Rater Tara Diner Rabi by Ujjwal Kumar Majumdar [Hardcover]

One can slightly alter the words of his own song and say—our journey to know Rabindranath will never end. He himself is an endless source of boundless wonder—his devotion and creations, his life and works, his intellect and philosophy, his diversity and multidimensionality, his impact and legacy.

On the occasion of Rabindranath Tagore’s 125th birth anniversary, it was decided that a substantial and collectible anthology would be published, reflecting the profound and multifaceted Rabindra studies of sensitive and intellectually enriched Bengali writers. The result of that respectful resolution is this remarkable collection—Rater Tara Diner Robi (The Night’s Star, The Day’s Sun). It is a memorable attempt to view Rabindranath from various unfamiliar perspectives.

This collection begins with an almost-unknown reminiscence of Rabindranath and the vivid memories and experiences of two dedicated Rabindra devotees who had the privilege of his companionship. The book offers an in-depth and perceptive analysis of Rabindranath in his many roles—poet, storyteller, novelist, playwright-producer-actor, lyricist, philosopher, lover of science, grammarian, thinker of politics and economics, painter, torchbearer of Indian culture, experimentalist in education, critic, world-literature creator, synthesizer of indigenous and foreign thought, a lover of people from different lands, a seeker who transcended passionate turmoil to attain detachment, a self-reliant soul standing at the crossroads of social, political, and religious movements, a steadfast companion in both joy and sorrow, a contemporary and crisis-stricken pilgrim, and a humanist.

Nearly fifty contemporary poets, writers, art connoisseurs, scientists, economists, historians, philosophers, literary historians, musicians, Rabindra enthusiasts, editors, and researchers have contributed to this compilation with reverence, caution, objective analysis, and genuine empathy. Each essay, in both content and readability, will inspire the reader’s curiosity and sharpen their literary sensibility.

The list of contributors includes eminent scholars such as Sukumar Sen, Pulinbihari Sen, Leela Majumdar, Shovonlal Gangopadhyay, Shantidev Ghosh, Swami Prajnananda, Vishnupada Bhattacharya, Amiya Kumar Majumdar, Ashok Mitra, Shankari Prasad Basu, Amiya Kumar Banerjee, Saroj Banerjee, Sushil Kumar Mukhopadhyay, Nimai Sadhan Basu, and Samaresh Basu, along with distinguished intellectuals like Bimal Krishna Matilal, Shankha Ghosh, Nityapriya Ghosh, Chanchal Majumdar, Ketaki Kushari Dyson, Subhadra Sen, and Ujjal Kumar Majumdar. Besides these powerful and sharp-witted essayists and researchers, the collection also features various lesser-known portrayals of Rabindranath from different time periods.

Additionally, this anthology includes unpublished manuscripts, colored paintings by Rabindranath himself, facsimiles of his writings and critiques from old newspapers and magazines, photographs of his handwritten pencil notes on books he read, and a comprehensive list of Bengali and English books published during his lifetime.

Beyond these prestigious inclusions, one of the priceless treasures of this book is a rare collection of Rabindranath’s portraits painted by Abanindranath Tagore, Nandalal Bose, and Gopal Ghosh.

Rater Tara Diner Robi is an essential compilation in the field of Rabindra studies and research.