2018-05-07 Mon

Rabindranath Tagore was also known as Gurudev, he was one of the most heroic poets of India when the country was going through a chaotic period during the British rule.

Often hailed as “The bard of Bengal” or “The poet of the poets”, Tagore was a person who expertise in significant numbers of different subject areas. He reshaped Bengali literature, music, as well as Indian art with contextual modernism in the twentieth century.

He was born on 7th May 1861 to Debendranath Tagore and Sarada Davi in the Jorasanko mansion. He was the most admired Indian writer who introduced India’s rich cultural heritage to the West and was the first non-European to be bestowed the prestigious Nobel Prize (1913).

At the age of 16, he released his first substantial poems under the pseudonym Bhanusimha. In 1882, he wrote one of his acclaimed poems, Nirjharer Swapnabhanga. His major work consists of Manasi, Galpaguchha, Naivedya, Khaya, and Gitanjali.

His novels, stories, songs, dance-dramas, and essays spoke to topics political and personal. His compositions were chosen by two nations as national anthems: India’s Jana Gana Mana and Bangladesh’s Amar Shonar Bangla.

In 1915, he was granted knighthood by the British crown, which he renounced after 1919 Jalianwala Bagh massacre.

Even today, decades after his death, this saint-like man, lives through his works in the hearts of the people of Bengal who are forever indebted to him for enriching their heritage. To commemorate this great person India has issued various postage stamps in numerous theme.

Image Source: Mintage World