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| Photograph - Anirban Saha | www.anirbansaha.com |
Rabindranath Tagore’s name is synonymous with Bengali
culture. His contribution to literature, especially to Bengali literature is
unquestionably towering. However, the worth of Rabindranath Tagore cannot just
be measured in the songs, novels, poems, stories, plays and essays he has
composed. The legacy of Tagore lingers on even today, more than seven decades
after his earthly demise. His influence is still evident in modern works of
literature.
As a Bengali kid growing up in a culturally inclined
household, Tagore was always a part of every little aspect of my childhood. I
knew that he was the first Asian to win the Nobel Prize in Literature before I
even knew what the Nobel Prize was all about. I grew up listening to his songs,
listening to his poems, appreciating his art, and watching his plays. The fact
that I grew up in a culture so entangled with the works of Rabindranath Tagore
allows me to see exactly how vivid, how obvious his influence is among modern
writers and poets.
Tagore reshaped Bengali literature with the introduction of
revolutionary themes in simple languages. He was a writer than the common
people could relate to, breaking the shackles of elitist language that was
prevalent among authors before him. His fluency of thought, combined with his
presentation, made him a crowd favourite. Some of the themes he introduced
still resonate very strongly with modern writers – the most obvious examples
being the doctrine of women empowerment, the tenderness of love and the
intricacies of human ties, and worship through good deed. These basic aspects
continue to find their importance in modern writings. The influence of Tagore
is unmistakable in this regard.
Rabindranath Tagore is credited with putting Bengali Literature
on the international radar. The Nobel laureate paved the way for generations to
come, generations of Bengali authors who would find a global audience for their
works. Their works reverberate their take on the themes that were highlighted
by none other than Gurudev himself. Because of his unthinkable variety in
composition, there always seems to be a Tagore work to fit any mood, any emotion,
any season, any time. He has firmly established himself as the backbone of
modern Bengali literature, and as such, his influence in modern works is
all-enveloping.
Tagore was more than a writer. Tagore was a visionary. He
looked forward to a world way ahead of his time, a world that we are only
beginning to comprehend today. Such was the genius of the man that he foresaw
the social, economic and political scenarios that are proving true almost a
century after his compositions. In his writings, Tagore spoke of a world that
the modern writer has grown up in. If we are to accept that a writer is
undeniably influence by his times, we directly understand the quintessential
influence of Tagore on the thought processes and sensitivities of the 21st
century author. Rabindranath Tagore, by sheer genius, is both a reference point
and a benchmark for the modern writer. He is the beginning and the end of
thematic brilliance.
There is no escaping the fact that Rabindranath Tagore is
the greatest influence for a modern writer, even more so for a Bengali writer.
His simplistic approach and his graceful tones can never be overlooked. The new
millennium welcomes his words with open arms and a glad heart.
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This is an entry to the Marathon Blogging Contest organised by Kolkata Literature Festival (www.facebook.com/kollitfest) and Kolkata Bloggers (www.facebook.com/KolkataBloggers)
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