Page 9 - NIS English February 16-28

I slept and dreamt that life was joy. I awoke
and saw that life was service. I acted and
behold, service was joy

-Rabindranath Tagore

FIRST NON-EUROPEAN TO
RECEIVE THE NOBEL PRIZE

‘Gurudev’ reshaped Bangla literature and
music. He also introduced India’s rich cultural
tradition to the West. In 1913, he became the
first non-European to receive the Nobel Prize
for Literature. One of the greatest poets of the
20th century, WB Yeats, was among those
who showered praise on Tagore’s Gitanjali. ‘GURUDEV’ AND HIS ‘MAHATMA’
India’s National Anthem ‘Jana Gana Mana’
Tagore was the first notable contemporary to
is taken from his hymn titled ‘Bharoto Bhagyo
refer to M K Gandhi as Mahatma. Gandhiji called
Bidhata’ while, Bangladesh’s National Anthem
him Gurudev. A mutual regard existed between
‘Amar Sonar Bangla’ is derived from the song
them even before the two actually met. But this
of the same name. He had also influenced Sri
regard continued even as they realised that they
Lankan National Anthem — ‘Sri Lanka Matha’.
had ideological differences. They accepted each
The anthem was written and composed by his
other’s criticism positively.
disciple Ananda Samarakoon.

MULTIFACETED BARD OF INDIA two parts, Tagore used his literature as a weapon.
There is hardly any genre of literature and art He exposed the depravity of the British rule through
which remained untouched by Tagore. Songs, poetry and literary works. He renounced his British
poems, novels, stories, dramas, sculptures and knighthood as “a symbolic act of protest” against
paintings, Tagore has world-famous creations the Jallianwala Bagh massacre.
in all these fields. He authored several novels,
including Gora, Ghare-Baire, Shesher Kabita INDIA CELEBRATES 100TH ANNIVERSARY
and Yogayog. He even translated many books OF VISVA-BHARATI UNIVERSITY
in English. The translation helped in spreading As India celebrated the 100th anniversary of
his name even in the West. His repute spread Visva-Bharati University, Prime Minister Narendra
manifold globally after the publication of Gitanjali Modi remembered Tagore and said, “The stream
— Song Offerings. He composed about 2,230 of ideology of India from Veda to Vivekananda was
songs, which are known as Rabindra Sangeet. also manifested in Gurudev’s idea of nationalism.
And this stream was not an inward one; it was not
USED LITERARY WORKS AS WEAPONS going to keep India separate from other countries of
AGAINST THE BRITISH the world. As per his vision, the world should benefit
When Lord Curzon, the Viceroy of India, from what is best in India and India should also learn
announced that the Bengal would be divided into from all the good in the world.”

New India Samachar 7