Saturday, September 11, 2010

Balaka Era, Indira Devichoudhurani

Rabindranath wrote a bundle of poems for 'Sishu', a Kabyagrantha that is popular even today. He wrote another set of poems for 'Sishu' in the 1903 when he was in Almorah. Both the set of poems were edited and published by Mohit Chandra Sen in that year. This was the first instance when the voice of children got an expression, appealing to children in its taste, colour and rhyme. He transformed the story 'Mukut', suitable for staging by children and gave 'Rajarshi' the form of drama in the name 'Bisarjan'. Simultaneously, he maintained his quota for 'Bharati' and wrote 'Pushpanjali' which he dedicated to 'Bauthan' in her sad memory. Also wrote a satire 'Rasikatar Phalaphal' for Bharati. Then he went to Hazaribagh accompanying Indira Devi and Surendranath (children of Satyendranath). Here he wrote 'Chotonagpur' and 'Misc. Essays'.
Indira Devi wrote an essay describing her journey with Rabikaka. She didn't forget to mention that amongst the large family and its members, Jyotikaka and Rabikaka were very close to them. The relation with Rabikaka became intimate when he came to England to stay in their house.This time Rabikaka took her to Hazribagh Convent. It was at a distance from the station. One had to go there with the help of a 'Push Push' car, some sort of a big palanquin. To move in the night through this forest was dangarous due to bears and tigers. After reaching Hazaribagh they took rest in a 'Dakbanglo'. She could remember that there was a picture of Rabikaka lying on an easychair in that place in 'Balaka' published some days ago. The picture, drawn by an artist, bore some resmblance to Rabindranath.