Kadambari Devi was married with Jyotirindranath Thakur in July 1868 when she was 9 years (born 1859) and Jyotirindranath 19 (born 1849).At that time Rabindranath was 7 (born 1861) and began writing poetry in 1869 when he was 8. Mother of Rabindranath, Sarada Devi, died in March 1875 when Rabindranath was 14.
Rabindranath went to London from Bombay in Sept 1878 at the age of 17 (10 yrs contact with Kadambari, childhood friend) and returned in Feb 1880 and one and 1/2 years later. Rabindranath was married in Dec 1883 ( 4 yrs contact in adolescent stage) at the age of 22. Kadambari died in April 1884 when Rabindranath was 22. Hence Rabindranath had close acquaintance with Kadambari 16 yrs less 1&1/2 for remaining absent on study in London. This period is divided in two parts.
Rabindranath had close contact with Kadambari in two overlapping phases, 1.child and 2.adolescent.
She inspired young Rabindranath in composing many of his poems with her creative feedback and comments. She was also a good friend and playmate. She was one of the women who played a very important part in his life. Her relationship with Tagore was controversial and had elements of tragedy.
Krishna Kripalani, who married Tagore's granddaughter, writes in his own biography of Tagore, the futility of speculating on the causes of the suicide by Kadambari Devi.
The effect of Kadambari Devi's death on the mind of Rabindranath can readily be established from Tagore's own words expressed in a correspondence to a young Amiya Chakraborty of about 16, who would, a decade or so later, become Tagore's literary secretary for a period of time. Tagore wrote to him in 1917 (Kripalani's translation):
Once, when I was about your age, I suffered a devastating sorrow, similar to yours now. A very close relative of mine committed suicide, and she had been my life's total support, right from childhood onward. And so with her unexpected death it was as if the earth itself receded from beneath my feet, as though the skies above me all went dark. My universe turned empty, my zest for life departed.
In 1884, there were three sad deaths: On 8 January, Keshab Chandra Sen, on 19 April, Kadambari Devi (an unnatural death), and on 5 June, Hemendranath Tagore. This was a great loss to the Tagore family, specially the untimely death of Hemendranath Tagore at the age of 40 years. In his reminiscences, Rabindranath spent more than 2,500 words to explain the loss of Kadambari Devi. He wrote that his mother's death did not affect him so strongly for he was too young ( 14 years old) and Kadambari Devi, aged 16, assumed the role of a surrogate maternal figure. Tagore's biographer, Prabhat Kumar Mukhopadhyaya, writes that she was more a playmate. A number of poems written by Rabindranath at different times expresses his deep sorrow. He dedicated four books to her before her death and two more after. In 1901, he portrayed her as Charu in Nashtanir. Mr. Krishna Kripalini concluded that
Rabindranath was engaged in writing poems for Karhi O Komal . He wrote a prose drama " Nalini" "Bibaha Utsab" was staged on the occasion marriage ceremony of Hiranmayee and Akshay Choudhury. for this marriage ceremony Rabindranath created 45 songs. Rabindranath created 8 Brahmo songs for Maghotsab.
He read an essay Akalkushmanda in Sabitri Library.
Rabindranath went to London from Bombay in Sept 1878 at the age of 17 (10 yrs contact with Kadambari, childhood friend) and returned in Feb 1880 and one and 1/2 years later. Rabindranath was married in Dec 1883 ( 4 yrs contact in adolescent stage) at the age of 22. Kadambari died in April 1884 when Rabindranath was 22. Hence Rabindranath had close acquaintance with Kadambari 16 yrs less 1&1/2 for remaining absent on study in London. This period is divided in two parts.
Rabindranath had close contact with Kadambari in two overlapping phases, 1.child and 2.adolescent.
She inspired young Rabindranath in composing many of his poems with her creative feedback and comments. She was also a good friend and playmate. She was one of the women who played a very important part in his life. Her relationship with Tagore was controversial and had elements of tragedy. Krishna Kripalani, who married Tagore's granddaughter, writes in his own biography of Tagore, the futility of speculating on the causes of the suicide by Kadambari Devi.
The effect of Kadambari Devi's death on the mind of Rabindranath can readily be established from Tagore's own words expressed in a correspondence to a young Amiya Chakraborty of about 16, who would, a decade or so later, become Tagore's literary secretary for a period of time. Tagore wrote to him in 1917 (Kripalani's translation):
Once, when I was about your age, I suffered a devastating sorrow, similar to yours now. A very close relative of mine committed suicide, and she had been my life's total support, right from childhood onward. And so with her unexpected death it was as if the earth itself receded from beneath my feet, as though the skies above me all went dark. My universe turned empty, my zest for life departed.In 1884, there were three sad deaths: On 8 January, Keshab Chandra Sen, on 19 April, Kadambari Devi (an unnatural death), and on 5 June, Hemendranath Tagore. This was a great loss to the Tagore family, specially the untimely death of Hemendranath Tagore at the age of 40 years. In his reminiscences, Rabindranath spent more than 2,500 words to explain the loss of Kadambari Devi. He wrote that his mother's death did not affect him so strongly for he was too young ( 14 years old) and Kadambari Devi, aged 16, assumed the role of a surrogate maternal figure. Tagore's biographer, Prabhat Kumar Mukhopadhyaya, writes that she was more a playmate. A number of poems written by Rabindranath at different times expresses his deep sorrow. He dedicated four books to her before her death and two more after. In 1901, he portrayed her as Charu in Nashtanir. Mr. Krishna Kripalini concluded that
"I have nothing more to add to this controversy. I, personally, believe that, with my little knowledge of Rabindranath Tagore and his family life, Kadambari Devi was in love with him, and when his marriage was organised by his family she was heartbroken and committed suicide. (http:// forums.sulekha.com/forums/coffeehouse/kadambari-devi-rabindranath-tagore)
Rabindranath was engaged in writing poems for Karhi O Komal . He wrote a prose drama " Nalini" "Bibaha Utsab" was staged on the occasion marriage ceremony of Hiranmayee and Akshay Choudhury. for this marriage ceremony Rabindranath created 45 songs. Rabindranath created 8 Brahmo songs for Maghotsab.
He read an essay Akalkushmanda in Sabitri Library.
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