Rabijibani 3 by Prashanta Kumar Pal [Hardcover]

"An amritputra (son of immortality) can only be seen as a mortal when, over time, many irrelevant accumulations shed off, and no further obstacles remain for the disclosure of all facts. Rabindranath will have to wait, perhaps for a long time—at least until the Rabindra Jibani is expanded and new books with fresh details emerge."— Forty years ago, Buddhadeb Bosu had written this, and it seems that this long wait has now come to a fitting end with Prashant Kumar Pal's Rabijivani (Rabindra Biography). Through a fresh perspective, blending newer information, and methodically verifying all the details, Pal presents to us an undiscovered mortal form of Rabindranath Tagore. This form is not vague under the steam of enthusiasm, nor is it fragmented in poetic language. In fact, it shows that even in his life story, one can find the poet himself. This is the essence of Prashant Kumar Pal's Rabijivani. In the third volume of Rabijivani, covering the period from 1892 to 1894 (1292-1300 in the Bengali calendar), the reader is given a comprehensive biography of Rabindranath during a crucial stage of his life. It was during this time that his literary consciousness matured, his mastery over rhythm and language expanded, and his awareness of social and political matters grew. This was a time when there was a strong undercurrent of aggressive Hindu nationalism, based on Aryan supremacy, and political leaders sought favors from the ruling powers. Meanwhile, Rabindranath, untouched by the waves of popular acclaim, boldly declared his rebellion against both these currents. As a result, he became a highly controversial figure in contemporary Bengal. The Sadhana magazine, in particular, became a tool for his grand defiance. It was during this period that Rabindranath took on the responsibility of managing his family’s estates. His intimate interaction with the nature and people of rural Bengal began to shape, and this connection is reflected in works like Sonar Tori (Golden Boat) and numerous unforgettable short stories. For the first time in Bengali literature, he portrayed the reflections of unknown, obscure, and even despised humanity. In this third volume of Rabijivani, Prashant Kumar Pal makes a meticulous effort to present this version of Rabindranath in full detail, shedding new light on his journey and character during this period.