Rabijibani 2 by Prashanta Kumar Pal [Hardcover]

"We can only begin to see an immortal soul in their mortal form once time has stripped away unnecessary embellishments and all facts are freely revealed." Forty years ago, Buddhadeva Bose wrote these words about Rabindranath Tagore, emphasizing the need for time to uncover a fuller, more nuanced biography. It seems that Prashantakumar Pal has finally fulfilled that long-awaited endeavor through his extensive biographical series on Tagore.

With a fresh perspective, the integration of new information, and a rigorous, logical approach to verifying facts, Prashantakumar Pal has meticulously reconstructed an unembellished, earthly version of Rabindranath, one volume at a time. This is not a blurred figure lost in emotional fervor, nor a fragmented portrayal built solely on the poet’s own words. Instead, his Rabijiboni seeks to discover the poet within the very fabric of his life.

The second volume of Rabijiboni covers the years 1878 to 1885, presenting an intricate account of these seven formative years. During this period, Rabindranath first set sail for England with the stated purpose of preparing for the ICS (Indian Civil Service) exam—a mission that ultimately remained unfulfilled. However, the journey became a transformative experience. The young poet, already molded by the soil of Bengal, was further reshaped by European influences. It was during this time that he began to challenge conventional norms and traditions.

His Europe-yatri Kon Bangiya Yubaker Patra (Letters from a Bengali Traveler to Europe) reflects his early intellectual debates with his elder brother Dwijendranath, a dialogue that eventually extended to a spirited discourse with Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay on the nature of truth. Rabindranath refused to accept truth as dictated by others—he sought to awaken it within himself and to inspire the same awakening in others. This journey of self-discovery became the foundation of his lifelong pursuit.

Meanwhile, he began experimenting with classical musical ragas as a medium of emotional expression and introduced a new rhythmic flow in poetry, which he called the "cadence of the heart" (Hridoyer Chhondo).

On the personal front, his relationship with his sister-in-law, Kadambari Devi, had provided both companionship and creative inspiration. However, her tragic suicide marked a profound turning point in his life. The painful loss shattered his youthful idealism, propelling him from the dense forest of adolescence onto the open road of maturity.

Prashantakumar Pal's Rabijiboni masterfully brings these defining years to life, portraying not just the evolution of a literary genius but also the struggles, transformations, and ideological shifts that shaped Rabindranath Tagore into the figure the world would later recognize.