Creativity of Rabindranath (1883-84)

The first day of the year 1290 [13 April 1883] started with the prayer of New year in the Maharshi Bhavan.Two songs 1. sakha tumi accho kothay, and 2. pravu elem kothay wrote by Rabindranath.
After a few days Rabindranath , on 2nd    May,  went to attend 20th ceremony of Brahmmo Samaj at Shyambazar , established by Kashiswari in Nandan Bagan.Sree Ramkrishna was present on invitation.
In the critical estimate of Bharati of Baishakh issue of 1290 , it was said , " Many a time readers became tired by reading monotonous poems written by Rabindrababu, I`f one reads "Saadh" his ideas about Rabindrababu will be changed. ....but after reading his 2/1 national songs the  heart of the sleepery Bengalees became alert and sad to observe that his voice remained silent about this."  
Observing the criticism Rabindranath  became unsatisfied .  
In the criticism column of Bhadra Ashwin  iussue of Bharati 1291 the "Bauler gaan/ sangeet sangraha   Bauler Gatha " was criticism. 
The kabya grantha "'Pravat sangeet'" was published ion 11 May 1883. Rabindranath wrote in the advertisement column , "Pravat Sangeet was published. "Avimanini Nirjharini" was not written by me. "Nirjharer Swapnabhanga" being published one of my respected friend had written that poem.
The poem Abhimanini Nirjharini Swapnabhangha was written in the line of Nirjharer swapnabhanga  but this was not written by Rabindranath Both the poems were published in "Pravat Sangeet"..
After the publication of Pravat Sangeet Bhudev Chandra Mukhopadhyay  
In this month eleventh book of Rabindranath , third prose book , and first collection of essays " Bibidha Prasanga" were published. The essays were published in Bharati.
No criticism were published excepting in the 8th oct 1883 in Hindu Patriot.
Rabindranath went to Karoyar in a large party and wrote "Prakritir Prtishodh" , Natya kabya.

At this time Rabindranath was busy in publication of his  sixth kabya grantha "chabi O gaan".RAbindranath also wrote prose natya "nalini"

Creativity of Rabindranath (1882-1883) -[contd]

Possibly the first Kabya-sankalan, Sandhya Sangeet, of Rabindranath was published in Asharh, 5th July 1882,  vide Bengal Library Catalogue. In the first edition of Sandhya Sangeet 25 poems were published of which 12 poems were published earlier in Bharati.
Indirect criticism was available in two sources, known from Rabindranath's version.
1.Bankim Chandra and 2 Priya nath Sen. About Priya nath Sen Rabindranath wrote, " By writing this Sandhya Sangeet I got such a friend, Priya nath Sen ,  whose inspiration helped me in  creatng more Kabyas . Either he lost confidence on me by reading BhagnaHriday of me, but this time I conquered his mind.
About Bankimchandra he wrote, " When Ramesh Babu was going to garland Bankimchandra in the marriage ceremony of his eldest daughter, Bankim Babu took it and garlanded me instantly and said he deserves it . He also asked Ramesh Babu whether he read Sandhya Sangeet ?" 
This was the first time , I was garlanded.
Attempt to establish Saraswast Sammelan by Jyotirindranath and Rabindranath was mentioned earlier. Rabindranath wrote " in the month of Shraban of 1289 the first session of Saraswat Sammelan was held.
Rabindranath went to Darjeeling for the first time along to live with Jyotirindranath and Kadambari had gone there earlier.Here he perceived deeply what he had seen in Sadar Street. While staying here he wrote "Pratidwani"

The second Geeti Natya , Kaal Mrigaya, of Rabindranath was published in 5th Dec 1882. He became busy to stage it.It was called the Kal Mrigaya, The Fateful Hunt. The plot was based on the story of the accidental killing of the blind hermit's only son by King Dasaratha.Rabindranath wrote , " after Balmiki Prativa I created another Geetinaatya -Kiaal Mrigaya.
Sree Gurudas Chattopadhya, Bengal Medical Library gave an advertisement in Somprakash at the address 07 no. College Street , Kolkata, ,
Apart from this Bankim Babur,, Sanjib Babur , Michael, Dinabandhu, Ramesh Babu, Rabindra, Jitendra [Jyotirindra] Babur etc sakal rakamer bhalo pustak paoya jay.
It is to be noted here that the name Rabindranath is along the same line of Bankim Chandra and others.  
Rabindranath wrote after publishing "Bauthakuranir Hat", "After being published this book , I got an unwanted note from Bankim Chandra."

Creativity of Rabindranath (1882-1883)

Jyotirindranath was living with his wife in 10 no. Sadar Street, by the side of the Museum , Chowrangee Road. Rabindranath stayed there with them during Chaitra 1288.Now he is an young man of 21.
While staying in the house at Sadar Steet Rabindranath had a turning pt. in his life which he wrote in his Jibansmriti. " The point where Sadar Street ended overlooked the trees of Free School Street.One day  standing on the veranda I looked in the direction where the sun rays of the rising sun were coming through the leaves and the branches of the trees. All on a sudden, while looking through the sunrise, a curtain began to remove from his eyes.I found that the whole universe is filled with wonderful grandeur and the waves of beauty is flowing everywhere.The grief that is arranged in layers in my heart vanished instantly and the brightness of the world entered in my heart. On that day the poetry "nirjharer swsapnabhanga" came from heart like a spring." He also termed this elsewhere as divine.  
Even after writing "Nirjharer Swapnabhanga" [Aji e pravate rabir Kar, kamone pashila praner par]
Rabindranath wrote, "Still then the joyful mood of the universe continues" even after the completion of Nirjharer Swapnabhangha At that time nothing remains which are not dear to him.
Rabindranath wrote "Pravat Utsaab" at this time though it was published some times later in Bharaati,Paush, Issue.He also wrote Ananta Maran [Bharati. Ashwin} and Ananta Jiban [Tattwabodhini, Paush}
Baishakh issue of Bharati
Bau Thakuranir Haat,
Aami Haara.[paraner andhakar aranya majjhare]
Apart from this Rabindranath wrote , in Baishakh issue, "Debatar Manushyatwa aarop" and some critical essays . The former one is as a result studying  biology and astrology.
Nagendranath Gupta [?1861 - 1940] was one of the close friend of  Rabindranath in his early days. Rabindranath critically wrote an essay on Nagendranath 's "Swapan Sangeet" kaby grantha; "This is a small Kaby Grantha.  The writer is not yet expert in writing. But in many places it is as good as a poem bears sign of a poet of its writer.

Nagendranath Gupta [?1861 - 1940] was one of the close friend of Rabindranath in his early days. Rabindranath critically wrote an essay on Nagendranath 's "Swapan Sangeet" kaby grantha; "This is a small Kaby Grantha. The writer is not yet expert in writing. But in many places it is as good as a poem bears sign of a poet of its writer.
They became close with the help of Abinash Chandra Chakrabarty, son of Biharilal Chakrabarty having influence on the group of writers of Barati. Nagendranath wrote about Rabindranath,
"Rabindranath Tagore was just twenty years old when I first met him and we have been friends ever since .....At that time he was a tall , slender young man with finally chiselled features . He wore his hair long, curlued down his back and had a short beard ...Two of his early lyrical works Sandhya Sangeet and Pravat Sangeet, had just been published."
 Rabindranath wrote , "at this time it came in the minds of Jyotidada to form a Parishad with the litterateurs of Bengal. The main motto of this association was to fix up the the translated form  of a Bengali word and to take measures for all round development of Bengali literature."
This thought was in accordance of the thinking of Civilian John Beams in 1872. [was a civil servant in British India and an author. He served in the Punjab from March 1859, to late 1861 and in Bengal from December 1861 until the conclusion of his service in 1893. He was also a scholar of Indian history, literature and linguistics. His great work was a comparative grammar of Indo-Aryan languages, published in 3 volumes in 1872–1879.
This association was named as Saraswat Sammelan.
     

Creativity of Rabindranath (1881-1882)

 The first important incident in this year in the life of Rabindranath was to deliver first public lecture at Kolkata Medical College hall organised by Bethune Society presided by rev. Krishna Mohan Bandyopadhyay on 20th April 1881, subject- Music.
Krishna Mohan Banerjee (24 May 1813 – 11 May 1885) was a 19th-century Indian thinker who attempted to rethink Hindu philosophy, religion and ethics in response to the stimulus of Christian ideas. He himself became a Christian, and was the first president of the Bengal Christian Association, which was administered and financed by Indians. He was a prominent member of Henry Louis Vivian Derozio’s (1808–1831) Young Bengal group, educationist, linguist and Christian missionary.
Rabindranath wrote , " the day before I was going to London for the second time, I attended a lecture invited by Bethune Society and read an essay  on musnaic. This was the first of its kind  ". Rabindranath explained his statement with the help of examples.
The essay "Sangeet o Bhab" was written on 16 th Falgoon 1287., just after the play Balmiki Prativa being staged.
Rabindranath went to Chandannagar where Jyotirindranath was living wit his wife.
His two books ,"Bhagna Hriday"
geetikabya and "Rudrachanda", a drama.published on 23 June 1881 and 25 June 1881 respectively.
Rabindranath failed to go to London for the second time to become a barrister. He went to Chandannagar where Jyotirindranath was living with his wife.
Bharati ASHARH 1288 Rabindranath published
"Golam Chor"

  In "Jathajata dosar", published in Jaishtha, while discussing about its romanticism Rabindranath mentioned some drawbacks of the Hindu marriage system.In the previous one he wrote "Social marriage" is not a permanent system for long period.Usually, in this system want of love of one to the other becomes present in both or in single person. In some cases a relation of hatred is seen in the couple during their whole life. In this one,  he said a relation of thief and police existed during the distribution of cards by the god of the marriage..
Rabindranath wrote three songs on music;
1. Sangeet O Bhab,
2. Sangeeter Utpatti O Upajogita
3. Sangeet o kabita
Rabindranath wrote some poems by translation;
1. Sampadaker Baithak  .............................Victor Hugo
2. Oi jetechhen kabi kananer path diya .......      ,,
3. Je tore base re bhalo  ..................                   ,,
4. kaal sandhyakale dhire sandhyar batas ..........,,
5. Oi adarer naame deko sakha more ............Mrs Browning
6. Nidhagher sesh golap kusum                          Moore
7. Din raatri nahi mani                                           ,,
8. daaminir ankhi kiba                                            ,,..  

The four poems among these were published in Pravat Saangeet, the next two in Kari O komal
and the last two were not placed in any.
Rabindranath gathered knowledge in French which is known from the essay "Rabindranath's Faraci Charcha" [ see, Desh, 5th asharh, 1377, p-85-60] of Dr. Bhudev Choudhury. Mentioning different examples he wrote these are instances of extreme practice in French by Rabindranath and he gathered sufficient knowledge in French.Apart from this Dr. Choudhury mentioned many examples of his French knowledge.
Not only Rabindranath the members of Tagore family, Dwijendranath, Satyendranath, Hemendranath practiced French.

Rabindranath wrote two songs on the occasion of marriage ceremony of Krishna Kumari Datta and Lilabati Debi,  fourth daughter of Rajnarain Basu on 25th July and handed over it to Joginndranath Basu, eldest son of Rajnarain Basu.

Creativity of Rabindranath (1880-1881)

After about 1 and 1/2 years stay in England Rabindranath returned back to in first week of   Kolkata with Satyendranath and others in the firat week of Chaitra 1286. The reactions from his friends and relatives , Rabindraanath expressed, were about his voice for singing.While at home he was impressed on seeing Irish Melodies of Thomas Moore and hearing the recitations of the poems by Akshoy Choudhury .In England he grasped the idea of singing them but lost the eagerness of learning all for those poems did not express  the  ideas of poets . Returning to Kolkata he sung these songs and other songs of foreign tunes. All remarked that the voice of Rabindranath had changed completely. In fact he went to England at the age of 17 and came back at the age of 19, the cross road of change of male voice.
Immediately after his returning home Raabindranath took part in Manmayee Geeti natya. Pravat Kumar Mukhopadhyay wrote, " Jyotirindranath's manmayee Geeti natya was composed of a mixture national and foreign tunes." Rabindranath played the role of Madan, Jyotirindranath Indra and Kadambari Debi  as Urbasi.
Two songs of this Geetinatya were written by Rabindranath,
1. [ratir gaan] Chile kothay bala, Kata Ki je holo
2. [Basanter Gaan] Chalo chalo chalo chalo chalo phooldanu
"Europe jatrir Kono Ek jubaker Patra" began publishing in Bharati from Baishakh 1286 issue. It was continuing publishing in Baishakh 1287.
1. Bhanusinger Kabita  [dakhlo Swajani , Chandni Rajani]
Bharati Jaishtha 1287
Dudin [Sree Dikshunya Bhattacharya]
Europe Jatrir Kno ek Junbaker Patra
This letter was written while he was in Tunbridge Wells. He described his experience there.
Bharati asharh, shraban 1287
Europe Jatri Kono Ek Bangiya Jubaker Patra
In Sunday mirror an applauded comment was given in [vol XX no 224, 19 sept 1880.]
On 6th May 1880, Rabindranath completed 19 years of age and stepped into 20.
Bharati Bhadra 1287
Bangali Kabi Nay [nirab kabi o ashikhsita Kabi]
and Bangali kabi nay kano, published in Ashwin issue. These  two  essays are very important in young life of Rabindranath Tagore.
"Balmiki Prativa" was published as a book in Falgoon 1287
it was written on the cover page
Balmiki Prativa / Geetinatya/on the occasion of Biddatjan samagama / Written and played/ Kolkata/
This book is of 13page. 

Creativity of Rabindranath, 1879-1880

Rabindranath narrated vividly his experiences in England in his book "Europe Prabasir Patra but it could not escape omission and commission done in his writings. May be, the fault is not due to him, responsibility may be assigned to Bharati during publishing.Incidents are not properly arranged as per dates of occurrences . Secondly, The dates in the letters are not mentioned." commented by Prasanta Kumar Pal in his book Rabijibani . [p-34, vol-II].
While staying in London Rabindranath attend

ed some important lectures on different occasions with or without accompniment. On 7th Feb 1879, Rabindranath attended annual session National Indian Association with Satyendranath Thakur. When British Parliament was meeting  in summer session , Rabindranath attended 2/3 days  in the house of commons.
 23rd May 1879, was his first visit in the house of Commons and he was disappointed in its performance.   O'donnel an Irish Parliamentarian , doing many movements in favour of India, was speaking on the Indian Press act. But he was looked down upon and his proposal was turned down.He mentioned this after many days [1906] in his lecture in Don Society. 
On another occasion , 12 Jan 1880 he attended another meeting in The house of Commons which satisfied him. The subjects on  that day were "Tax on cotton goods in India" and "Afghan War" and the speakers were John Bright [right] and W.E. Gladstone .[left]
Rabindranath said that the no of times he had gone to the House of Commons , he had seen only 2 or 3 
in the diplomatic gallery.
After finishing his days in London , he went to Tunbridge Wells of Kent County  and felt happy for the place was a village and free from smokes and dust. 
London remains full of merry making from the beginning of Spring season to the first part of Summer season. 
Rabindranath came to England mainly for becoming a barrister or an ICS, but his own mentality was like a visitors. Without mixing closely with the life style of England.Remaining from a distance he observed the socio-economic life style
of English people and express them in his writings critically. More so, he was not blind with the good aspects of the English people as the other Enga-Banga people do.  Rabindranath mentioned two incidents of England in his life relating to the economically depressed people of England.
He wrote, " while going through the streets  in Tunbridge Wells in winter, he saw a person standing by the side of the road. His legs are overlooking through the holes of his shoes. Here begging is obsolete. He did not ask anything from me but looked on to him.I gave him a coin which unimaginable to him. After a few minutes came hurriedly to me and said, sir, probably by mistake you have given me a gold coin and wanted to return it to me." 
He mentioned this just to show the feeling and honesty of the poor wretched person of England.
The next incident occurred in Torquay station. 
He came back to London from Tunbridge wells. In the mean time he received an intimation from his bauthan (wife of Satyendranath Thakur ) who was at that time Torquay of Devonshire.
Rabindranath bevcomes sad and described his days in this period in his book Europe Prabaser Patra, [12 th letter]. He wrote, when my eyes are charmed, mind drenched with joy, and the  leisure-full days are flying in the blue sky with infinite pleasure, even at this time, my mind does not responding to any urge for writing poems.  " To rectify this awkward situation he took a Khata and a pencil and an umbrella on head took a seat on a stone hanging on the sea  he took the responsibility of doing his duty and wrote a poem titled "Magnatari ", published in Asharh, 1286 issue titled "Bhagnatari". It can be mentioned here that at this time Rabindranath's writings are published in Bharati. Rabindranath's last poem Apsara [gatha] is published in Falgoon , 1285, a gap of 1 year four months.
Rabindranath again came back to London from Torquay. At that time, Matriculation examination of University of London was held twice in a year, January and June. Probably he came back to London to sit for the Matriculation Examination in June 1879.
After returning in London he got his accommodation in a gentleman's family, namely Dr. Scott, at 10 Tavistock square. Mr. Scott lived with his wife and Four daughters, two sons three servants and a dog toby. The relation of Mr.Scott and his wife was not good. He always scolded the dog when wanted to do so with his wife.    
Rabindranath came back to kolkata with Satyendranath Thakur and others without obtaining any degree, either an ICS or a Barrister in March 1880.
Rabindranath came to London in Sept 1878 and returned back to kolkata in Mar 1880. He stayed there for one and 1/2 years. He wrote a  bunch of letters to Kadambari Debi "Titled Europe Jatrir Kono Ek bangiya yubaker Patra" which was publish by Dwijendranath with comments in Bharati.
During his stay in England he wrote another Kabya "Bhagna Hriday"   
While going to England or staying there Rabindranath wrote letters to his friends and relatives which were published gradually in Bharati, Baishakh 1286.A total of 14 letters were published from Baishakh 1286 to Shraban 1287. Rabindranath wrote about these letters in jibansmriti, " I began to send letters to my relatives at first and then to Bharati. "
Pravat Kumar Mukhopadhyay wrote, " the letters were written to Kadambari Debi." Prof. Jagadish Bhattacharya wrote that the letters no.4th, 6th, 10th and 12th were written to Kadambari. 
Bharati published writings of Rabindranath 
Baishakh 1285
bhanusinger kabita [madhaba na kaha adara bani
Europe jatrir kono ek bangiya yubaker patra. see eurpe prabasir patra.
Bharati, jaishtha 1285
norman jati o anglo norman sahitya

etc.

Creativity of Rabindranath (1878-1879)

In the first year (1284), 9 issues were only published in Bharati. But for the sake of regularizing 2nd year (1285) was started. The present issue , Baishakh 1285  was the first and last one when Rabindranath was one of  the member of  editorial board In this issue he could perform the duties of collection and selection of articles but he did not do anything for its printing and publication.
Baishakh of 1285 issue
1. Bhanusingher Kabita [bar bar sakhi barana karinu]
2. Samudrtk Jib ; / 1st proposal
3. Karuna/ 15th and 16th chapter.
Tune of Bhanu singher kabita  -Iman kalyan
At the bottom of the essay Samudrik Jib the Bengali Alphabet "Bha" was written. The name of the writer  at that time was mentioned in the article. At best the first letter in Bengali Alphabet was written for identification. "Bha" is the first letter in Bengali Alphabet.
Karuna was a novel published in serial.
The translated form Published in Malati Punthi are as follows;
1. Amari belay uni sangsare biragi,
2. Bodhhay E Pashanda
3. Ghare duto anna ele
4. Khbar kothay pabi bacha
5. Gachhe se apad gachhe
6.ghare aar aase na se
7. hetha kano ase lokgula
8. suno deb mane  jaha karechhi nishchy
9. namdeb pandurange laye sanga kare
10. jadi more sthan deo taba padacchay
While staying in Ahmedabad Rabindranath felt hmself free more than he was in Panihati or Himalayas for in these cases he was under the protection of his family members.
He said, " I was uprooted from one land to the other."

This time he is free to do anything and everything he likes. He said, "I was uprooted from one land and placed in the other." 
The main cause of his visit to Ahmedabad was to make himself fit , ;physically and mentally , in the new environment. The lesson he had to undergo for making himself fit was expressed in the essay, "Engrejder adab kayda' published in Jaishtha issue of Bharati.
Rabindranath had to stay in the top floor of Sahibag palace.He used to enjoy full moon night from the top floor and wrote poems. His stay here inspired him to compose his lyrics.

"Niraba rajani dakho magna jochhanaay"
Rabindranath was writing songs at the same time he was preparing himself to become fit for going to UK.
In Asharh issue of Bharati the poem "Dikbala" of Rabindranath was published.
In Shraban issue of Bharati three articles of Rabindranath was published.
1. Karuna - 19-22 chapter.
2. Pratishodh, ; see Saishab Sangeet
3. "Saxon jati o Anglo Saxon Sahitya" - an essay'
Probably in Aug 1878 Rabindranath left Ahmedabad and came to Bombay in the house of Dr. Atmaram Panduram. In Ahmedabad he was left alone and none to look after him. Here he was acquainted with three sisters Ana, Durga and Manik. Dr. Atmaram made their daughters educated from England.Among them Ana was given the charge of educating Rabindranath. Rabindranath presented    Anna a gift of his written  Kabikahini published in the form of a book. She was taking lesson in Bengali from Rabindranath.
On request Rabindranath gave her  a name "Nalini" which was liked by her.  
Ana said him not to preserve beard. But Rabindranath could noy keep her request in his future life.
Rabindranath started for England on 20th Sept 1878. Ultimately Rabindranath reached London on 10th Oct 1878 and came to Brighton where Jnanadaanandini lived with her children. Here Rabindranath was introduced with Surendranath and Indira who became astonished in the English pronunciation of Rabindranath. of Benn 
In England Rabindranath became interested in listening and learning of English music. Rabindranath mentioned that in Brighton he went to listen music of Madam Nilson and Madam Albani. He wrote that their their voice could run like a horse in a circus.The voice did not break any point while coming out of their vocal chord.But I did not like their music because sometimes it gave sounds of birds voice. He felt relieved on hearing music of male voices."
He was fond of Irish melodies of Thomas Moore. He was thinking of listening Irish Melodis, learning it and demonstrate it before Akshoy Babu after returning home.He learnt but that did not satisfy him.   
"Rabindranath  knew England through English literature. He thought that in this small island , from one end to the other, Tennyson's voices are reflected.Within this two hands length land one, where he stays, will hear spirited lecture of Gladstone, interpretation of Veda by Maxmuller, Scientific theories of Tindal, deep thought of Karlyle and  Philosophy of Benn . But he  saw in despair that the ladies are engaged with their dresses, men are busy with their work, the world is going as usual - only some voices are heard on politics."   
In this  year an important incident occurred in the life of Rabindranath. His first printed book, Kabilkahini, was published in the form of a book.In the declaration it was printed
Kabikahini / written by Rzbindrnath Tagore / onh / Published by Prabodh Chandra Ghosh /Kolkata / Machuabazar - Road 49 no House / Printed by Kshetramohan Mukhopadhyay. the date of publication 5th Nov 1878. copies printed 500.  
Rabindranath wrote on this book, "This book Kabikahini was first as a form book ammong my creation."
in Bhadra issue two writings of Rabindranath was published in Bharati
1. Gette and his lovers.
2. Foolabala , 2nd part see Saishab Sangeet.
In falgoonn issue 2 writings were published.
1. Naomanrace and Anglo-Norman literature.
2. Apsara Prem (gatha) ; see saishab sangeet.