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All About Rabindranath Tagore UPSC CSE

Rabindranath Tagore

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Summary of Rabindranath Tagore

During the national movement for freedom from British Rule, many poets and nationalist writers produced works that led to the development of nationalistic consciousness among the masses. Foremost among them was Rabindranath Tagore. He was born into renowned Tagore family in Bengal. From childhood, he was exposed to reformist and patriotic feelings. He was greatly inspired by the Brahmo Samaj, and hence he later produced many literary works that instilled a feeling of nationalism amongst the masses. This brought him to the mainstream nationalist movement. He was a great poet. During his lifetime, he wrote more than 2000 songs, 1000 poems, and many short stories. In 1913, he was awarded the Nobel Prize for literature for his work Gitanjali (Song Offerings). His compositions were adopted as the national anthems for India (Jana Gana Mana) and Bangladesh (Amar Shonar Bangla). He was also the inspiration for the Sri Lankan national anthem.

In response to the Jallianwala Bagh massacre (1919), he renounced his knighthood.

Rabindranath Tagore wrote the national anthem of India ‘jana mana gana’

In 1913, Rabindranath Tagore was awarded the Nobel Prize for literature for his work Gitanjali (Song Offerings). This made him the first Asian to be awarded the Nobel Prize.

Amar Shonar Bangla: This was written by Rabindranath Tagore to protest the Bengal Partition of 1905. Now it is the national anthem of Bengal.

Background of Rabindranath Tagore

Rabindranath Tagore was born on May 7, 1861, in Calcutta (present day Kolkata) to Debendraanath Tagore and Sarda Devi. He was their 15th child. The Tagore family was very prolific. They were at the forefront of the Bengal Renaissance movement. Following are the members of the family and their contributions:

Introduction of Rabindranath Tagore

Rabindranath Tagore never completed formal school or college education. He enrolled in a school in England but later dropped out and preferred self reading of plays by Shakespeare and other prominent writers. He returned to India, and stayed for a few years in his ancestral home in Shelaidaha. Here, he wrote many songs and poems.

In 1901, he moved to Shantiniketan and founded an ashram there. In September 2023, it was designated as the 41st World Heritage Site of India by UNESCO based on Cultural criteria.

In 1910, he wrote Geetanjali and later, in 1912, translated it into English. When he travelled to England, he shared this work with others. It was this famous poem that earned him the Nobel Prize in 1913. For his literary contribution, he was awarded Knighthood in 1915 by the British monarch George V.

Notable Works of Rabindranath Tagore

Rabindranath Tagore’s Contribution to education

National Movement

Mahatma Gandhi and Rabindranath Tagore had mutual respect for each other. As a mark of respect, Gandhi referred to Tagore as Gurudev. Tagore bestowed the title of ‘Mahatma’ on Gandhi. They both had differing ideas related to education and nationalism.

Rabindranath Tagore Mahatma Gandhi
Education
  • He believed in self realisation through education as the most important aim.
  • Believed in link-up of learning with natural surroundings.
  • Emphasised on physical development through inclusion of sports and mental development through music, drama etc
  • Both advocated for mother tongue as medium of instruction.
  • Viewed education as a tool for upliftment of the oppressed.
  • Emphasised holistic development of children by imparting moral values.
  • Advocated for vocational training to achieve self-sufficiency.
  • Both advocated for mother tongue as medium of instruction.
Nationalism
  • Was more accommodative of good values from the Western culture.
  • Promoted an idea of Universal Brotherhood.
  • Criticised swadeshi movement and Gandhian movement in his essay “The Cult of the Charkha” and criticised aggressive nationalism.
  • Often critical of Western values.
  • Emphasised on regional and communal harmony in a united independent India.
  • Started movements such as Non-cooperation, Civil disobedience etc. to oppose British Rule.

Conclusion for Rabindranath Tagore

Rabindranath Tagore was a multifaceted person who achieved excellence in the field of literature. His songs and poems inspired the masses during the national struggle for independence. His unique perspective on education and ethics has shaped the curriculum in India and abroad. His contribution to the field of literature is immense and unmatched. His works and transcending ideas continue to inspire youths in India and around the world

Prelims PYQS of All About Rabindranath Tagore

Match List-I with List-II and select the correct answer using the codes given below the lists : (1999)
List-I (Books) List-II (Authors)
A The First Indian War of Independence 1. Rabindranath Tagore
B Anand Math 2. Sri Aurobindo
C Life Divine 3. Bankim Chandra Chatterji
D Sadhana 4. Vinayak Damodar Savarkar Codes
(a) A – 4; B – 3; C – 2; D – 1
(b) A – 3; B – 4; C – 1; D – 2
(c) A – 4; B – 3; C – 1; D – 2
(d) A – 3; B – 4; C – 2; D – 1

Correct Answer :(a) A – 4; B – 3; C – 2; D – 1
The name of the famous person of India who returned the Knighthood conferred on him by the British Government as a token of protest against the atrocities in Punjab in 1919 was: (2004)
(a) Tej Bahadur Sapru
(b) Ashutosh Mukherjee
(c) Rabindra Nath Tagore
(d) Syed Ahmed Khan

Correct Answer :(c) Rabindra Nath Tagore
The song ‘Amar Sonar Bangla’ written during the Swadeshi Movement of India inspired the liberation struggle of Bangladesh and was adopted as the National Anthem of Bangladesh. Who wrote this song? (2007)
(a) Rajni Kanta Sen
(b) Dwijendralal Ray
(c) Mukunda Das
(d) Rabindranath Tagore

Correct Answer :(d) Rabindranath Tagore
With reference to Madanapalle of Andhra Pradesh, which one of the following statements is correct? (2021)
(a) Pingali Venkayya designed the tricolour Indian National Flag here.
(b) Pattabhi Sitaramaiah led the Quit India Movement of the Andhra region from here.
(c) Rabindranath Tagore translated the National Anthem from Bengali to English here.
(d) Madame Blavatsky and Colonel Olcott set up headquarters of Theosophical Society first here.

Correct Answer :(c) Rabindranath Tagore translated the National Anthem from Bengali to English here.

Main PYQS of All About Rabindranath Tagore

What was the difference between Mahatma Gandhi and Rabindranath Tagore in their approach towards education and nationalism? (2023)

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