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Rabindranath Tagore. 1861-1941. Life. Debendranath Tagore is his father—part of Brahmo Samaj movement Home educated 1913 Nobel prize; 1917 knighted—later resigned 1915 met Gandhi 1931 Hibbert lectures Religion of Man. Poet and Philosopher.
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Rabindranath Tagore 1861-1941
Life • Debendranath Tagore is his father—part of Brahmo Samaj movement • Home educated • 1913 Nobel prize; 1917 knighted—later resigned • 1915 met Gandhi • 1931 Hibbert lectures Religion of Man
Poet and Philosopher • Tagore claims to be a poet, not a philosopher. Yet, there are many who see him as an important Indian philosopher of the twentieth century. • Wrote Indian National Anthem
Jana gaṇa mana adhināyaka jaya hēBhārata bhāgya VidhātāPañjāba Sindhu Gujarāṭa MarāṭhāDrāviḍa Utkala BaṅgaVindhya Himācchala Yamunā GaṅgāUcchala jaladhi taraṅgaTava śubha nāmē jāgēTava śubha āśiṣa māgēGāhē tava jaya gāthāJana gaṇa maṅgala dāyaka jaya hēBhārata bhāgya vidhātāJaya hē jaya hē jaya hēJaya jaya jaya jaya hē! O! Dispenser of India's destiny, thou art the ruler of the minds of all people[8]Thy name rouses the hearts of Punjab, Sindh, Gujarat, the Maratha country,in the Dravida country, Utkala and Bengal;It echoes in the hills of the Vindhyas and Himalayas,it mingles in the rhapsodies of the pure waters of Yamuna and gangaThey chant only thy name.They seek only thy auspicious blessings.They sing only the glory of thy victory.The salvation of all people waits in thy hands,O! Dispenser of India's destiny, thou art the ruler of the minds of all peopleVictory to thee, Victory to thee, Victory to thee Jana Gana Manahttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bh26zOjIh9I
Tagore draws on the Upanishads, but is not committed to them. He is cautious about their epistemological tendencies and is inclined to aesthetics and feeling. Emotions are fundamental for Tagore—and the influence of Romanticism is clear here. He is connecting and intertwining Indian and Western positions.
Metaphysically, he holds to a God who is a great lover, a supreme person, goodness, truth, and beauty. He is more concerned with direct emotional experience than metaphysical doctrine. He focuses on spiritual harmony in interpersonal relations of solidarity, kinship with nature, and self-integrity that takes shape in artistic creativity
Crisis in Civilization • What is the crisis? • How has his attitude to the English changed? • Why? • What hope does he retain?
Race Conflict • What is the point of this essay? • How do you see Tagore trying to unite East and West?
The Creative Spirit from The Religion of Man • What is the process of evolution that Tagore describes? • Look at p. 372. What is the third act? • How do you see Tagore as influenced by the ancient Indian tradition? • What is the influence of European culture?
Spiritual Union from The Religion of Man • What is negative infinitude? • What is positive infinitude? • What is Tagore suggesting?