Rabindranath Tagore and Rabindrasangeet

9th may was Rabindra Jayanti, Rabindranath Tagore’s birthday. Hyderabad Bengali Samity had arranged a small culture function. And I got a chance to sing two group songs, both rabindrasangeet. Anyways I don’t sing anything other than rabindrasangeet. That is the only kind of music that touches my heart. I am not trying put down other types of songs or music. May be I have not yet developed the ear for other kind of music.

I am a huge fan of Rabindranath Tagore and his songs. I truly believe that he is one of the greatest poets ever born on this earth. You have only to feel the emotions in the words of the songs and poems to realize his greatness. And among so many songs, you will find songs for each moment of the day, each emotion of human mind, each season. Whether you are in love, or you are praying, or you are praising nature, or you are sad, or you are a revolutionary, you will definitely find a song that suits your situation. And always the emotion is so beautifully expressed in his words, that it feels that those words are the only words that can express those feelings. May be that is why, rabindrasangeet plays such an important role in the life of a Bengali. It is the soul, it is the voice of a Bengali.

People from other parts of India and world make fun of Bengalis as a community crazy about Rabindranath Tagore. But anyone who can once taste the true flavor of his songs and poems, is bound to become his fan. People call him arrogant, but when does a genius like him have time to socialize! And as someone who knows his craft, isn’t he allowed to have some amount of self confidence and arrogance. People talk about his womanizing and philandering ways. But who are we to talk about his character! Even if I spend a lifetime trying to write a poem, I cannot write even one poem as beautifully as him, and he has written thousands of such poems. He has given us a gift, a collection of very beautiful songs, he has shown us the way to express our feelings, and that’s all that matters to me.
I still remember the day when I went to see Jora Shanko Thakur Bari, the house he grew up in. Unfortunately it was a Monday, the day when all museums in India remain closed, so I couldn’t see the museum. But when I walked in the garden, entered the main door, saw the veranda and balcony, I was almost shivering with emotions, that all these have been touched and used by the great man, a man who had such beautiful thoughts, I could almost feel his presence. He almost appeared god-like to me that day, as if I have come to a temple and I can feel and connect to the god in the temple. I am sure many have experienced the same emotions as me. I would like to know what others have to say on this topic :)