Page 27 - DENG202_ELECTIVE_ENGLISH_III

Elective English—III

Notes Tagore’s involvement and literary work challenged the contradictions of an unfair and unequal
world system and developed a new understanding of the society and the world in order to found
a concrete and universal humanism. The writings and paths of Tagore is a reflection at the
highest level of the interrelationship between the universal and the particular in understanding
the complicated procedures of modernity.
In this unit, you will learn all about Tagore, his life and works in diverse fields. How his
writings brought cultural as well as literary changes in the society and how he influenced
literature and people. You will also learn in detail about his play Chitra and will be able to
understand it.

3.1 About the Author

Rabindranath Tagore. the youngest of thirteen surviving children was born in the Jorasanko
mansion in Calcutta, India to Debendranath Tagore (1817–1905) and Sarada Devi (1830–1875).
The Tagore family came into prominence during the Bengal Renaissance that began during the
age of Hussein Shah (1493–1519). The original name of the Tagore family was Banerjee, however,
being Brahmins, their ancestors were called ‘Thakurmashai’ or ‘Holy Sir’. During the British
rule, this name stuck and they began to be known as Thakur and in due course the family name
got anglicised to Tagore. Tagore family patriarchs were the Brahmo organisers of the Adi
Dharm faith. The loyalist Prince Dwarkanath Tagore was his paternal grandfather. He employed
European estate managers and visited with Victoria and other royalty. Debendranath had framed
the Brahmoist philosophies adopted by his friend Ram Mohan Roy, and became pivotal in
Brahmo society after Roy’s demise.
Figure 3.1: Rabindranath Tagore

Source: http://southasiajournal.net/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/Tagore-01.jpg

Did u know? Rabindranath Tagore is best known for being the first non-European to be
awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1913.

3.1.1 Early Life 1861–1878

The young Tagore was brought up mostly by servants because his mother passed away when he
was too young and his father travelled extensively. His home hosted the publication of literary

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