


Personal Life & Family

Rabindranath Tagore married Mrinalini Devi, a 10-year-old girl, in 1883 when he was 22 years old. The marriage was arranged by his father, who wanted him to settle down and take care of the family estates. Tagore and Mrinalini had five children: two daughters, Madhurilata and Renuka, and three sons, Rathindranath, Samindranath, and Soumendranath. However, Tagore also had a close and controversial relationship with his sister-in-law, Kadambari Devi, who was his muse and inspiration for many of his works. She committed suicide in 1884, four months after Tagore’s marriage, which left him devastated and depressed. Tagore also faced many tragedies in his personal life: he lost his father in 1905, his wife in 1902, his daughter Renuka in 1903, and his youngest son Soumendranath in 1907.


Later Life & Death

Rabindranath Tagore continued to write and travel until his last years. He also became involved in various social and educational projects such as rural reconstruction, women’s empowerment, environmental protection, etc. He was a vocal supporter of Mahatma Gandhi’s non-violent movement for India’s independence and also advocated for Hindu-Muslim unity. He also wrote and spoke against the rise of fascism and nationalism in Europe and Asia. He was a friend and mentor to many prominent Indian leaders such as Jawaharlal Nehru, Subhas Chandra Bose, Sarojini Naidu, etc. He also influenced many other writers and artists such as W.B. Yeats, Ezra Pound, R.K. Narayan, Pablo Neruda, etc.

Tagore suffered from various health problems in his later years, such as high blood pressure, chronic pain, infections, etc. He also lost his eyesight gradually and became almost blind by 1940. He died on August 7, 1941, at the age of 80 at his home in Kolkata. He was cremated at the banks of the Ganges River and his ashes were scattered in the water.


Some Unknown Information


  • Rabindranath Tagore was a polymath who mastered over a dozen languages such as Bengali, Sanskrit, English, Hindi, Persian, French, German, etc.
  • Rabindranath Tagore was a vegetarian and an animal lover who kept many pets such as dogs, cats, birds, monkeys, etc.
  • Rabindranath Tagore was an avid reader who read books on various subjects such as philosophy, religion, science, history, literature, etc.
  • Rabindranath Tagore was a pioneer of Indian cinema who wrote and directed the first Bengali talkie film called Natir Puja in 1932.
  • Rabindranath Tagore was a Nobel laureate who renounced his knighthood in protest of the Jallianwala Bagh massacre in 1919.
  • Rabindranath Tagore was a visionary who foresaw the dangers of nuclear weapons and environmental degradation in his writings.
  • Rabindranath Tagore was a mystic who had many spiritual experiences and visions throughout his life.
  • Rabindranath Tagore was a feminist who advocated for women’s rights and education in his works.
  • Rabindranath Tagore was a humanitarian who donated most of his royalties and prize money to various causes such as famine relief, education, health care, etc.
  • Rabindranath Tagore was a legend who is revered as a national icon and a cultural ambassador of India and Bengal.