Every year during the month of 9th day of Month all Tagore lovers based in India, Bangladesh and other parts of the globe celebrates his birth anniversary. Till date to every human beings especially those who adore Poet, Philosopher, Novelist, Short Story writer plus essayist cum Nobel Laureate of repute Rabindra Nath Tagore still continue to remain within our heart as a source of inspiration and solace in the core of our mind and heart.
Now we are well aware of that present social and cultural situation prevailing in India, Bangladesh and throughout Sub Continent valuable teachings of Rabindra Nath Tagore should be deeply throughout of by all his ardent admirers. Merely glancing over his works should not be our sole criteria rather we must introspect deeply about how Tagore's thoughts should be invaluable to us and how we can implement in our social and cultural lives.
It was during his octogenarian innings of life in this eternity poet, novelist, short story writer, essayist, philosopher cum music composer and Nobel Laureate in literature emphasised deeply upon women's emancipation and up gradation of our social cum cultural ethos so that citizens of modern India and Bangladesh are able to stand upright in tune with the International scenarios. This I dearly feel sounds apt the way the situations are changing all around the globe in every field of academic and professional disciplines.
Professor Anisuzzaman, noted Tagore scholar of both India and Bangladesh narrated in most of his writings and speech 'Rabindra Nath Tagore despite departing for eternal peace and salvation around 80 years back way back in the year 1941 on August 7, is still deeply relevant in hearts of Bengalis residing in the Sub Continent as well as in other parts of the globe.
So Tagore always remains within us in every step of our life. We cannot forget Tagore at all.' The same feeling have been expressed by other scholars of Tagore based in the Sub Continent which we dearly cherish from the core of our heart.
Relevance of Rabindra Nath Tagore and his teachings in the social and cultural aspects on the lives of Bengalis:
Rabindra Nath Tagore was born in such a time when undivided India was under the tyrannical rule of British dominance. Around that time social and cultural ethos are different. Apart from the common problems prevailed in those days Rabindra Nath Tagore had tremendous sense of foresightedness about what is going to happen during post Independence phases of India.
In this regard if this narrate a sorrowful incident at undivided Kushtia. It was a full summer month of June 1934, young Annada Shankar Ray, noted civil servant cum poet and literature wrote in one of his essay which is quoted as follow. It was during that scorching heat of June 1934, Annada Shankar Ray was the District Magistrate of undivided Kushtia. Kushtia as we are all well aware of that is well known for cultivation of indigo, which is used to clean off extremely dirty clothes.
Cultivators of indigo in Kushtia were very poor around that period. After entire first half slogging cultivators returned to their land owners with the objective to plead for their food which was given to them in a ruthless and wicked manner. Rabindra Nath Tagore got terribly on noticing the act of Hindu Zamindars and narrated his feeling with poignancy that the way they behaved with the farmers will have serious repercussions in our social and cultural ethos.
Tagore further narrated to Ray that 'even if I am not alive after 70 to 80 years from now onwards Bengalis will have to face thumping blow which you will feel in your lifetime though I might not be alive for long.' In this regard Rabindra Nath Tagore was well aware that 'my tenure in this eternity long time prior to Indian Independence'. In fact Tagore departed for eternal peace and salvation long before Independence in the year 1941 on August 7. Thus it is heartening to note that Tagore had so much in-depth sense of foresightedness which all his ardent admirers of both India and Bangladesh reminisce deeply till date.
It is also to be noted with reverence that during any social gathering of various corporate houses and as well as in various professional establishment in both India and Bangladesh Tagore song is sung by citizens who are deeply attached towards the philosophy and music of his. Those who sing his song get a special feeling which ultimately motivates that particular person to lead sedate and happy lives in the coming days.
Relavance of Rabindra Nath Tagore till date:
The way the entire global scenarios are fast changing in every academic, professional as well as in corporate circles we find that influence of Rabindra Nath Tagore are still omnipresent upon us. The noted stage and large screen actor as well as well known academician Late N.Viswanathan narrated to this writer once 'Rabindra Nath Tagore and his Great works cannot be erased of from the threshold of our heart and mind as he through his works have motivated us to establish in life mainly through our merit without expecting any help from the third party.' It is absolutely true to our heart that if we aim to stand up well in life we should always be self- dependent instead of being dependent upon others. This awareness of being brave and dynamic in life is really beneficial for our success in life.
Economic thoughts of Rabindra Nath Tagore:
Basically Rabindra Nath Tagore was a Soul from literary field. Due to his inner urge he expanded his vision of mind to other fields such a economics, science, politics and international issues (which is now known as International Relations). As per economic thoughts are concerned Rabindra Nath Tagore emphasized upon cooperative farming, development of agriculture as well as development of cottage and small scale industries.
He was deeply sympathetic towards the need of cultivators. In those days especially prior to Indian Independence Tagore was deeply concerned about the development of agriculture. He felt deeply and introspectively that 'unless and until we are able to develop agriculture there lays no scope to develop our economy. 'This feeling of Tagore in those days is becoming apt in today's scenario when we analyze the development of Indian and South Asian economy.
Rabindra Nath Tagore's thoughts on science:
Rabindra Nath Tagore has profound interest on science. It was just a year and half Dey's Publishing, a well known publishing house from the Indian city of Kolkata brought out a well researched publication ' Rabindra O Bijyan Chinta' which is edited by Shyamal Kumar Chakravarty and Sanjib Kumar Mukherjee along with introspective article by reputed scholars from Kolkata, India as well as from ex-Dhaka University, Dhaka.
In order to promote science among people of all walks of life Rabindra Nath Tagore wrote 'Biswaparichaya' which earned universal adulations and encomiums. In this regard Tagore reiterated that 'if we aim to upgrade the human intellectual level we must aim to develop science, otherwise human mental and intellectual level will be in total jeopardy.'
Rabindra Nath Tagore and Bangladesh:
It is already well known to us that two songs composed by Rabindra Nath Tagore like ' Janoganomonoadhinayaka--------' and ' Aamar Sonar Bangla' are the national anthem of two closer and friendly Saarc nation. The way Bangladeshi singers pay their obeisance to Tagore seems unique and amazing.
Bangladesh Rabindra Sangeet Parishad under the stewardship of legendary Tapan Mahmud, Tapan Sarkar, Sajed Akbar, Ameena Ahmad, Salma Akbar etc various others are playing pivotal roles towards the popularity of Rabindra Sangeet. Apart from the above named the names of Kalim Sharafi, Abdul Ahad, Zahidur Rahim, Rezwana Chowdhury Bannya, Papia Sarwar, Sadi Mohammad etc should not erased of from the storehouse of our memories.
Summing up the above stated views one point becomes very clear in our mind that Rabindra Nath Tagore should not be forgotten from our life's philosophy which has narrated several times by Dr Anisuzzaman, Dr Rafiqul Islam, Dr Abdullah Abu Sayed, Dr Fakre Alam, Dr Kabir Chowdhury, Dr Sirajul Islam Chowdhury, Selina Hossain etc various other luminaries in the field.
The writer is a freelancer based on Kolkata
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