Rabindranath's writings translated into other languages

A remarkable incident occurred on 16 September 1901, (last day of the month Bhadra, 31st Bhadra). Bipin Chandra Paul (1858-1912), a leader of  the Brahmmo Samaj, obtained a  Manchestor scholarship from  the British and Foreign Unitarian Association started for London on 21 September 1898 to study Comparerative Religion in New Manchestor College of Oxford. But after one year he returned home having gone to London and America on a propaganda tour to preach the theory of an unitarian  god and temperence. He had an wide range of experience in journalism and he sarted publishing a weekly English magazine in the title New India.   Under the banner of  'A Weekly Record and Review of Modern Thought & amp; Life' the first issue of the magazine was published on 12 August 1901.The magazine intended mainly to publish articles on Political and Social thoughts but cultural and literary articles were  also welcome. On 16 September 1901, an English translation of 'Subha' ( firts published in Magh 1299 in Sadhana), the short story written by Rabindranath was published. Nivedita, with the help of Jagadish Chandra, had already translated into English the three short stories:  Kabuliwallah, Chuti, and Danpratidan in November 1900. But those translations were not published due to the non-cooperation of the editor of a magazine in England. The credit of the first appearence thus went to 'Subha' translated into English by Jatindra Mohan Bagchi. 

This news was brought to readers notice by an essay, titled 'First English Translation of Rabindranath's short story' written by Samir Roychoudhury and published in New India on 4 November. He mentioned in his article the translation of the story Bicharak titled 'The Judge' as the first English translation, which was not correct.   

Rabindranath O Bangadarshan (contd-1)

Bangadarshan a monthly literary journal was founded in 1872 by Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay (1838-1894), who also served as its editor up to April 1876 and was its main contributor. Though his editorship lasted for  only four years, its contribution to Bangla language and literature, especially, in the formation of Bangla prose, is immense. The language employed by Bangadarshan was Sadhu Bhasa, chaste Bangla, of a high standard. It published essays on literature, society, science, politics, religion and philosophy as well as novels.

Although Bankim Chandra was its main contributor, other writers too contributed to Bangadarshan, among them, Gangacharan, Ramdas Sen, Akshoy Sarker and Chandranath Basu. Bankim Chandra's, 'Bandemataram' was first published in this journal. After Bankim, his brothers Sanjib Chander Chattopadhyay and Srish Chandra edited the journal for some time.  Bangadarshan reflected the ideas of contemorarily Bengali intelligentia.                   

Rabindranath O Bangadarshan

Sailesh Chandra and Shrish Chandra were requesting Rabindranath to take the charge of editing  Bangadarshan in the new order for long time. After his arrival in Calcutta Sailesh Chandra multiplied his presure many timeson Rabindranath which could be well imagined and at last made him  to give his consent. He wrote, subsequently, in-spite of his full hearted support his name was put in the place. He had sufficient reasons for his hesitation to become the heir of a  person who had good reputation in the field concerned. But he had always been defeated by the opponents in the midst of several requests from different sources.He wrote this in a letter dated 27th April to Radhakishore who in turn encouraged him to accept  it and assured him all possible help.Bangadarshan began to publish in the new order since 15th May,1901 ( Wednessday, 1 Jaishtha) which was mentioned in the catalogue of books of Bengal Library. Before that advertisement was given in The Bengalee magazine on 18 April and 29 April under the heading " to be published from the end of Bysakh next.  A highly interesting novel by Rabindranath Tagore will appear from the first month."  In the advertisement there was invitation to become subscriber.with a guarantee of making the new series worthy as the old was..

Rabindranath O Jagadish Chandra (contd-3)

Rabindranath had a strong passion for science and appreciated scientists. The respect he had for Jagadish Chandra was really remarkable.
After the lavish wedding he threw for Madhurilata, which many of his friend could not attend, he wrote to Jagadish Chandra that he was unlucky that none of his friend was able to attend the ceremony. Jagadish Chandra was in London, Loken was out of station, Maharaja was at Agartala and so on. This was the first marriage ceremony he organised and he regretted the absence of his friends. But his disappointment was compensated by the news of the success of his friend, Jagadish Chandra. On 10 May in London, (the marriage of Madhurilata was held on 15th June 1901), the lecture delivered by Jagadish Chandra on the subject of his research paper The Response of Inorganic Matter to Mechanical and Electrical Stimulus created a great sensation among foreign scientists. The news was published in the magazine Electrician on 17 May which was narrated with documents to Rabindranath in a letter by Jagadish Chandra and his wife Abala Bose. Rabindranath replied in his letter of 4 June with a note in a sanskrit sloka, "Dhanyohang Kritakrityohang" : 'I'm moving in a new world after receiving your letter since morning. The marriage ceremony of Bela (Madhurilata) will take place within 10/11 days. The news of your success will make the joy of the ceremony double. You have kindled the ceremony by  unseen rays of your glory.'
Jagadish Chandra not only sent his good news but also sent a book, the biography of Joan of Arc,  as a present for the new couple and requested Rabindranath to convey his blessings to them. In his reply (3 July) Rabindranath said that he would hand over the book and convey the blessings and that she (Bela) would be glad to receive the book and would read it carefully. In the letter Rabindranath expressed his grief of the attitude of Loken, who did not write a single word to him or to Bela, but remained absorbed in merrymaking in London.
The king of Tripura, Radhakishore, also wrote a letter on 11 June, conveying his blessing to the newly married couple and expressed his sorrow at his inability of attending the ceremony as he was in Darjeeling for medical treatment of the queen of  Tripura.        

First Felicitation of Rabindranath

Rabindranath reached Madhurilata to her husband's place at Muzzafarpur, Bihar.
Anurupa Devi (1882-1958), grand daughter of the great Bhudev Mukopadhaya, was married with Shekharnath Bandyopadhaya, the friend of Sarat Kumar, and began to reside in Muzzafarpur. She wrote about Madhurilata there. 
Madhurilata took up the role of extending  female education in the orthodox society of Muzzafarpur.
Probably, Rabindranath got his first felicitation in Muzzafarpur. This news was published in Bhaadra-issue of Prabasi.The news read as follows,
"A meeeting was convened to felicitate Rabindranath on 1st Shraban....". This was written by Aghorenath Chattopadhyaya. 

Influence of Shivaji on Rabindranath

In the Baishakh issue of 'Bharati',  Sakharam Ganesh Deoki  published a few 'Historical Letters' (p. 62-71) on which Rabindranath commented as above. He had a deep regard for Shivaji.
He tried to identify synonyms in Bengali for words commonly used in science. In this respect he praised Mahalanabish's essay in Bengali on a science subject. He translated 'centripetal force' and 'centrifugal force' in Bengali as "kendranuga" and "kendratiga" which Upendrakishore termed as "kendrabhisarini" and "kendrapagamini". 

(Video)Chhath Song - 2 and Rabindranath

Rabindranath commented on "Chatt Parab and Chak Chanda" written by Rajendrachandra Bandyopadhaya  and published in Baishakh issue of "Bharati'  and said that these are the description of female rituals of Bihar. Such folk rituals should be collected from different provinces. The content of folk songs are very interesting to study.

Marriage of first daughter at 15 and the second at the age of 10.

Madhurilata, first daughter of Rabindranath, was born on 25 October 1886 and was  married on 15 June 1901, i.e., when she was 15 years and his second daughter Renuka was born on 23 January 1891 and was married on 17 July 1901 (within one month of the marriage of his elder daughter) when she was 10 years old. Other than becoming a world famous poet Rabindranath had two great qualities. He was, amongst his all brothers, a true heir of his father relating to worldly affairs, and he was an efficient negotiator in domestic affairs. He arranged the marraige of his elder daughter with a son of the poet Biharilal Chakraborty after  long negotiation  via Priya Nath Sen, the neighbour of Biharilal Chakraborty, the details of which had been unearthed by Prasanta Prasanta Kumar Paul in his book "Rabijibani".  After long negotiation the marriage of Madhurilata was settled with a dowry of Rs. 10,000.00 only.    

The initial demand from the groom's side was for a dowry of Rs.20,000.  Rabindranath returned to  for final round of talks but on hearing their demand and managed to halve the amount.

(From left) Mira, Rathindra, Rabindranath, Daughter-in-law (Pratima), and Madhurilata.

Within one month of the marriage of the eldest daughter, Madhurilata, the second daughter Renuka or Rani was married to Satyendranath Bhattacharya, an LMS  passed Doctor. After his marriage Satyendranath was sent to  America for studying Homeopathy.

At the time of her marriage, Bela (Madhurilata) was 15 years old and Renuka was 10 years. Since Renuka was so young, there was no ceremony for 'bed of flowers' (phulsajya, in such cases the custom was to have second marriage after the girl had attained womanhood.)
It could be mentioned here that Rabindranath himself was against the child marriage. But he was unable to implement it in his family life. He said himself that 'the poet was not as he appeared in his writings'.
Child marriage was the rule in Tagore's family. Only exceptions were Indira Devi and Sarala Devi, because their fathers lived outside the perview of Jorasanko. The other members of Tagore family were dependent on Maharshi Devendranath.
After marriage, Bela went to Muzaffarpur to live with her husband, Saratchandra and Renuka remained with her parents till she attained womanhood and she had a second marriage after that.

Family of Rabindranath

Rabindranath and Bangadarshan

Rabindranath, in 1901, took the charge of editing Bangadarshan, a monthly literary journal founded in 1872 by Bankimchandra (1838-1894), who also served as editor up to April 1876 and was its main contributor.
The financial responsibility was undertaken by Sailesh Chandra Majumdar, brother of Srish Chandra, who opened  a publishing agency in the name of 'Majumdar Agency'. He also took the responsibility of publishing many books of Rabindranath. A club known as  Alochana Sabha,  comprising of literary persons was organised with the publishing agency as  its center. Many essays written by Rabindranath was first read there. Many such organizations started functioning from this place.
Rabindranath created a novel, 'Chokher Bali', for Bangadarshan. A few days earlier he had started writing a story named Binodini. He converted this story to Chokher Bali for Bangadarshan. Rabindranath had until that time focused on writing short stories and 'Nashtanir' was among one his last stories. His next project was a novel with a revolutionary plot.
'Bishbriksha', when written by Bankimchandra, had been a new experience for Bengali readers.  In Chokher Bali, they first encountered a novel with psycho-analysis.  In the mean time Rabindranath enunciated the relation between country and god in the kabyagrantha, Naibedya.  He wanted to express the same idea in prose in Bangadarshan. Thus he wrote, "when India was great, she was great in all respects-in vigor and wealth, in knowledge and religion, in national and international policies."

1901, Rabindranath at 40

At the age of forty Rabindranath started writing poetry later to be published as 'Naibedya'.
Sushitala or Sushi, the widow of Balendranath, was staying at her father's residence in Allahabad. She had been brought home by her mother after the death of Balendranath. An attempt was made from her paternal house to get her married again. Learning this, Rabindranath was sent to Allahabad by Maharshi to fetch Sushi from her paternal house. The other two branches of Brahmo Samaj were in favor of arranging marriage of widows but the Adi-Brahmo Samaj to which Maharshi belonged was against widow marriage. It might be mentioned here that after the death of Renuka (second daughter of Rabindranath) Rabindranath arranged the marriage of his son-in-law with an widow and got Rathindra married with a child-widow Pratima . The mother of late Balendranath wrote that she got her daughter-in-law, Sahana, admitted to an English School so that she might get solace in education. Peace of mind might be regained if one got real education.
Ramananda Chattopadhyaya was the Principal of Allahabad Kayastha College. Rabindranath wanted to meet him. Two influential magazines were  published at that time, part from Bangadarshan, the other was  'Prabasi' edited by Ramananda Chattopadhyaya.

He wrote many poems for 'Naibedya', essays and the novel  'Chokher Bali' for Bangadarshan.
Madhurilata, the first daughter of Rabindranath, was married with advocate Saratchandra of Mazaffarpur and son of poet Biharilal Chakraborty, the inspiration of Rabindranath in his early age.  Saratchandra had to adopt Bahmmo religion to get married with Madhurilata according to the custom of Tagore family. The marriage was negotiated by Priyanath Sen.
Rabindranath was given felicitation at the Mukherjee Seminary in Muzaffarpur, Bihar, when he went there with his daughter to leave her at her husband's place.. This was the first felicitation given to him. He started Residential School at Santiniketan with five students and five teachers, namely, Brahmmabandhab, Rebachand, Jagadananda Roy, Sibdhan Bidyarnab, and Lorence.

Rabindranath and Jagadish Chandra (contd-2)

"In a large forest the trees shed their dry leaves one by one in profusion thus making the soil underneath fertile. In a country where there is continuous research in science, knowledge of it in fragmentary bits is being spread constantly. This is how one's heart's soil is quickened, becoming fertile with an alive feeling in science.It is the loss of it that has left our mind unscientific . We feel the impoverishment not only in our education , but also in the field of our occupation where we are bowed with frustration." wrote Rabindranath Tagore titled "Our Universe".
Rabindranath gave up the responsibility of editing "Bharati" and became free for tme being as he had done in the cases of  "Balaka' and "Sadhana". Rabindranath invited Jagadish Chandra Bose to come to Shilaidah. Jagadish Chandra went to Shilaidah sometime in April, 1899. Jagadish Chandra brought a few seeds from Shilaidah, just for curiosity's sake. After coming back home Jagadish Chandra wrote to Rabindranath that butterfly did not come out. He agian went to Shilaidah on 10 March 1900. He came back and wrote to Rabindranath that it was full moon when he returned home and asked Rabindranath to send him his written short stories.
Patrick Geddes wrote that once on receiving an invitation from the poet to stay with him at his house at Shilaidah on the river Padma, Bose accepted it with the demand of the fullest and highest hospitality his friend could render him - that of a new  story to be written every day and read to him every evening.
Jagadish Chandra had close relation with the children of Tagore.
Rabindranath was younger to Jagadish Chandra by 3 years but he felt pride for the affection he got from him.
Sangeet Samaj would stage 'Bisarjan' at the reception of Maharaja of Tripura on16 Dec 1901. Rabindranath received a letter written by Jagadish Chandra dated 2nd Nov 1901 intimating him the progress of his research work in England. Rabindranath was much pleased to know the love and respect Jagadish Chandra possessed for the country. He also came to learn that it would have been better for Jagadish Chandra if he could stay some few days more there. Rabindranth arranged financial aid to Jagadish Chandra from Maharaja of Tripura.

Rabindranath and Jagadishchandra (contd-1)

The relation between Rabindranath and Jagadishchandra Bose was well expressed in the book of Selected Letters and the Poetry of Rabindranath Tagore addressed to Jagadish Chandra Bose on two occasions.  Prasanta Kumar Pal, in his book 'Rabijibani' (p.148-149) wrote that  Jagadishchndra recorded by phonograph the Brahmasangeet sung by Rabindranath at Presidency College in 1891 but the relation between Rabindranath and Jagadishchandra  became close from this time (from 1897). The biographer of Jagadish Chandra Bose, Patrick Geddes, described in his book : 'on the occasion of Bose's return (April 1897) from his successful visit in Europe in 1896, Tagore called to congratulate him and, not finding him at home, left on his work table a great blossom of magnolia, as a fitting and characteristic message of regard. Since that tme the two were increasingly together, each complementing and thereby widening and deepening the other's characteristic outlook on nature and life. Rabindranath himself recognised this.  On 2 November 1900, he wrote from London that though Jagadishchandra was practically an unknown to him three years ago, the latter's affection had made it impossible for Rabindranath not to reciprocate.                                                                                                  

Rabindranath and Jagadish Chandra Bose

(From top left) C.V.Raman, Meghnad Saha, Homi Bhaba, J.C.Bose, Srinivasa, Ramanujan, S.Chandra Sekhar, Hargobind Khorana, S.N.Bose, Jayanta Narlikar, E.c.George Sudarshan. Bose and Patents: Bose was not interested in patenting his invention. In his friday evening Discourse at the Royal Institution, London, he made public his construction of the coherer. Thus the electric engineer expressed "surprise that no secret was at anytime made as to its construction, so that it has been open to all the world to adopt it for practical and possibly money making purposes."  Bose declined an offer from a wireless apparatus manufacturer for signing a remunerative agreement. One of Bose's American friends, Sara Chapman Bull, succeeded in persuading him to file a patent application on 30 September 1901 and it was granted as US patent 755840 on 29 march 1904.

Speaking in NewDelhi in August 2006, at a seminar titled Owning the Future:Ideas and The Role in the Digital age, Dr. V.S.Ramamurthy, the Chairman of the Board of Governors of IIT, Delhi, stressed the attitude of Bose towards patents: "His reluctance to any form of patenting is well known. It was contained in his letter to (Indian Nobel Laureate) Rabindranath Tagore dated 17 May 1901 from London. It was not that Sir Jagadish Chandra was unaware of patents and its advantages. He was the first Indian to get a US Patent ( No:755840) in 1904. And Sir Jagadish was not alone in his avowed reluctance to patenting. Roentgen, Pierre, Curie and others also chose the path of no patenting on moral grounds."  Bose also recorded his attitude towards patents in his inaugural lecture at the foundation of the Bose Institute on 30 November 1917.

Rabindranath as an Acharya in Shantiniketan

At the Paush Utsab on 31 October 1899, Rabindranath delivered a lecture on Upanishad Brahma. Satyendranath Tagore inaugurated the building of the Brahmabidyalaya, proposed by Balendranath, by opening the door and said in his inaugural speech that  the Brahmabidyalaya was established there, in a solitary place, to gather Brahmabidya. (This building is now converted to the central Library of Vishwa Bharati.)
The joint business of Balendranath, Surendranath and Rabindranath ended up making major losses and
the loss had to be made up either by borrowing money from other sources or waiting till the loss was made up by the profit it could earn. But Rabindranath did not want to wait. He wanted to close immediately the chapter of his failure.  His nature was to suppress defects by any means. He borrowed money from his friend Taraknath Palit and repaid the loan with the amount received by him from the lecture he delivered in America in 1917.

The lecture , on Upanishad Brahma, of Rabindranath delivered at Shantiniketan on Paush Utsab in 1899 was translated in English "The God of the Upanishad". Probably the translation was done by Satyendranath Tagore.   

School at Shilaidah, Pre-Shantiniketan

Rabindranath established his first school at Kuthibadi, Shilaidah for his children. He appointed an Englishman, Allen Lorence,  as an English teacher. Jagadanada Roy came as a teacher of Mathematics, a staff of the Tagore Estate. As a Sanskrit teacher, Shibdhan Bidyarnab was appointed. Rabindranath himself began to spend much time educating his children. Rabindranath's income from his estate was improving. He started writing 'Kanika', as meaningful as Chanakya Slok. In 1899, he started writing story in poetry, Katha O Kahini.Sometimes he wrote in prose also.
The young section of Bangiya Sahitya Parishad was now in favour of holding their activities in a separate building and not in Sova Bazar Rajbadi. Ultimately they won with the vote of Rabindranath. Manindra Chandra Nandi gifted a plot of land at Lower Circular Road to the Parishad. Rabindranath was among the list of receivers.

( this is a very rare picture )LUNCH AT THE 'Kuthibari' at Shilaidaha with family members. Tagore's wife and children moved to Shilaidaha in 1899, and the family lived there until Tagore moved to Santiniketan to found his school in 1901.

 — withShamima Jhumur, Tasmina Tuli, Manatosh Suter,Rony Syed Zakir Ahmed, Jayanta Ghosh, Wahid Pretom, Rumi Noman and Shamim Shago

Rabindranath brought his family to Shilaidah.

Jorasanko was full of families of the relatives of the Tagore family. Each family had its own ideas about the education of their wards. Rabindranath did not like the teaching methods of the then Indian schools. His first daughter Bela was then 11 years old, Rathindranath was 9, Renuka 7, Mira 4, and Shamindra 1. Hence at least three of them were to be admitted in Schools. Rabindranath brought all of them and his wife to Shilaidah and began to lead a family life. He wrote in his letter that he was eager to bring them to the lonely village from the luxurious building of Jorasanko. He also wrote a poem. He then started a school, the first one in his life, in his home. 
A school building was started in Shantiniketan  according to the plan of Balendranath Tagore with the intention of starting a Center for Culture of Brahma Bidya.
After three years Rabindranath began his residential School there in the name of 'Brahmacharyarshram'.
Balendranath died on 22 August 1899, after severe struggle against his ailment at the age of 30 years.