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Rabindranath Tagore (1861–1941) stands as one of India’s most celebrated poets, revolutionary philosophers, and cultural icons. A visionary who reshaped Indian art, literature, and education, Tagore was the first non-European to win the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1913. His timeless poetry, soulful music, and pioneering spirit continue to inspire generations worldwide. This gallery offers a glimpse into the extraordinary life and enduring legacy of the Bard of Bengal on his death anniversary. (Photo Source: Tagore Foundation)
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Young Tagore: Born as Rabindranath Thakur on May 7, 1861, to Debendranath Tagore and Sarada Devi in Calcutta under British India. Youngest of 13 children, Tagore was primarily raised by his siblings and servants as his mother died when he was a child, and his father, Debendranath, a prominent philosopher, used to travel a lot. (Photo Source: Tagore Foundation)
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Education: Despite attending multiple formal schools such as the Calcutta Academy, Oriental Seminary, and St. Xavier’s. Tagore was primarily educated at home by his father and siblings across a variety of subjects, including literature, music, art, history, astronomy, and modern science. Tagore briefly studied law at University College London before returning to Bengal to pursue literature. (Photo Source: FreePik)
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First Publication: Tagore’s first major publication is considered by many to be his debut short story entitled “Bhikharini” (“The Beggar Woman”), which was published in 1877. Tagore published his first collection of poems called “Kabi Kahini” (Tale of a Poet) in 1878. Both of these works quickly garnered Tagore a lot of fame in West Bengal. (Photo Source: Tagore Foundation)
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Composing the national anthem: Rabindranath Tagore composed “Jana Gana Mana,” the national anthem of India, in December 1911. It was originally written in Bengali. The first stanza of this five-verse Brahmo hymn, titled “Bharoto Bhagyo Bidhata”, was later adopted as India’s national anthem on January 24, 1950. (Photo Source: Tagore Foundation)
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In 1913, Rabindranath Tagore became the first non-European to win the Nobel Prize in Literature. He received the award for his deeply sensitive and lyrical poetry, especially Gitanjali (Song Offerings), which made Indian literature accessible to the Western world. (Photo Source: Tagore Foundation)
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Renounced Knighthood: The Indian poet was awarded a Knighthood by King George V in his 1915 Birthday Honours list, which Tagore later renounced as a mark of his protest against the Jallianwala Bagh massacre. (Photo Source: Tagore Foundation)
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Founded Shriniketan – In 1921, Tagore, along with Leonard Elmhirst (agricultural economist), set up the ‘Institute for Rural Reconstruction’, which was later renamed ‘Shriniketan’ in Surul. Tagore started receiving donations from Indians and around the world to free the Indian villages from ignorance, and started lecturing against the practice of ‘untouchability’. (Photo Source: Tagore Foundation)
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Artistic legacy: Tagore’s works embraced humanism, spirituality, and the intricate relationship between nature and humanity. Beyond literature, Tagore enriched Indian music through his compositions known as “Rabindra Sangeet,” a lasting cultural treasure. Rabindranath Tagore founded Shantiniketan in 1901, an open-air residential school and art centre that blended Indian artistic traditions and ancient educational ideals with progressive Western ideas, fostering a holistic education in harmony with nature. (Photo Source: Tagore Foundation)
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