The Bard by the Bay: Musings on Tagore

The bard from Bengal, Rabindranath Tagore's poetry has furnished poetic answers to many a human dilemma and questioning. The poet had wondered if his poetry would be read a hundred years after him. Now after his 150th year, we realise that they appeal to us in today's world as much as they ever did. Literary critics outside of Bengal have not paid much attention to his best works despite his distinction of being the first Asian Nobel Laureate in Literature. Judged by a slim volume of a 103 songs in prose translation that hardly do justice to his profound poetry, the prolific writer of more than 2000 poems and songs has been unfairly short-changed by the literary world. Rabindranath Tagore is, unfortunately, yet to receive his due. From a vantage point of firsthand knowledge of his original Complete Works, and from being immersed in Rabindrik culture, Bandana Ghosh, author of Images of Women in the Cowardian Universe, illuminates upon some aspects which have been missed by those who have accused Tagore of soppy piety --- his biting satire, sparkling parry and thrust, and hard core sense gift-wrapped in amazing poetry. The Bard by the Bay serves as recompense for the void that exists in the appreciation of Rabindranath Tagore's oeuvre.