In the history of Indian literature Tagore stands along with Sanskrit poet and playwright Kalidas and Hindi poet Tulsidas. Tagore was not only a poet and novelist but also a short story writer, playwright, painter, essayist, educationist, spiritualist, lyricist, composer, singer and historian. He wrote in his mother tongue of Bangla. But he did not limit his message to the people who loved around him. He is the poet who wrote for the welfare of human being.
There is no Indian literature without Rabindranath Tagore. The universality of Bengali language and literature became evident only when Tagore received the Noble Prize for his English, "Geethanjali" which was translated into many languages including the Dravidian group of languages like Tamil, Kannada, Telugu and Malayalam. Long before Geethanjali was recognized, Tagore's Janaganamana received greater applause from the members of the Indian National Congress during its Kolkata Conference. Most of his works got translated into important languages of the globe based on its worth, whether it was a drama or a poem or an essay.
Although Gandhiji made five visits to Kerala, Tagore made only one visit. It was part of the campaign for financial assistance to establish Viswabharathy at Shanthiniketan that he made a visit. It is a university established on the basis of Tagore's "Internationalism".
The Viswabharathy University, Kolkata is the greatest work of Tagore like Vallathol's Kalamandalam. Vallathol too staged Kathakali with his troupes even in far off places like Moscow, Tokyo, Paris etc. to collect donations to establish Kalamandalam before it was taken up by the Kerala Government. Tagore's literary contribution has opened an important place in the long list of world classics which helped in shaping modern man. Tagore's impact is substantial in our day to day life and I take this opportunity to pay my humble respects to this great Indian who stood always for universalism.
The present study is the result of the Birth Anniversary (150th) Seminar conducted by ISDL/DLA at the Dr. V.I. Subramoniam Memorial Complex on the 24th May, 2011. It was Prof. T.P. Sankarankutty Nair, Senior fellow of ISDL who reminded me about the 150th Birthday Celebrations held globally. Since the actual birth date was a calendar holiday for DLA/ISDL institutions, we thought of conducting it in the same month atleast.
In the foreman session on 24th May 2011 (Tuesday) Dr. Puthussery Ramachandran Hon. Professor, ISDL and Ex. Professor of Malayalam, Kerala University inaugurated the seminar in a session chaired by me. Dr. V.S. Sharma Ex. Chairman of Kerala Kalamandalam was the guest of Honour. Dr. T.P.Sankarankutty Nair (Sr. Fellow, ISDL) welcomed all participants and Dr. Naduvattam Gopalakrishnan (Sr. Fellow, ISDL) tendered a vote of thanks.
In the first academic session Dr.N.P. Unni, former Vice-Chancellor, Sree Sankaracharya University of Sanskrit, Kalady chaired the session. Dr.K.S. Ravikumar (Head of the Dept. of Malayalam, Sree Sankaracharya University) Dr. Naduvattam Gopalakrishnan (Deputy Director of Collegiate Education, Rtd.), Dr. James Daniel, Rtd., Principal, Scott Christian College Nagercoil presented papers on different aspects. Sri. K. Ravindran, Retd. IAAS and former Deputy Accountant General, Kerala welcomed the gathering and Dr.M. Dakshinamoorthy (Sr. Fellow) extended a vote of thanks.
After lunch break six papers were presented. Dr. James Daniel chaired the session. Dr. T.P. Sankarankutty Nair former Director, Vallathol Institute of Kerala Studies, Sree Sankaracharya University, Trivandrum and former Head of the PG Dept. of History University College spoke on Tagore and Freedom movement, Junior Fellows of the Bengali Unit viz. Sri. Tapas Kayal, Sri. Dhrubajyothi Das, Sri. Biplav Dutta, Sri. M. Prabhakaran, Sri. Sourav Chakraborthy, Mrs. M.Suvarna, Dr. K. Krishnakumar etc. presented papers portraying different perspectives. Dr.N. Rajendran, Secretary DLA proposed a welcome and Dr. Usha (Fellow, ISDL) offered a vote of thanks.
Dr. G.K. Panikker one of the founders of DLA and former Professor of Linguistics, University of Kerala delivered the Presidential Address in the Valedictory session while Sri. T. Madhava Menon, former Vice Chancellor, Kerala Agricultural University and Ex. Agricultural Production Commissioner (Rtd IAS) made the Valedictory address. Dr. V. Syamala Sasidharan (Vice President, DLA) and former Professor of English, Kerala University welcomed those gathered and Dr. S. Kunjamma (Treasurer, DLA) and the present HOD of Linguistics, University of Kerala extended a vote of thanks. Participants responded to the call of the Director for remarks and views about the Seminar. In toto about 22 papers were presented and most of them are included in this volume.
Rabindranath Tagore (7th May 1861 to 7th August 1941) from his early days was very keen on education for the girls. In 1908 he was able to make separate arrangements on a small scale for the girls in Santiniketan. Though this did not last long he always remembered the need. The daughters of teachers and other workers, of course were continued to be taught in the school. But a separate section for the girls (Nari Vibhaga) was organized by 1922.
The Viswabharathi began functioning from 1918. In 1921 the first assembly of the registered Viswabharathi Parishad was held. In this phase the Santhiniketan School attained its full stature. Tagore's resolve was to make Viswabharati a centre for studying all the different religions which had mingled in Indian Culture according to Uma Das Gupta who studied at length and in depth about Santiniketan and Sriniketan. In the words of Rabindranath:-
"In Indian education we shall have to collect together treasures of Vedic, Puranic, Buddhist, Jaina and Islamic minds. We shall have to find out how the Indian mind has flown along these different channels. By some means India will feel her identity in her diversity. We must understand ourselves in this extended and interlinked way or else the education we will receive will be like that of the beggar. No nation can be rich on begging."
On the basis of the above note the Santhiniketan School, expanded in 1922 and it became a great centre of learning.
Rabindranath associated four kinds of people with Viswabharati. First there were acharyas, the learned savants from abroad. Of those who came to Santiniketan were Sylvain Levi (1921-22), Moritz Winternitz (1922-23) Vincent Lesny (1922-23), Sten Konow (1923-24) Carlo Formichi (1924-25) and Guiseppe Tucci (1924-25). The students were those who had already attained proficiency in any one discipline, but joined Viswabarati for furthering their knowledge. Some came from outside. Some of them came weekly from Calcutta University to join the Viswabharati classes. There were eminent teachers on whom depended the Viswabharathi curriculum.
There were friends or well wishers for Viswabharati from India and abroad. From time to time they would be invited to write, to lecture, to donate and to raise funds for the establishment. In these various ways Viswabharati was made into a seat of Indian Culture. It was an unconventional centre of learning and a pioneer in rural reconstruction. The Santiniketan School was made the thread linking India with the globe. It was a Centre for Humanistic Research. With the growth of these institutions, Rabindranath also grew culturally, mentally and academically.
Send as free online greeting card
Email a Friend
Manage Wishlist