Rabindra Jayanti

A Celebration of Rabindranath Tagore’s work and philosophy

This slideshow contains translations of Rabindranath’s poems made by a few people who put together a presentation to celebrate his life. Note that these slides were meant to accompany singing performances for the benefit of the audience. All translations are imperfect and should be considered as evolving work. Please feel free to copy and improve this as you see fit.

Version 1.0

THE STANFORD HINDU STUDENTS COUNCIL

PRESENTS

RABINDRA JAYANTI

2005

CELEBRATING TAGORE

Where the mind is without fear and the head is held high Where knowledge is freeWhere the world has not been broken up into fragments By narrow domestic walls

Where words come out from the depth of truthWhere tireless striving stretches its arms towards perfectionWhere the clear stream of reason has not lost its way Into the dreary desert sand of dead habitWhere the mind is led forward by Thee Into ever-widening thought and actionInto that heaven of freedom, my Father, let my country awake

From- Rabindranath Tagore's Geetanjali

Hey Nuton Dekha Dik Aarbaar Janmero

Prothomo Shubhokhaan

Hey Nuton Dekha Dik Aarbaar Janmero Prothomo Shubhokhaan

Hey nuton,Dekha dik aar-baarJanmer pratham subhokhan.Tomaro prakash hog,Kuhulika kori udhgatanShurjer moton.Riktata-r bakkha bhediAapnar-e karo unmochan.Byakta hok jivener jaya,Byakta hokToma-majhe asima-r chir-bismay.Uday-digante shankh baaje,More chitta-majheChir-nutoner-e dilo daakPacchis-e baisakh.

O invigorating one,Reveal yourself again-and-againBeautiful first moments of your birthMay your light manifest itselfTo penetrate the mistLike the Sun.Piercing the embodiment of emptinessReveal yourself to us.Let there be assertion of Life’s triumphIn you, let there be expression Of that ever-wondrous limitless.In the morning horizon,The conch plays within my heart.Ever-new has been calledthe 25th of Baisakh.

Tagore & Social Reform

Aamaar Maatha Nato Korey

Amaar Maatha Nato Korey

Amaar maatha nato korey dao hey tomarCharano dhularo toleyShakalo ahankaare aamaarDobaao chokher jale amaarNije rey korite gauraba daanNije rey kebali kori apamaanAponaare shudhu gheriya gheryiaGhure mori paley paleyAmare na jano kori prochaarAmaro apono kaajeyTomari iccha koro hey purnaAmaro jibano majheyJachi hey tomaro charomo shantiPoraney tomar karamo kantiAmare Aar Koriya DaaraoHridaya Padda Daley

Lower my headBeneath the dust of Thy feetDrown my self-conceitIn the depth of my tears.In order to glorify myselfI constantly insult my (inner) selfDead tired I become, revolving around myself.May I not promote myselfIn any of my deeds.Fulfill Thy mission, O Lord,Through this life of mine.Grant me Thy ultimate peace, Thy permanent grace in life.Let the lotus heart feel Thy presence As the shield of love.

Bajilo Kahar Beena

Bajilo kahar bina, Modhur swareyAmar nibhrito nabo jibon poreyProbhat kamalsamo Uthilo Hridoy

MamoKar duti nirupamo charantoreyJege otho sab shova, sob madhuriPalokey palokey hia, pulokey puriKotha hotey somiron, aaney nabo

jagoranPoraner aboron mochano koreyLaage bukey, sukhey dukhey kato je

bethaKemoney bujhaye kabo na jani kothaAmar basona aaji, tribhuboney uthey

baajiKaapey nodi banoraji,bedonabhorey

Whose lyre(veena) is playing such a sweet tune

At the feet of my silent, new lifeLike a morning lotus, my heart blossomsFor whose two beautiful feetWake up all slumberers, all inebriatedWakes up every moment my heart and fills my

homeFrom where the wind brings a new awakeningBreaking the cover of lifeMy heart feels the pain of happiness and

sorrowI do not have words to explainMy desire today rings out in the three-worldsCausing the river and the forests to tremble in

pain

Bajilo Kahar Beena

Tumi Kemon Korey Gaan Koro Hey Guni

Tum Kaise Sur Mein Gaa Rahey Hey Guni

Tum Kaise Sur Mein Gaa Rahey Hey Guni

Tum kaise sur mein gaa rahe, Hey guniMain to awaak, hoke sunoo, kewal sunooSur ki abha chaye bhuvan meinSur ki hawa bahe gagan meinPathar toote vyakul veg meinBahe jaa rahi sur ki surdwani Man karta hai tere jaisa gaaoonKanth mein main swar khoj na paaoonKehna kya hai kehte kanth roondheHaar maankar praan merae royeMujhpar tune daale kaise phandeChouhun ho rahi sur ki jaalbuni

How dost thou sing so melodiously,O Talented One!Amazed, I listen captivated, I simply listen.The glow of your melody pervades this UniverseThe breeze of Your melody floats across the skyStones break in its gutsy forceAnd it flows on,The sound of melodies.My heart yearns to sing like you,In my throat, I cannot find my voiceMy voice chokes as I try to utter your words,Failed, my being weepsWhat noose have you thrown around my neck?Everywhere You weave this web of melodies.

Deconstructing the role of the

Female Heroine in Rabindranath Tagore’s Works

Tagore and Feminism:Deconstructing the role of the

Female Heroine in Rabindranath Tagore’s Works

Tagore and Feminism:

Overview

• Feminism as a central aspect within all modes of Tagore’s work

• Construction of the Female Heroine:– Female’s emotions– Feminine empowerment

• “Performing Rabindranath” as a feminist construct

Females in the Limelight

• Short Stories• Drama• Dance• Rabindrasangeet and Poetry• Viswa Bharathi and Shantiniketan

The Female Heroine

• Female’s emotions

• Feminine empowerment

Charulata• Based on Tagore’s "Nastanirh“ (“The Broken Nest”)

• Satyajit Ray’s Adaptation– 1870s, India under British rule– Charu, “The Lonely Wife”– Bhupati, her husband and an intellectual– Amal, Bhupati’s younger cousin– Charu transcends her role as wife– Through writing, she is liberated, but is

society willing to accept this new woman?

Charulata

Film Clip

Charulata• Themes

– Female emotion• Love

– Female empowerment• Liberation through writing• Is Charu ultimately seen as an equal by her

husband? By society?

• Emergence of the modern woman in the upper-class of colonial India

“Performing Rabindranath”

• Women performers of Tagore’s works in the forefront– Great performers, teachers, musicians– Female actresses as empowered

leaders

Global Perspectives• Women’s movement as a humanist

construct

• Role of women– Intrinsic to Bengal– Comparison to rest of world

“Kadombini moriya proman korilo je she more nai”

“Kadombini commits death to prove she was alive”

-Tagore, Chokher Bali

Conclusion:Conclusion: Is the world yet able to accept Tagore’s vision of the

strong, liberated woman?

Shuneel Shagorey

Shuneel shaagorer shyamal kinarey

Dekhechhi pothey jete tulonahinari

E kotha kobhu aar paari naa ghuchiteyAachhe she nikhiler madhuri

ruchiteyE kotha shikhanu je amar binaryGanetey chinalen se chiro chinareyShe kotha surey surey chhorabo pichhoneySwapanofasoler bichhoney

bichhoneyModhupgunjey se lahari tulibeyKusumkunje se pabaney dulibeyJhoribey shraboner badolosichoney

Walking by the dark banks of the blue ocean

I saw the incomparable ladyI am unable to organize my thoughtsShe is the loving idea of the endless I taught this to my lyre (veena)I introduced the ever-known through my

songsThese words shall follow my tunesIn the beds of fruits of dreamsIn the garden of love, they will ride the

wavesThey will roll in the winds of the flower

gardensThey will shed in the rains of the monsoon

Shuneel Shagorey

Chal Akela Rey

Aami chini go chini tomaarey,

ogo bideshini

Aami Chini Go Chini Tomaarey, Ogo BideshiniI know you, I so know you, O Lady of the Foreign Land

I know you, I so know you, O lady of the foreign land. Across the ocean, you liveO lady of the foreign land.

On a soft wintry morning I see you,I see you in those inebriated nights,I see you in the center of my heartO lady of the foreign land.

Lending my ears to the skies,I hear your songs.I have surrendered my life to you,O lady of the foreign lands.

Traversing the whole WorldI have come to this new country.I am guest at your door,O lady of the foreign land.

Ami chini-go-chini tomare Ogo BideshiniTumi thaako sindhu pare Ogo bideshini. Tomaye dekhechi sharad-pratey,Tomaye dekhechi madhobi-raatey,Tomaye dekhechi hridi-majhareyOgo bideshini. Aami aakash-e patiya kaan,Shunechi shunechi tomar gaan,Aami tomare sonpechi pran Ogo bideshini. Bhubano bhramiya seshey,Aami eshechi nuton deshey,Aami atithi tomari dware Ogo bidesini.

Aaguner Parasmoni Chhoao Praaney

Touch my Soul with the magic of your Fire (O Lord)

Aaguner Parasmoni Chhoao Praaney

Touch my soul with the magic of your fire.Make my life a pious offering.Lift me in your armsMake me the flame to light your temple,Day and night, let me burn in your songsIn every dark corner I sense your touch,Night is replete with new stars.From these enlightened eyes, Darkness shall vanishWherever my sight rests, I will see light.Let my pain burn away with the flame.

Aaguner parasmani chuaao praneEy jiban punna karoDahan dane.Amar-e deho-khani tule dharo,Tomare-e devalaye pradip karo-Nishidin aalok sikha jaluk gane.Adhare-r gaye gaye parash tavSara rat phutak tara nav nav.Nayane-r drishti hote goonchbe kalo,Jekhane porbe sethaye Dekhabe aalo-Betha mor uthbe jale urdhva-pane.

Tagore and Education

Tara Beteille, Rashmi RaghuStanford University

VISHWA BHARATI, SHANTINIKETAN

Purpose of Education

Achieving unity with truthHarmony with all existenceAcquiring fullness in person

Freeing the soul

What should such an education be?

• Freedom of thought• Freedom of movement • Freedom to create

“To discover freedom of outlook, the mind must soar into the upper air of abstraction, swim into the very heart of the infinite for the mere joy of it, and then fly back to its nest in the world.” …Tagore in “My School”

The ‘School’

• Alienates the child from nature– Stresses humankind’s superiority;

defines a hierarchy that restricts freedom and the learning process

• Alienates the child from itself– Uniformity and averages– Transmitting information– Standardized curriculum and

examinations

“A mind all logic is like a knife all blade. It makes the hand bleed that uses it.”

…. Rabindranath Tagore

Shantiniketan

Learning from nature, life and the teacher

Open, free, abundant and spontaneous

Shantiniketan

The teacher as friend & guide: liberates individual initiative and enterprise

Nature as an unending source of learning

Shantiniketan

Children should be free To organize their own environment

No desks, chairs or classrooms

Shantiniketan

• Education: gradual and progressive• Begin with the training of instincts and

emotions and in self-reliance and communal cooperation

• Next: art, music and play• Medium of instruction to be the mother

tongue• Opposed religious instruction

Vishwa-Bharati: The University

• Vishwa-Bharati - ‘Knowledge of the World’ – a new kind of ‘university’

• Motto: “Yatra Vishwum Bhavatyekanidam” – all the world in one place. Emphasized the need for a mutually beneficial relationship between the east and the west.

• “a school in which men of different civilizations and traditions may learn to live together.”

• Sriniketan – center for helping rural and village community developments.

What can we learn?

• We must be willing to engage in processes of negotiation and redefinition– What should progress and civilization be?– How important are power and success to true

development?

“…respect all the differences that are real, yet remain conscious of our oneness; and to know that perfection of unity is not in uniformity but in harmony.”

…. Tagore in Creative Unity

Dariye Aachho Tumi Aamar

You stand on the other side of my songs

My tune finds their hold, I cannot find you

Wind blows softly, do not bind me anymore

Come, come, cross over, into the center of my heart

With you I play the game of songs, but this game is still at a distance

All day, the flute plays in my sadness

When will you take my flute and play it yourself

In the happy and quiet darkness of the night

Daariye aachho tumi amar gaaner o paarey

Aamar surgulee paaye charan aami paayine tomaarey

Baataash bohey mori mori, aar bedhe rekho na tori

Esho esho paar hoye mor hridoy-o majhamre

Tomar saathey gaaner khela, durer khela je

Bedonate baasi bajaye sakol bela je

Kobey neeye amar baasi, bajabe go aapni aasi

Anondomoy neerob raater goviro aadhaarey

Dariye Aachho Tumi Aamaar

Klaanti Meri Kshama Karo Prabhu

Forgive My Fatigue, O Lord

Klaanti Meri Kshama Karo Probhu

Klanti meri kshama karo prabhuPath mein peeche peeche rahun kabhiHriday mera thara tharaKaampe aaj rahe raheYehi vedna kshama karo kshama karo prabhuMeri deenta kshama karo prabhuPeeche dekhu murhke jo kabhiDin taape yeh rudra jwaalaSukhi tere pooja maala Yehi mlanta kshama karo

Forgive my fatigue, O Lord,If I’ve fallen behind on my journeyForgive my fatigue, O Lord.My body shivers today all overForgive my pain, Forgive me, O Lord.Forgive my destitution, O Lord,If I look back sometimes.In the dreadful heat of day,Your garland has dried up.Forgive my soiled offering, O Lord.

Jodi tor daak shuney keu naa ashe tobey ekla chalo reyIf no one heeds your call, then go on alone


Ekla Chalo, Ekla Chalo, Ekla ChaloEkla Chalo ReyGo on alone, go on alone, go on alone,Go on alone


Jodi Keyu Kotha na koyIf no one speaks up

Orey orey O Obhaaga, Keyu kotha na koye O Unfortunate One, if no one speaks up

Jodi shobai thaake mukh phiraye, Shobai kore bhoyIf all have turned their face away and are fearful

Jodi shobai thaake mukh phiraye, Shobai kore bhoyIf all have turned their face away and are fearful

Tobey poran khuley O Tui Mukh phutey tor moner kothaEkla Bolo ReyThen, open your heart, and speak your mind on your own


Jodi shobai phirey jayeIf all are leaving you

Orey orey O Obhaaga shobai phirey jayeO Unfortunate One, if all are leaving you

Jodi gahan pathey jabar kaaleyKeyu phirey naa chaaye As they leave, if no one even glances back

Jodi gahan pathey jabar kaaleyKeyu phirey naa chaaye As they leave, if no one even glances back

Tobey Pother Kaanta O Tui Raktomakha Charan ToleyEkla Dolo Rey Then with your blood-soaked feet,Trample the thorns in your path and move on


Jodi aalo na dhorey If the flame does not hold

Orey orey O Obhaaga Aalo naa dhorey O Unfortunate one, if the flame does not hold

Jodi Jhor Badoley Aandhar Raatey Duaar Daye GhoreyIf on a stormy night, all have shut their doors to you

Jodi Jhor Badoley Aandhar Raatey Duaar Daye GhoreyIf on a stormy night, all have shut their doors to you

Tobey bajra noley, Aapon buker paanjor jaliye neeyeEkla jolo rey Then, let the lightning set your breastbone ablaze and shine on alone


Ekla Chalo, Ekla Chalo, Ekla ChaloEkla Chalo ReyGo on alone, go on alone, go on alone,Go on alone


NATIONALISM

Tagore composed two

songs that were adopted as the

national anthems of India and Bangladesh

INDIAN NATIONAL ANTHEM

JANA GANA MANA

Jana Gana Mana A Spiritual Prayer

The people of this land celebrate the glory of the controller of their destiny!

From Punjab, Sindh, Gujarat, Maharashtra, to the Southern lands and Bengal, from the Vidhyas, Himachals, the rivers Yamuna and Ganga, the tricolor flutters in the wind.

Glory to the ruler of the minds of allpeople, the controller of India's destiny.

Thy name arouses all, from the hearts of the Punjab, Sindh, Gujarat, Maharashtra, to the Southern lands Orrisa and Bengal, from the Vindhyas, Himalayas, the rivers Yamuna and Ganga, to the Indian ocean.

They all seek thy blessing and sing to thy glory.

Glory to the well-wisher of this sea of humanity, the controller of India’s destiny.

Glory to thee, Glory to thee, Glory to theeGlory to thee!

Jana Gana Mana

Adhinayaka Jaya Hey

Bharata Bhagya Vidhaata

Glory to the ruler of the minds of all

people, the controller of India's

destiny.

Punjaaba Sindha Gujarata

Marathaa Dravida Utkala

Banga

Vidhya Himachala Yamuna

Gangaa

Ucchala Jaladhi Taranga

Tava Shubha Naame Jaage

Thy name arouses all,

from the hearts in Punjab, Sindh,

Gujarat, Maharashtra, to the

Southern lands, Orissa and Bengal,

from the Vidhyas and the

Himalayas, to the dancing waters

of the Yamuna and Ganga

Tava Shubha Ashisha Maange

Gahey Taba Jaya Gaatha

They all seek thy blessing and

sing to thy glory.

Jana Gana Mangala Dayaka

Jaya Hey,

Bharata Bhagya Vidhaata

Jaya Hey, Jaya Hey, Jaya Hey

Jaya Jaya Jaya Jaya Hey

Glory to the well-wisher of this

sea of humanity,

The controller of India’s destiny.

Glory to thee, glory to thee,

glory to thee, glory to thee!

When asked what he thought of Western culture, Gandhi thought “it was a good idea.”

Tagore opposed British Rule, not Western culture and civilization

Stressed Synthesis of cultures

“To get on familiar terms with the local people is a part of your education. To know only agriculture is not enough; you must know America too. Of course if, in the process of knowing America, one begins to lose one's identity and falls into the trap of becoming an Americanised person contemptuous of everything Indian, it is preferable to stay in a locked room.”

… to his son-in-law Nagendranath Gangulee who had come to America in 1907 to study Agriculture

Rebelled against strongly nationalist form of independence movement

“He was afraid that a rejection of the West in favor of an indigenous Indian tradition was not only limiting in itself; it could easily turn into hostility to other influences from abroad, including Christianity… Judaism… Zoroastrianism… and most importantly, Islam.”

… Nobel Laureate Amartya Sen, on Tagore

Criticized Patriotism

“Patriotism cannot be our final spiritual shelter; my refuge is humanity. I will not buy glass for the price of diamonds, and I will never allow patriotism to triumph over humanity as long as I live.”

… in a letter, responding to the criticism of Abala Bose, wife of scientist J. C. Bose

Criticized Patriotism

“I am willing to serve my country; but my worship I reserve for Right which is far greater than my country. To worship my country as a God is to bring a curse upon it.”

… the protagonist in Tagore’s novel, The Home and the World

Gandhi & Tagore

Tagore popularized the term “Mahatma” when referring to Gandhi

“Great as he is as a politician, as an organizer, as a leader of men, as a moral reformer, he is greater than all these as a man, because none of these aspects and activities limits his humanity. They are rather inspired and sustained by it.”

… Tagore in the essay, “Gandhi, the Man”

Gandhi & Tagore

Gandhi and Nehru both appreciated the important role Tagore played in the national freedom struggle, although Gandhi and Tagore shared serious differences on nationalism, patriotism and vision.

… Nobel Laureate Amartya Sen, on Tagore

On Freedom

“When Freedom is not an inner idea which imparts strength to our activities and breadth to our creations, when it is merely a thing of external circumstance, it is like an open space to one who is blindfolded.”

…Tagore in his essay, “The Spirit of Freedom”

On the West and India

“The civilization of the West has in it the spirit of the machine which must move; and to that blind movement human lives are offered as fuel, keeping up the steam-power.”



The present civilization of India has the constraining power of the mould. It squeezes living man in the grip of rigid regulations…



In both of these traditions life is offered up to something which is not life…



The West is continually producing mechanical power in excess of its spiritual control, and India has produced a system of mechanical control in excess of its vitality.


FreedomWhere the mind is without fear and the head is held high Where knowledge is freeWhere the world has not been broken up into fragments By narrow domestic walls

Where words come out from the depth of truthWhere tireless striving stretches its arms towards perfectionWhere the clear stream of reason has not lost its way Into the dreary desert sand of dead habitWhere the mind is led forward by Thee Into ever-widening thought and actionInto that heaven of freedom, my Father, let my country awake

-- Rabindranath Tagore's Geetanjali

What is India?

What is India?

Indian Indian

What is India?

Indian Indian

Indian American

What is India?

Indian Indian

Indian American

Indian XXX

What is India?

Indian Indian

Indian American

Indian XXX

Indian Subcontinent

The Indian Ethos

The Indian Ethos

“I do not think that it is the spirit of India to reject anything, reject any race, reject any culture. The spirit of India has always proclaimed the ideal of unity. The ideal of unity never rejects anything, any race, or any culture. It comprehends all, and it has been the highest aim of our spiritual exertion to be able to penetrate all things with one soul, to comprehend all things as they are, and not to keep out anything in the whole universe – to comprehend all things with sympathy and love. This is the spirit of India… India is there to unite all human races.”

…Tagore in his Nobel Prize Acceptance Speech

An International Hymn

“Hark O children of the Immortal,

Listen O Divine beings,

I have known Him –

The One beyond all illusion,

Beyond darkness, ever resplendent-

Know Him, look at Him.

That’s the only way to transcend death.”

SRinvantu viswe amRitasya putraaH

vedehametam purusham mahaantam aditya varnam tamasa parastat tvameva viditvaa amRitvameti

…Shwestashwara Upanishad

Tomaar Holo Shuru Aamaar Holo Shaara

Tera Yeh Ath Hai, Iti Hai Yeh Mera

Tera yeh ath haiIti hai yeh meraTum hum mile yunhiBehti rahe dhara Tere jale baatiTere ghar saathiMere yahan raatriMere rahe taara Tera hai kinaaraMeri jaldhaaraRehna tera nishchalMera yeh chala chal

Rahe jo tere kar meinKshay ho mere kar meinBhay hai tere man meinMain hoon bhayahaara

Thine is the beginning,My lot is endingYou & I thus mingling, Like a stream ever flowing.

For you there’s lamp, You have your friend, For me there’s darkness For me stars are twinkling.

For you there’s land, I have water below,For you there is waiting, For me is endless rolling.

In your hands is creation, In my hands is dissolution, In your mind is fear,I am fearless.

Tera Yeh Ath Hai, Iti Hai Yeh Mera