2011 is the 150th anniversary of the birth of Rabindranath Tagore, the famous Indian poet and writer.
The River to River Festival in Florence is celebrating his life and works through a series of films, including a docudrama biography by Satyajit Ray.
Rabindranath Tagore was born in Calcutta, into a large and talented family. He was sent to four different schools and hated every one of them. This was to lead to his interest in education and eventually the founding of a school, where the children were taught outside, sitting on the ground, under the trees, rather than indoors, like caged animals. They were taught music, art and dance in addition to the normal curriculum.
Rabindranath began to write poetry, songs and prose when he was a teenager and was soon published. He also managed his father's estates, where he became aware of the poor living conditions of the workers. He did everything he could to improve them. This was the beginning of his lifelong concern for the plight of the poor.
Tagore translated some of his writings into English, took them to England, where he showed them to someone, who was so impressed that he had them published. This led to world wide recognition and the Nobel prize for literature. After this Tagore became a sought after speaker and travelled widely, meeting and making friends with many of the world's most famous intellectuals, including Einstein, Bhose, Ghandi.
Tagore believed that the way to promote world peace was through collaboration and communication between intellectuals of all nationalities. He founded a university that attracted people from Europe and the US, some of whom stayed for their whole lives, dedicating their time to working in the University. Throughout his life, Tagore inspired people, involving them in his projects.
At the age of 70 he began to paint, quite accidentally. He was doodling on a page covered with writing. Gradually his doodles began to take interesting shape and from this evolved a unique style of art.
Tagore died in Calcutta in 1971, aged 80.
Tagore was opposed to the division of Bengal by the British, believing that this would cause hatred between the moslems and the hindus, who, up until that time, had lived peacefully together. He wrote extensively on this subject and one of his stories was made into anther film by Satyajit Ray. This film was shown after the biopic.
The River to River Festival in Florence is celebrating his life and works through a series of films, including a docudrama biography by Satyajit Ray.
Rabindranath Tagore was born in Calcutta, into a large and talented family. He was sent to four different schools and hated every one of them. This was to lead to his interest in education and eventually the founding of a school, where the children were taught outside, sitting on the ground, under the trees, rather than indoors, like caged animals. They were taught music, art and dance in addition to the normal curriculum.
Rabindranath began to write poetry, songs and prose when he was a teenager and was soon published. He also managed his father's estates, where he became aware of the poor living conditions of the workers. He did everything he could to improve them. This was the beginning of his lifelong concern for the plight of the poor.
Tagore translated some of his writings into English, took them to England, where he showed them to someone, who was so impressed that he had them published. This led to world wide recognition and the Nobel prize for literature. After this Tagore became a sought after speaker and travelled widely, meeting and making friends with many of the world's most famous intellectuals, including Einstein, Bhose, Ghandi.
Tagore believed that the way to promote world peace was through collaboration and communication between intellectuals of all nationalities. He founded a university that attracted people from Europe and the US, some of whom stayed for their whole lives, dedicating their time to working in the University. Throughout his life, Tagore inspired people, involving them in his projects.
At the age of 70 he began to paint, quite accidentally. He was doodling on a page covered with writing. Gradually his doodles began to take interesting shape and from this evolved a unique style of art.
Tagore died in Calcutta in 1971, aged 80.
Tagore was opposed to the division of Bengal by the British, believing that this would cause hatred between the moslems and the hindus, who, up until that time, had lived peacefully together. He wrote extensively on this subject and one of his stories was made into anther film by Satyajit Ray. This film was shown after the biopic.
Hi, Angela it's Helena under my blog name barabrith.
ReplyDeleteThis is the singing partner of my former landlady, who now goes by the name of Suekali. They tour, perform and teach the songs of Tagore. I think you'd have something in common...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7AExqYChdtc