Students galore when it is about Tagore!

“When I go from hence, let this be my parting word, that what I have seen is unsurpassable” – Gitanjali

And it indeed was unsurpassable for Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore, who lived an extraordinary life. No! Don’t be mistaken on account of his achievements. His life may appear illustrious from the outside, but it was filled with innumerable deep seated sorrows.

Why don’t you ask about Tagore’s life to any Bengali friend you might have? However, be prepared then to listen to a long speech about the old bearded man, his life’s travails, and the rich cultural legacy he left behind. While one must feel proud of Tagore’s achievements not only as a Bengali, but foremost as an Indian (for he became the first Non-European to win the Nobel Prize in literature for Gitanjali in 1913) but it is more essential that one read his works and understand what he stood for.

Celebrated Bengali writer Sunil Gangopadhyay answered this the best. In an exclusive interview with national award winning filmmaker Rituparno Ghosh, the former mentioned, “Rabindranath suffered many losses throughout his life (losing his wife, several children and the partition of Bengal). But all that pain came out in his art. Unlike a common man, he never whined or belittled anyone. Can you imagine how vast his contribution to literature is? Not only did the man work all his life, but he also took part in many social movements. He even established a school in Shantiniketan to lay the fabric of a humanist education system, and all this at his own expense. Not just in literature, but his contributions for society are immense. We seldom see such a power in Bengalis nowadays.”

This year the world celebrates the 162^nd birth anniversary of the man, who has written more than 2000 poems, 3000 songs, 50 plays and many novels. Let us no longer limit Tagore to only this single occasion. Instead, let us try to embrace the spiritual humanism ‘Gurudeb’ advocated for in all his writings and do our bit in making the world we live in a paradise in real.

Rising theater actress, Sristi Das, has many splendid performances under her belt. Be it in Mandi House or any other auditorium in Delhi, Sristi has always received huge applause for her performances. Speaking about her experience of acting in Tagore plays she mentions, “I was lucky enough to be part of Gurudeb’s play enactments during the Durga Puja cultural performances in Delhi. I remember, we had summarised three of his Nritya Natyas – Chitra, Shyama and Chandalika. I was part of the play Chitrangadha and played the role of Princess Chitrangada, a female warrior.” 

She continues, “Chitra‘s story for me was not only about love, but also the equality she sought all her life. She longed to be seen as Arjun’s equal in archery hence, external beauty couldn’t make her feel content within. The theme of the play has stayed with me till now and I  find it relatable with my own life and struggles. This is Tagore’s genius that everyone can relate to his plays no matter the time and age. ”

Sristi further opines that Tagore’s plays were way ahead of its time. She asserts, “It was revolutionary for that era and is also very relevant for the modern day. Let me explain this with an interesting observation. All his female characters stood out. Take Binodini, Charulata, Labanya or even Nandini from the play Rakta Karabi (Red Oleanders). They were all free from societal definitions and were so independent by spirit. They all had a voice of their own and the courage to follow their heart to answer their desires. They truly lived for themselves which mind you is difficult for women even today.” The thespian beautifully summarises her statements saying, “Tagore is still alive, for his work is classic, yet modern, a very rare combination.”

And so are Apeejay Schools. The Apeejay Group has always strived for holistic education, much of which is in sync with Tagore’s vision of man-making. Apeejay Schools have always made their students learn about Rabindranath Tagore’s life as inspiration and read his works to broaden the horizons of their mind.  

A special assembly was organised at Apeejay School, Noida to celebrate the legend’s birth anniversary. The assembly was organised by students of class 8-C, as they paid a hearty tribute to the Bard of Bengal with a rich cultural ceremony. The assembly commenced with the daily prayer, followed by the thoughts for the day and news headlines. An informative talk on the life and works of Tagore filled the students with willpower and a spirit of inner strength.

Class 8-C students then presented a short skit on the celebrated short story Kabuliwala. It was followed by a dance performance on the famous Rabindra sangeet, ‘Pagla Hawar Badol Dine’ and ‘Ekla Cholo Re’, which put the audience into a rapture. The school compound resonated with Tagore’s songs as a wave of transcendental serenity spread around.  

Principal, Ms Ritu Kohli, congratulated the students for their brilliant performances and urged all of them to read more of Gurudeb‘s works. In her address to the students, she mentioned the vastness of Tagore’s literary canvas. She  also encouraged all students to take inspiration from his works available in the school library. She finally asserted that Tagore’s poems fuel one with willpower, no matter what age and stage one is in life.