Today is Baishey Shravan, a day that no Bengali can forget

Rabindranath Tagore is a name that has become an integral part of the Bengali culture. He was born in a well-to-do family in 1861 and revealed his talents even as a child. As he grew older, he began to show his skill as not only a poet but also as a writer, playwright, composer, philosopher, social reformer and painter. In fact, his two liners said a lot in a few words. He reshaped Bengali literature and music apart from Indian art. He established an open-air college in the midst of nature and named it Shantiniketan - the abode of peace. Students came there from far corners of the country as well as from abroad. Gradually, his name spread from the confines of Bengal to far corners of the world and he won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1913. It was for his collection of poems Gitanjali published in London in 1912. He was the first Indian to earn the honor. It gave global recognition to his literary reputation.

He left for his heavenly abode on 7 August 1941. It was Baishey Shravan (22nd day of the month of Shravan). His void left a loss in the world of Bengalis but his contribution to the cultural world will remain. Many of his short stories and novels have become hit movies in not only Bengali but in other Indian languages. Even today, his songs and dances are deemed to be the platform for children to graduate to the world of seniors. His songs are in a world of their own and labelled as Rabindrasangeet. It is a unique tribute that makes his name immortal.

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