Biography (1861-1941)
Early Life and Family
Born on May 7, 1861, in Calcutta, Rabindranath Tagore entered one of Bengal’s most prominent families. The youngest of fourteen children, he grew up in a household that merged traditional Indian culture with Western influences.
Table of Contents
His father, Debendranath Tagore, led the Brahmo Samaj, a religious reform movement. His mother, Sarada Devi, died when he was young, leaving a lasting impact on his emotional development.
Education and Early Writing
- Started writing poetry at age 8
- Formal education began at Oriental Seminary
- Studied briefly at St. Xavier’s School
- Home-schooled in Sanskrit, science, and Western literature
- Published first poems under pseudonym “Bhanusimha” at age 16
Major Life Events
1878: Travels to England for formal education 1883: Marries Mrinalini Devi 1890: Begins managing family estates in East Bengal 1901: Establishes Shantiniketan school 1902: Wife Mrinalini dies 1913: Wins Nobel Prize in Literature 1915: Receives knighthood (returned in 1919) 1921: Establishes Visva-Bharati University 1941: Dies in Calcutta on August 7
Major Works and Publications for RPSC Second Grade
Poetry Collections
- “Manasi” (1890) – Early love poems
- “Sonar Tari” (1894) – Explored nature and spirituality
- “Gitanjali” (1910) – Nobel Prize-winning work (Very important for RPSC Second Grade)
- “Balaka” (1916) – Reflections on World War I
- “Puravi” (1925) – Late-life contemplations
Novels
- “Gora” (1910) – Explores nationalism and identity
- “Ghare Baire” (The Home and the World, 1916) – Political and personal relationships
- “Chokher Bali” (1903) – Social drama about widowhood
- “Jogajog” (1929) – Class conflict and marriage
- “Shesher Kobita” (1929) – Modern love and relationships
Short Story Collections
- “Galpaguchchha” (1900-1901) – Three-volume collection
- “Teen Sangi” (1940) – Late career stories
- “Golpoguccho” (1925) – Selected stories
Plays
- “Raja” (1910) – Symbolic drama
- “Dakghar” (The Post Office, 1912) – Spiritual allegory
- “Raktakarabi” (Red Oleanders, 1924) – Political allegory
- “Chitrangada” (1892) – Based on Mahabharata
Songs and Music
- Composed over 2,000 songs
- Created Rabindra Sangeet genre
- Wrote national anthems for India and Bangladesh
- “Jana Gana Mana” (1911) – Indian National Anthem
- “Amar Shonar Bangla” (1905) – Bangladesh National Anthem
Essays and Lectures
- “Nationalism” (1917) – Political philosophy
- “Creative Unity” (1922) – Cultural essays
- “The Religion of Man” (1931) – Spiritual philosophy
- “Crisis in Civilization” (1941) – Final lecture
Paintings and Visual Art
- Started painting at age 60
- Created over 2,000 works
- Held first exhibition in Paris (1930)
- Developed unique modernist style
Literary Themes
Major Themes in His Work
- Nature and its relationship with humans
- Love and romantic relationships
- Nationalism and freedom
- Spirituality and religion
- Social reform and justice
- Education and enlightenment
- Rural life and development
- Cultural unity and diversity
Writing Style
- Lyrical and metaphorical
- Blend of traditional and modern
- Simple yet profound language
- Strong emotional resonance
- Universal human themes
- Integration of nature imagery
- Musical quality in verse
Rabindranath Tagore: 10 Facts That Might Surprise You
Was Rabindranath Tagore Married?
Yes. Tagore married Mrinalini Devi in 1883 when he was 22.
Key facts about his marriage:
- It was arranged by his father
- Mrinalini was 10 years old at the time
- They had five children together
- She died in 1902, leaving Rabindranath Tagore a widower at 41
- He never remarried
Was Tagore a Freedom Fighter?
Yes and no. Tagore supported India’s independence but chose a different path than direct political action.
His contributions to freedom:
- Wrote patriotic songs and poems
- Rejected his knighthood after the Jallianwala Bagh massacre
- Criticized British colonial policies
- Supported economic self-reliance
- Built connections between Indian and Western cultures
But he stayed away from active politics and sometimes disagreed with Gandhi’s methods. He believed cultural awakening was more important than political struggle.
Was Tagore Indian?
Yes. Rabindranath Tagore was born in Calcutta (now Kolkata), India in 1861.
His Indian identity:
- Born into a prominent Bengali family
- Lived most of his life in Bengal
- First non-European to win the Nobel Prize in Literature
- Wrote in Bengali and English
- Created works that shaped modern Indian literature
- Composed the national anthems of India and Bangladesh
Was Tagore Rich?
Yes. Rabindranath Tagore came from one of Bengal’s wealthiest families.
His family’s wealth came from:
- Land ownership
- Business ventures
- Property investments
- Cultural patronage
- Trading activities
He used this wealth to:
- Fund Visva-Bharati University
- Support artists and writers
- Travel extensively
- Promote education
- Support rural development
Was Tagore Hindu?
Yes, but with a unique perspective. Rabindranath Tagore came from a Hindu family but developed his own spiritual outlook.
His religious views:
- Born into a Brahmo family
- Rejected traditional Hindu caste system
- Wrote extensively about spirituality
- Believed in a personal relationship with the divine
- Drew inspiration from various religions
- Created his own form of spiritual practice
Was Tagore Bengali?
Yes. Rabindranath Tagore was Bengali by birth, culture, and literary expression.
His Bengali identity:
- Born in Kolkata, Bengal
- Wrote primarily in Bengali
- Transformed Bengali literature
- Composed Rabindra Sangeet
- Celebrated Bengali culture
- Shaped Bengali intellectual life
Was Tagore Color Blind?
No, there’s no historical evidence that Rabindranath Tagore was color blind.
In fact:
- He was a painter
- Started painting at age 60
- Created vibrant works of art
- Used bold colors in his paintings
- Demonstrated clear color perception
- His artwork shows strong color relationships
Was Tagore a Social Reformer?
Yes. Rabindranath Tagore worked actively for social change.
His reform efforts included:
- Promoting women’s education
- Fighting against child marriage
- Supporting rural development
- Creating new educational methods
- Working for Hindu-Muslim unity
- Opposing caste discrimination
- Establishing Visva-Bharati University
Was Tagore Vegetarian?
No. Historical records show Tagore was not vegetarian.
His diet included:
- Fish
- Meat
- Bengali cuisine
- Traditional Bengali dishes
- International foods during his travels
While he wrote about compassion for all beings, he did not practice vegetarianism.
Was Tagore Christian?
No. Rabindranath Tagore was not Christian, though he respected Christian teachings.
His religious background:
- Born into a Hindu Brahmo family
- Developed his own spiritual philosophy
- Drew inspiration from multiple religions
- Wrote about Jesus and Christianity
- Maintained interfaith dialogue
- Believed in religious harmony
Key Facts About Rabindranath Tagore
Major achievements:
- Nobel Prize in Literature (1913)
- Knighthood (later returned)
- Wrote over 2,000 songs
- Published more than 50 volumes of poetry
- Created thousands of paintings
- Founded Visva-Bharati University
- Composed two national anthems
- Pioneered modern Indian art
- Translated his own works into English
- Traveled and lectured worldwide
Literary works:
- Gitanjali
- The Home and the World
- Gora
- Chokher Bali
- Post Office
- Red Oleanders
Legacy
Tagore’s influence continues through:
- His educational ideas
- Literary works
- Musical compositions
- Artistic innovations
- Social reforms
- Cultural bridge-building
- Philosophical writings
His work shaped modern Indian literature and thought, while his ideas about education and culture remain relevant today.
Impact on Modern India
Tagore’s contributions live on through:
- Educational institutions
- Cultural programs
- Literary traditions
- Musical heritage
- Artistic movements
- Social reform ideas
- International cultural exchange
He remains a towering figure in Indian culture, art, and thought, inspiring new generations to explore creativity, spirituality, and social progress.
Additional Resources
Major Translations
- “Gitanjali” – English translation by the author (1912)
- “The Home and the World” – English translation (1919)
- “Selected Poems” – Various translators
- “The Heart of God” – Prayers translated to English
Research Centers
- Rabindra Bhavana, Shantiniketan
- Tagore Centre for Literature
- Rabindra Bharati University
- National Library Tagore Collection
Digital Archives
- Bichitra: Online Tagore Variorum
- Rabindra Rachanabali Digital Edition
- UNESCO Tagore Archives
- World Digital Library Tagore Collection
