THE HINDU STUDENTS COUNCIL PRESENTS RABINDRA JAYANTI 2005

THE HINDU STUDENTS COUNCIL PRESENTS RABINDRA JAYANTI 2005 CELEBRATING TAGORE

Where the mind is without fear and the head is held high Where knowledge is free Where the world has not been broken up into fragments By narrow domestic walls Where words come out from the depth of truth Where tireless striving stretches its arms towards perfection Where the clear stream of reason has not lost its way Into the dreary desert sand of dead habit Where the mind is led forward by Thee Into ever-widening thought and action Into that heaven of freedom, my Father, let my country awake From- Rabindranath Tagore's Geetanjali

Hey Nuton Dekha Dik Aarbaar Janmero Prothomo Shubhokhaan

Hey Nuton Dekha Dik Aarbaar Janmero Prothomo Shubhokhaan Hey nuton, O invigorating one, Dekha dik aar-baar Reveal yourself again-and-again Janmer pratham subhokhan. Beautiful first moments of your Tomaro prakash hog, birth Kuhulika kori udhgatan May your light manifest itself Shurjer moton. To penetrate the mist Riktata-r bakkha bhedi Like the Sun. Aapnar-e karo unmochan. Piercing the embodiment of Byakta hok jivener jaya, emptiness Byakta hok Reveal yourself to us. Toma-majhe asima-r chir. Let there be assertion of Life’s bismay. triumph Uday-digante shankh baaje, In you, let there be expression More chitta-majhe Of that ever-wondrous limitless. Chir-nutoner-e dilo daak In the morning horizon, Pacchis-e baisakh. The conch plays within my heart. Ever-new has been called th

Tagore & Social Reform

Aamaar Maatha Nato Korey

Amaar Maatha Nato Korey Amaar maatha nato korey dao hey tomar Charano dhularo toley Shakalo ahankaare aamaar Dobaao chokher jale amaar Nije rey korite gauraba daan Nije rey kebali kori apamaan Aponaare shudhu gheriya gheryia Ghure mori paley Amare na jano kori prochaar Amaro apono kaajey Tomari iccha koro hey purna Amaro jibano majhey Jachi hey tomaro charomo shanti Poraney tomar karamo kanti Amare Aar Koriya Daarao Hridaya Padda Daley Lower my head Beneath the dust of Thy feet Drown my self-conceit In the depth of my tears. In order to glorify myself I constantly insult my (inner) self Dead tired I become, revolving around myself. May I not promote myself In any of my deeds. Fulfill Thy mission, O Lord, Through this life of mine. Grant me Thy ultimate peace, Thy permanent grace in life. Let the lotus heart feel Thy presence As the shield of love.

Bajilo Kahar Beena

Bajilo Kahar Beena Bajilo kahar bina, Modhur swarey Amar nibhrito nabo jibon porey Probhat kamalsamo Uthilo Hridoy Mamo Kar duti nirupamo charantorey Jege otho sab shova, sob madhuri Palokey palokey hia, pulokey puri Kotha hotey somiron, aaney nabo jagoran Poraner aboron mochano korey Laage bukey, sukhey dukhey kato je betha Kemoney bujhaye kabo na jani kotha Amar basona aaji, tribhuboney uthey baaji Kaapey nodi banoraji, bedonabhorey Whose lyre(veena) is playing such a sweet tune At the feet of my silent, new life Like a morning lotus, my heart blossoms For whose two beautiful feet Wake up all slumberers, all inebriated Wakes up every moment my heart and fills my home From where the wind brings a new awakening Breaking the cover of life My heart feels the pain of happiness and sorrow I do not have words to explain My desire today rings out in the threeworlds Causing the river and the forests to tremble in pain

Tumi Kemon Korey Gaan Koro Hey Guni Tum Kaise Sur Mein Gaa Rahey Hey Guni

Tum Kaise Sur Mein Gaa Rahey Hey Guni Tum kaise sur mein gaa rahe, Hey guni Main to awaak, hoke sunoo, kewal sunoo Sur ki abha chaye bhuvan mein Sur ki hawa bahe gagan mein Pathar toote vyakul veg mein Bahe jaa rahi sur ki surdwani Man karta hai tere jaisa gaaoon Kanth mein main swar khoj na paaoon Kehna kya hai kehte kanth roondhe Haar maankar praan merae roye Mujhpar tune daale kaise phande Chouhun ho rahi sur ki jaalbuni How dost thou sing so melodiously, O Talented One! Amazed, I listen captivated, I simply listen. The glow of your melody pervades this Universe The breeze of Your melody floats across the sky Stones break in its gutsy force And it flows on, The sound of melodies. My heart yearns to sing like you, In my throat, I cannot find my voice My voice chokes as I try to utter your words, Failed, my being weeps What noose have you thrown around my neck? Everywhere You weave this web of melodies.

Tagore and Feminism: Deconstructing the role of the Female Heroine in Rabindranath Tagore’s Works

Overview • Feminism as a central aspect within all modes of Tagore’s work • Construction of the Female Heroine: – Female’s emotions – Feminine empowerment • “Performing Rabindranath” as a feminist construct

Females in the Limelight • • • Short Stories Drama Dance Rabindrasangeet and Poetry Viswa Bharathi and Shantiniketan

The Female Heroine • Female’s emotions • Feminine empowerment

Charulata • Based on Tagore’s "Nastanirh“ (“The Broken Nest”) • Satyajit Ray’s Adaptation – – – 1870 s, India under British rule Charu, “The Lonely Wife” Bhupati, her husband an intellectual Amal, Bhupati’s younger cousin Charu transcends her role as wife Through writing, she is liberated, but is society willing to accept this new woman?

Charulata Film Clip

Charulata • Themes – Female emotion • Love – Female empowerment • Liberation through writing • Is Charu ultimately seen as an equal by her husband? By society? • Emergence of the modern woman in the upper-class of colonial India

“Performing Rabindranath” • Women performers of Tagore’s works in the forefront – Great performers, teachers, musicians – Female actresses as empowered leaders

Global Perspectives • Women’s movement as a humanist construct • Role of women – Intrinsic to Bengal – Comparison to rest of world

Conclusion: Is the world yet able to accept Tagore’s vision of the strong, liberated woman? “Kadombini moriya proman korilo je she more nai” “Kadombini commits death to prove she was alive” -Tagore, Chokher Bali

Shuneel Shagorey

Shuneel Shagorey Shuneel shaagorer shyamal kinarey Dekhechhi pothey jete tulonahinari E kotha kobhu aar paari naa ghuchitey Aachhe she nikhiler madhuri ruchitey E kotha shikhanu je amar binary Ganetey chinalen se chiro chinarey She kotha surey chhorabo pichhoney Swapanofasoler bichhoney Modhupgunjey se lahari tulibey Kusumkunje se pabaney dulibey Jhoribey shraboner badolosichoney Walking by the dark banks of the blue ocean I saw the incomparable lady I am unable to organize my thoughts She is the loving idea of the endless I taught this to my lyre (veena) I introduced the ever-known through my songs These words shall follow my tunes In the beds of fruits of dreams In the garden of love, they will ride the waves They will roll in the winds of the flower gardens They will shed in the rains of the monsoon

Chal Akela Rey

Aami chini go chini tomaarey, ogo bideshini

Aami Chini Go Chini Tomaarey, Ogo Bideshini I know you, I so know you, O Lady of the Foreign Land Ami chini-go-chini tomare Ogo Bideshini Tumi thaako sindhu pare Ogo bideshini. Tomaye dekhechi sharadpratey, Tomaye dekhechi madhobiraatey, Tomaye dekhechi hridimajharey Ogo bideshini. Aami aakash-e patiya kaan, Shunechi shunechi tomar gaan, Aami tomare sonpechi pran Ogo bideshini. Bhubano bhramiya seshey, Aami eshechi nuton deshey, Aami atithi tomari dware I know you, I so know you, O lady of foreign land. Across the ocean, you live O lady of the foreign land. On a soft wintry morning I see you, I see you in those inebriated nights, I see you in center of my heart O lady of the foreign land. Lending my ears to the skies, I hear your songs. I have surrendered my life to you, O lady of the foreign lands. Traversing the whole World I have come to this new country. I am guest at your door, O lady of the foreign land.

Aaguner Parasmoni Chhoao Praaney Touch my Soul with the magic of your Fire (O Lord)

Aaguner Parasmoni Chhoao Praaney Aaguner parasmani chuaao prane Ey jiban punna karo Dahan dane. Amar-e deho-khani tule dharo, Tomare-e devalaye pradip karo. Nishidin aalok sikha jaluk gane. Adhare-r gaye parash tav Sara rat phutak tara nav. Nayane-r drishti hote goonchbe kalo, Jekhane porbe sethaye Dekhabe aalo. Betha mor uthbe jale urdhva-pane. Touch my soul with magic of your fire. Make my life a pious offering. Lift me in your arms Make me the flame to light your temple, Day and night, let me burn in your songs In every dark corner I sense your touch, Night is replete with new stars. From these enlightened eyes, darkness shall vanish Wherever I set my sights, I will see light. Let my pain burn away with the flame.

Tagore and Education VISHWA BHARATI, SHANTINIKETAN Tara Beteille, Rashmi Raghu Stanford University

Purpose of Education Achieving unity with truth Harmony with all existence Acquiring fullness in person Freeing the soul

What should such an education be? • Freedom of thought • Freedom of movement • Freedom to create “To discover freedom of outlook, the mind must soar into the upper air of abstraction, swim into the very heart of the infinite for the mere joy of it, and then fly back to its nest in the world. ” …Tagore in “My School”

The ‘School’ • Alienates the child from nature – Stresses humankind’s superiority; defines a hierarchy that restricts freedom and the learning process • Alienates the child from itself – Uniformity and averages – Transmitting information – Standardized curriculum and examinations

“A mind all logic is like a knife all blade. It makes the hand bleed that uses it. ” …. Rabindranath Tagore

Shantiniketan Open, free, abundant and spontaneous Learning from nature, life and the teacher

Shantiniketan Nature as an unending source of learning The teacher as friend & guide: liberates individual initiative and enterprise

Shantiniketan No desks, chairs or classrooms Children should be free To organize their own environment

Shantiniketan • Education: gradual and progressive • Begin with the training of instincts and emotions and in self-reliance and communal cooperation • Next: art, music and play • Medium of instruction to be the mother tongue • Opposed religious instruction

Vishwa-Bharati: The University • Vishwa-Bharati - ‘Knowledge of the World’ – a new kind of ‘university’ • Motto: “Yatra Vishwum Bhavatyekanidam” – all the world in one place. Emphasized the need for a mutually beneficial relationship between the east and the west. • “a school in which men of different civilizations and traditions may learn to live together. ” • Sriniketan – center for helping rural and village community developments.

What can we learn? • We must be willing to engage in processes of negotiation and redefinition – What should progress and civilization be? – How important are power and success to true development?

“…respect all the differences that are real, yet remain conscious of our oneness; and to know that perfection of unity is not in uniformity but in harmony. ” …. Tagore in Creative Unity

Dariye Aachho Tumi Aamar

Dariye Aachho Tumi Aama Daariye aachho tumi amar gaaner o paarey Aamar surgulee paaye charan aami paayine tomaarey Baataash bohey mori, aar bedhe rekho na tori Esho esho paar hoye mor hridoy -o majhamre Tomar saathey gaaner khela, durer khela je Bedonate baasi bajaye sakol bela je Kobey neeye amar baasi, bajabe go aapni aasi Anondomoy neerob raater goviro aadhaarey You stand on the other side of my songs My tune finds their hold, I cannot find you Wind blows softly, do not bind me anymore Come, cross over, into the center of my heart With you I play the game of songs, but this game is still at a distance All day, the flute plays in my sadness When will you take my flute and play it yourself In the happy and quiet darkness of the night

Klaanti Meri Kshama Karo Prabhu Forgive My Fatigue, O Lord

Klaanti Meri Kshama Karo Probhu Klanti meri kshama karo prabhu Forgive my fatigue, O Lord, Path mein peeche rahun If I’ve fallen behind on my kabhi journey Hriday mera thara Forgive my fatigue, O Lord. Kaampe aaj rahe My body shivers today all Yehi vedna kshama karo over kshama karo prabhu Forgive my pain, Meri deenta kshama karo prabhu Forgive me, O Lord. Peeche dekhu murhke jo kabhi Forgive my destitution, O Din taape yeh rudra jwaala Lord, Sukhi tere pooja maala If I look back sometimes. Yehi mlanta kshama karo In the dreadful heat of day, Your garland has dried up. Forgive my soiled offering, O Lord.

Jodi tor daak shuney keu naa ashe tobey ekla chalo rey If no one heeds your call, then go on alone

Ekla Chalo, Ekla Chalo Rey Go on alone, go on alone, Go on alone

Jodi tor daak shuney keu naa ashe tobey ekla chalo rey If no one heeds your call, then go on alone

Jodi Keyu Kotha na koy If no one speaks up

Orey orey O Obhaaga, Keyu kotha na koye O Unfortunate One, if no one speaks up

Jodi shobai thaake mukh phiraye, Shobai kore bhoy If all have turned their face away and are fearful

Tobey poran khuley O Tui Mukh phutey tor moner kotha Ekla Bolo Rey Then, open your heart, and speak your mind on your own

Jodi tor daak shuney keu naa ashe tobey ekla chalo rey If no one heeds your call, then go on alone

Jodi shobai phirey jaye If all are leaving you

Orey orey O Obhaaga shobai phirey jaye O Unfortunate One, if all are leaving you

Jodi gahan pathey jabar kaaley Keyu phirey naa chaaye As they leave, if no one even glances back

Tobey Pother Kaanta O Tui Raktomakha Charan Toley Ekla Dolo Rey Then with your blood-soaked feet, Trample thorns in your path and move on

Jodi tor daak shuney keu naa ashe tobey ekla chalo rey If no one heeds your call, then go on alone

Jodi aalo na dhorey If the flame does not hold

Orey orey O Obhaaga Aalo naa dhorey O Unfortunate one, if the flame does not hold

Jodi Jhor Badoley Aandhar Raatey Duaar Daye Ghorey If on a stormy night, all have shut their doors to you

Tobey bajra noley, Aapon buker paanjor jaliye neeye Ekla jolo rey Then, let the lightning set your breastbone ablaze and shine on alone

Jodi tor daak shuney keu naa ashe tobey ekla chalo rey If no one heeds your call, then go on alone

Ekla Chalo, Ekla Chalo Rey Go on alone, go on alone, Go on alone

Jodi tor daak shuney keu naa ashe tobey ekla chalo rey If no one heeds your call, then go on alone

NATIONALISM

Tagore composed two songs that were adopted as the national anthems of India and Bangladesh

INDIAN NATIONAL ANTHEM JANA GANA MANA

Jana Gana Mana A Spiritual Prayer The people of this land celebrate the glory of the controller of their destiny! From Punjab, Sindh, Gujarat, Maharashtra, to the Southern lands and Bengal, from the Vidhyas, Himachals, the dancing waters of the Yamuna and Ganga.

Glory to the ruler of the minds of all people, the controller of India's destiny.

Thy name arouses all, from the hearts of the Punjab, Sindh, Gujarat, Maharashtra, to the Southern lands Orrisa and Bengal, from the Vindhyas, Himalayas, the rivers Yamuna and Ganga, to the Indian ocean.

They all seek thy blessing and sing to thy glory.

Glory to the well-wisher of this sea of humanity, the controller of India’s destiny. Glory to thee, Glory to thee!

Jana Gana Mana Adhinayaka Jaya Hey Bharata Bhagya Vidhaata Glory to the ruler of the minds of all people, the controller of India's destiny.

Punjaaba Sindha Gujarata Marathaa Dravida Utkala Banga Vidhya Himachala Yamuna Gangaa Ucchala Jaladhi Taranga Tava Shubha Naame Jaage Thy name arouses all, from the hearts in Punjab, Sindh, Gujarat, Maharashtra, to the Southern lands, Orissa and Bengal from the Vidhyas and the Himalayas, to the dancing waters of the Yamuna and Ganga

Tava Shubha Ashisha Maange Gahey Taba Jaya Gaatha They all seek thy blessing and sing to thy glory.

Jana Gana Mangala Dayaka Jaya Hey, Bharata Bhagya Vidhaata Glory to the well-wisher of this sea of humanity, The controller of India’s destiny. Jaya Hey, Jaya Hey Jaya Hey Glory to thee, glory to thee!

When asked what he thought of Western culture, Gandhi thought “it was a good idea. ”

Tagore opposed British Rule, not Western culture and civilization

Stressed Synthesis of cultures “To get on familiar terms with the local people is a part of your education. To know only agriculture is not enough; you must know America too. Of course if, in the process of knowing America, one begins to lose one's identity and falls into the trap of becoming an Americanised person contemptuous of everything Indian, it is preferable to stay in a locked room. ” … to his son-in-law Nagendranath Gangulee who had come to America in 1907 to study Agriculture

Rebelled against strongly nationalist form of independence movement “He was afraid that a rejection of the West in favor of an indigenous Indian tradition was not only limiting in itself; it could easily turn into hostility to other influences from abroad, including Christianity… Judaism… Zoroastrianism… and most importantly, Islam. ” … Nobel Laureate Amartya Sen, on Tagore

Criticized Patriotism “Patriotism cannot be our final spiritual shelter; my refuge is humanity. I will not buy glass for the price of diamonds, and I will never allow patriotism to triumph over humanity as long as I live. ” … in a letter, responding to the criticism of Abala Bose, wife of scientist J. C. Bose

Criticized Patriotism “I am willing to serve my country; but my worship I reserve for Right which is far greater than my country. To worship my country as a God is to bring a curse upon it. ” … the protagonist in Tagore’s novel, The Home and the World

Gandhi & Tagore popularized the term “Mahatma” when referring to Gandhi “Great as he is as a politician, as an organizer, as a leader of men, as a moral reformer, he is greater than all these as a man, because none of these aspects and activities limits his humanity. They are rather inspired and sustained by it. ” … Tagore in the essay, “Gandhi, the Man”

Gandhi & Tagore Gandhi and Nehru both appreciated the important role Tagore played in the national freedom struggle, although Gandhi and Tagore shared serious differences on nationalism, patriotism and vision. … Nobel Laureate Amartya Sen, on Tagore

On Freedom “When Freedom is not an inner idea which imparts strength to our activities and breadth to our creations, when it is merely a thing of external circumstance, it is like an open space to one who is blindfolded. ” …Tagore in his essay, “The Spirit of Freedom”

On the West and India “The civilization of the West has in it the spirit of the machine which must move; and to that blind movement human lives are offered as fuel, keeping up the steampower. ” …Tagore in his essay, “The Spirit of Freedom”

On the West and India The present civilization of India has the constraining power of the mould. It squeezes living man in the grip of rigid regulations… …Tagore in his essay, “The Spirit of Freedom”

On the West and India In both of these traditions life is offered up to something which is not life… …Tagore in his essay, “The Spirit of Freedom”

On the West and India The West is continually producing mechanical power in excess of its spiritual control, and India has produced a system of mechanical control in excess of its vitality. …Tagore in his essay, “The Spirit of Freedom”

Freedo Where the mind is without fear and the head is held high m Where knowledge is free Where the world has not been broken up into fragments By narrow domestic walls Where words come out from the depth of truth Where tireless striving stretches its arms towards perfection Where the clear stream of reason has not lost its way Into the dreary desert sand of dead habit Where the mind is led forward by Thee Into ever-widening thought and action Into that heaven of freedom, my Father, let my country awake -- Rabindranath Tagore's Geetanjali

What is India?

What is India? Indian

What is India? Indian American

What is India? Indian American Indian XXX

What is India? Indian XXX Indian American Indian Subcontinent

The Indian Ethos

The Indian Ethos “I do not think that it is the spirit of India to reject anything, reject any race, reject any culture. The spirit of India has always proclaimed the ideal of unity. The ideal of unity never rejects anything, any race, or any culture. It comprehends all, and it has been the highest aim of our spiritual exertion to be able to penetrate all things with one soul, to comprehend all things as they are, and not to keep out anything in the whole universe – to comprehend all things with sympathy and love. This is the spirit of India… India is there to unite all human races. ” …Tagore in his Nobel Prize Acceptance Speech

An International Hymn SRinvantu viswe am. Ritasya putraa. H vedehametam purusham mahaantam aditya varnam tamasa parastat tvameva viditvaa am. Ritvameti …Shwestashwara Upanishad “Hark O children of the Immortal, Listen O Divine beings, I have known Him – The One beyond all illusion, Beyond darkness, ever resplendent. Know Him, look at Him. That’s the only way to transcend death. ”

Tomaar Holo Shuru Aamaar Holo Shaara Tera Yeh Ath Hai, Iti Hai Yeh Mera

Tera Yeh Ath Hai, Iti Hai Yeh Mera Tera yeh ath hai Iti hai yeh mera Tum hum mile yunhi Behti rahe dhara Tere jale baati Tere ghar saathi Mere yahan raatri Mere rahe taara Tera hai kinaara Meri jaldhaara Rehna tera nishchal Mera yeh chala chal Rahe jo tere kar mein Kshay ho mere kar mein Bhay hai tere man mein Main hoon bhayahaara Thine is the beginning, My lot is ending You & I thus mingling, Like a stream ever flowing. For you there’s lamp, You have your friend, For me there’s darkness For me stars are twinkling. For you there’s land, I have water below, For you there is waiting, For me is endless rolling.