Why Rabindranath Tagore Is Regarded as Gurudev

 

Rabindranath Tagore having deceased for the past eighty three years. Is still vivid in our mind and memories. But one point pertaining to global figure. That why he is still referred to in common man’s parlance as ‘Gurudev.’ Basically most of us are not fully aware off that why Rabindranath Tagore is referred to his ardent fans and admirers as ‘Gurudev’. Thus the said term, indicates that Rabindranath Tagore was a fatherly figure to all literature loving people of people of India and Bangladesh. The term, ‘Guru’ is referred to as guide and creativity in our writing pursuit. That means his creativities and life philosophy will always act as the cakewalk to our success in creative life.

Rabindranath Tagore has been crowned with the title of ‘Gurudev’ by Mahatma Gandhi. This was a reciprocation to Tagore as he crowned him with the title ‘Mahatma’. According to Mahatma Gandhi, Rabindranath Tagore was such as pious soul in ideological sense. The reason behind it as because he always championed for learning as per wish of the humanity across the globe. In this regard, there is a famous quote, ‘learning never ends, it continues till our last breath in this earth’.

In his octogenarian innings of life, Rabindranath Tagore touched upon various phases of human life. Rabindranath always felt that learning is a never ending process. The more we read the more we learn to know the world. Also we learn to know the people and society as a whole. What not Rabindranath Tagore wrote. Starting from poetry, novels, essay, short stories of various types and pattern and composing various types of music. He sometimes felt that, ‘I am just like a dedicated literary worker. I wish to work for the betterment of societies around us.’ That means human beings, even if they become educated should always lead a life of amiability and utmost humility. As per the views of Rabindranath Tagore, ‘we must shun the art of arrogance in our life’. Always it should be our endeavour to be compassionate towards others. Also Tagore advocated the doctrine of honesty and transparency in our life. It is through the above we derive adulations and encomiums in life.

If we delve more into our historical thoughts, then we could detect from our inner eye that our life is always full of sorrow and remorse phases. But we should not be upset at all. Rather we should aim forward like a bullet, then that is the biggest joy in life. In his prolong creative life, poet was unfortunate in facing lot of reversal of fortunes. This he accepted with a bold heart.

Those who were close to poet during their Ashramik days at Shantiniketan, the way Rabindranath Tagore used to mix up with resident students, was a remarkable phenomenon for those who were students in those periods of time. Despite being busy with his creative pursuits, Tagore was always like Guru’s to the students. Enquiring each and every moment about their welfare and other issues. That means he was compassionate towards all of them. That the students should not feel any sort of discomfort and inconvenience during their stay at the Ashram. That was the reason everybody used to treat him as ‘Gurudev’.

Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore passed away at an unfortunate time. When the citizens of undivided India were badly in need of him. But due to The Almighty’s cruel destiny he departed for eternal peace in the year 1941 on August 7(Baishey Shraban in Bengali). From the historical facts which we are aware off. That around that period of time, Second World War was in full swing. There were lot of causalities going on. Japanese bomb attack place at Calcutta. In the year 1946 there were gruesome communal riots in Calcutta and undivided Noakhali. As Gurudev always preached for communal harmony and zero tolerance on violence. Citizens of erstwhile Calcutta missed Rabindranath Tagore. This was because if he was alive around that time, the citizens would have been more relieved to have had him around us. Unfortunately it was not to be so. At the dawn of Indian Independence in the year 1947 on August 14, the nation was divided into two parts, India and Pakistan. Among the Pakistani nation, East Pakistan later on became Bangladesh way back in the year 1970.

Rabindranath Tagore had noble mission in his life to imbibe East Bengal and West Bengal under one umbrella. That was also not to be. Now Bengalis are parts of two sovereign nations. Though Tagore is worshipped by Bengalis of two nations. But in comparison between the two he is more adored in modern Bangladesh.

During the days of India’s struggle for Independence, we have tried to discover from the pages of historical records. That he was fatherly figure to some of the top nationalist leaders of pre-independence phase, like Dr S.Radhakrishnan, Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, Mahatma Gandhi, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru etc various other reputed figures of those periods of time. There were diverse exchange of ideas between Tagore and them. This way Rabindranath Tagore was crowned with the accolades ‘Gurudev’. This is going on till date.

Summing up the above discourses, we find as days pass off. Rabindranath Tagore will continue to be crowned as ‘Gurudev’. Because whatever positives he advocated in our life is vital in our life. Whenever we glance over his diverse writings it is a sort of motivating factor to us.  This should be carried on like our life philosophy till the last breath of us on this earth.


Sujayendra Das is a columnist
based in Kolkata, India.