Rabindranath Tagore

Rabindranath Tagore (May 6, 1861 - August 7, 1941) was the son of Debendranath Tagore[?], the leader of one of two Brahmo Samaj[?] splinter groups.

He was born in Calcutta, West Bengal, India.

Tagore was known as a poet rather than as a formal philosopher, but these two arts are rarely far apart in Indian civilisation, just as in France, for example, philosophy seems closely tied to drama. An implicit philosophy can be seen in Tagore's poetry. The main literary device by means of which Tagore communicated his religio-philosophical views was that of "bridal mysticism". This entails seeing oneself as the bride of God, with a complete submission to and adoration of the divine bridegroom.

The importance of Tagore as a figure in literary history can be seen in the fact that he wrote the lyrics for the national anthems of not one, but two countries (India and Bangladesh). He won the Nobel Prize in literature in 1913, the first non-westerner to receive this honour.

External links

e-texts of some of Rabindranath Tagore's works:

• Chitra, a play in one act (http://www.abacci.com/books/book.asp?bookID=368)
• The Crescent Moon (http://www.abacci.com/books/book.asp?bookID=2662)
• Fruit-Gathering (http://www.abacci.com/books/book.asp?bookID=2660)
• The Hungry Stones And Other Stories (http://www.abacci.com/books/book.asp?bookID=950)
• The King of the Dark Chamber (http://www.abacci.com/books/book.asp?bookID=2661)
• The Post Office (http://www.abacci.com/books/book.asp?bookID=2659)
• Songs of Kabir (http://www.abacci.com/books/book.asp?bookID=2663)
• Stray Birds (http://www.abacci.com/books/book.asp?bookID=2658)