As the editor mentioned correctly, my first reaction to this edition was "Tagore, again!". But after reading the article by Prof. Sol ArgCello Scriba, I was really excited. How people of distant countries with different languages are still drawing inspiration from Rabindranath!
Shivaji Banerjee (v2banerj@us.ibm.com)
Your webpage on Rabindranath Tagore provides some excellent articles on Tagore, the "Myriad -Minded Man". The articles provide impressive analyses of his vast literary output, peppered with some wonderful critical perceptions. A must read for any student researching on Tagore!
RAYS105@aol.com
My first ever experience in visiting a site which is so close to my heart,with so much information on subjects which are a must read for any Indian or a Bengali wherever he may reside in this shrinking global village ! Looking forward most eagerly to further informative articles on Tagore and other stalwarts of undivided Bengal.Being an ex-student of Patha Bhavan,Santiniketan,feel at home with the link to Visva Bharati.
Chandrodoy Ghosh (bapida4@hotmail.com)
(basabchaudhuri@aol.com)
It is a wonderful issue on Tagore, reflecting lots of aspect of his life. Its good to see painting and film as Tagore's interesting psyche are not ignored, thats great to read articles by Dr Alokrongan Dasgupto, Clinton Booth, Kethoki Dyson, Brian Hatcher and many others. Recently I'm reading Kenyon Review of Ohio University, issue shows all noble prize winners of literature. From that issue the an article of Dr Saranindranath Tagore and Wendy Barker introduces meetings of Einstein and Rabindranath, their interviews and analysis is the outcome of that interview which is new. Again they couldn't go beyond Amiya Chokroborty, Marianoff, Ketoki, Robinson as the guidelines. Thanks to Samir for his mighty editorial strength, wonderful effort in bringing out such an enlightening anthorshash for the Bangalee pyche and culture.
Alamgeer Haque Schopon (alamgeer@onetel.net.uk)
[Article:'Rabindranath Tagore at the University of Costa Rica' by Sol Argüello Scriba]
I came across this article amidst an extremely
hectic schedule involving my profession, which is research in theoretical
physics. But I couldn't help but to write a few words in response to this
rare originality in feeling, on the part of the author. Abiding with the
time constraint that I am in right now, I would make this letter a short
one, albeit would highly appreciate if anyone is interested in a broader
and deeper discussion in the future. Dear author, I am a Bengali --
Tagore's sect. And probably it is quite needless to mention that I
perspire of Tagore, or at least try to do so. You were absolutely right in
apprehending the immense impact that Tagore still has (and I dare say,
will ever have) in the psychical setup for every Indians, and especially
that of the Bengalis. What we always tell in our mother tongue is that
there is absoultely no particular feeling, no emotion that Rabindranath
has not gone through in his gamut of experience and has not put the bowl
in front of us, for us to taste and admire. But what really makes me
shiver and obviuosly delighted is to think and imagine the effect of his
intellectual fragrance which might rake the young and budding minds in the
streets of Costa Rica. Your article was a revelation, a real doorway
towards the appreciation of Rabindranath's art in the so-distant lands of
South America. I convey you my utmost regards for your effort in
popularising our poet, or rather the poet of the world. Possibly one great
reason for which you can feel his pulse is the common universal bondage of
passion which links mankind, and binds together an entity so far, with the
blistering red soils of Bolpur. As I wrote at the very beginning, I am in
dirth of time right now, so let me conclude with two particular inquiries
from you. Have you ever heard the songs of Rabindranath and have seen his
paintings? If you haven't, please take care to do so. If there is one
single thing which will immortalise him, then those are his songs, most of
whom were actually tuned by the poet himself. As for his paintings, I and
many do sincerely believe that he is the best painter of modern India.
Dr. Amit Kumar Chattopadhyay (akc@mpipks-dresden.mpg.de)
Many, many thanks for the Tagore links. The Spring 2001 issue of The Kenyon Review [The Stand, in UK], is a double-issue to celebrate the works of Nobel Prize winners. The first selections are of Tagore's poetry from the last years of his life and of the few conversations and correspondence he exchanged with Albert Einstein. (I noted with interest that the West continually portrayed Tagore as the inscrutable mystic Einstein as the brilliant, scientific one. It took considerable effort on the part of the editors, Wendy Barker and Saranindranath Tagore, to get at a more accurate and complete portrayal of both men.) The entire text of this issue of the Kenyon Review is available free for download, or for $13 from the publishers. Go to www.kenyonreview.org. By the way, this issue also includes "54 University Avenue, Yangon" by Amitav Ghosh.
Laura Leigh Monterey
[Article: 'A People's Poet or a Literary Deity ?' by Indrani Chakrabarti]
This article provides a one-sided and parochial
view of a general Bengali's awareness of the life and works of
Rabindranath Tagore. From my personal experience and interaction with
quite a lot of Bengalis, I can tell that the picture presented in this
article is utterly skewed. A very few examples will substantiate the
point. During one of my very recent visits to Calcutta, India, I found
people calling in on the Bengali FM channel and requesting very "uncommon"
Rabindrasangeets to be played. Listening to the to the requested songs
featured in the "anurodher ashore" on Rabindrasangeet makes this trend
clearer. I found people requesting to hear songs like "Ghaatey boshey
aachhi aanmona" or "Boshey aachhi hey kaubey shunibo tomar bani". I can
give numerous such examples. The statistics from music companies like
saregama (HMV) and others also substantiate this point. I believe this
article is completely skewed and reflects the opinions and beliefs of a
very small section of Bengalis. The author should be careful about the
sample sizes and the representativeness of her samples before drawing some
powerful conclusions.
Subhasish Mitra (smitra@crc.stanford.edu)
I read the article "An Emperor of Life" by Budhdhadeva Bose(Translated by Nandini Gupta) and "Aamar Shilpee Jiboner Kichchu Khatha" by Rezwana Chowdhury Bannya from the special Rabindranath Issue of Parabaas. These were great. While reading I felt I was there in the Santiniketon with them, could picture how the great poet lived.
Nahid Rianon
The space is small and I am bereft of time, so I won't try to expound anything in gory details. But my immediate reaction after reading this article is one of confusion in one respect and certainty on the other. Let me explain. The "certainty" part concerns my unmitigated applause of Alokranjan's intellect as a diligent reader of literature which, however, in a way, impregnates his simultaneous confounded existence as a human soul. He seems to have pretty little to say apart from what one of his more earlier and much illustrious predecessor, Nirad Chaudhury had done quite a while back in analysing Tagore. I presume that he won't be greatly amused with this comparison but my point lies in the laconic weaving of images which both of them have spun while interpreting Tagore, something which has got very little to do with Tagore in its originality, but rather is a sounding board of their own gargantuan egos. Obviously, I know that he takes great pride in declaring himself a singularity compared to common Bengali ethos but I have great doubts how sporting he himself will be when confronted with the glaring truth that in this respect at least, he is more "Bengali" than the average Bengali in general.
An unsuccesful poet himself, Alokranjan has the great distinction as a scholar in the game, evidences of which he has amply scattered all throughout the article. But he seems to have lost himself in the labyrinth of intellectual pursuit and while at one time tries to identify himself as a radical communist (well someone of those theoretical ones, I suppose) while on the other, attempts to identify some sort of a Freudian analysis, in his theological process. Then again he himself embarks on identifying his emotions with the rather "tranquil" structures of the Brechtian philosophy. I am really confused.
However, there is certainly a grain of truth when he speaks about some of the earlier luminaries in the Bengal literary scene, immediately after Tagore. But then again his own quest for identity appears to be laid out in the same desolate path, something which, if I am not mistaken, he is rather pained to admit. He actually reminds me of the first line in "1946" by Jibananda. I take real pity in his plight -- a great erudite in his own right but plaugued, probably irretrievably by an identity crisis of our "uncertain" age. Anyway, I am sorry for having to terminate here and certainly understand that my criticisms should ideally have been weaved in a more detailed logical structure.
Amit K Chattopadhyay (akc@mpipks-dresden.mpg.de)
[Article: 'jhNakidarshan' by Chirantan Kundu]
Fantastic writing! ingeniously written at the
same time very sweet and heartening. reminds me of sukumar ray's
kalachnader chobi and chalachitto chanchari a bit too.
Indira Chakravorty (amind@earthlink.net)
[Article: 'jhNakidarshan' by Chirantan Kundu]
Good jokes to hear towards tody's point of view. We have arranged a quiz on his birthday celebration. We have asked for date of birth and date of death to our audience. But sorry to quote nobody can answer out 50 people in the group of ten. Since they were not aware of the latest development regarding Tagore.
Dibyendu Sekhar Bhowmik
[Article: 'jhNakidarshan' by Chirantan Kundu]
P>
(mnag62@yahoo.com)
[Article: 'jhNakidarshan' by Chirantan Kundu]
(swagat0@yahoo.com)
[Article: 'jhNakidarshan' by Chirantan Kundu]
(c_dutta@hotmail.com)
[Article: 'Amar Shilpijiban Shamparke du-ekTi katha' by Rezwana Banya Chaudhuri]
(KALfromFL@aol.com)
