Rabijibani 5 by Prashanta Kumar Pal [Hardcover]

"We can only think of an immortal being as a mortal when, with the passage of time, many irrelevant accumulations fall away, and there are no more obstacles to the revelation of all facts. Rabindranath, too, may have to wait for a long time—at least until after the 'Rabindra Biography' is expanded, and further books are published with new information." — Forty years ago, when Buddhadev Bose wrote this, it seemed that the wait would continue. But it seems that this long-awaited conclusion was brought to fruition by Prashant Kumar Pal in his 'Rabijibani' (Rabindra Biography). With a new perspective, mixing fresh data, and systematically verifying all the information, he gradually reveals an undiscovered, mortal Rabindranath. The image of the poet is not blurred by the steam of excitement, nor is his essence fractured in the language of the poet. The subject of the fifth volume of 'Rabijibani' covers the years 1308 to 1314 Bengal Era, i.e., the period from the poet’s 41st to his 47th year. This volume provides a detailed account of these seven years in Rabindranath’s life. Both his personal life and his national life were filled with significant events during this period. On one side, Rabindranath became deeply engaged in constructive work with a broader, expanding scope; on the other side, he experienced a series of personal tragedies, particularly the loss of loved ones. His involvement in editing Bongadarshan, establishing the Brahmacharya Ashram, planning the Swadeshi society, advocating for the partition of Bengal and the national education movement, and calling for collective participation in the provincial conference in Pabna—all pointed towards his goal of awakening 'self-strength'.

However, this period also marked a time of personal loss. The death of his beloved nephew, Nityindranath, initiated a wave of bereavement. Following that, the deaths of his wife, daughter, father, and youngest son, Shamindranath, ended this sorrowful phase. While the national movement did not progress as he had hoped, his personal life was deeply affected by these tragic losses. As a result, Rabindranath withdrew from the public life and turned inward, focusing on awakening his inner strength. In the next volume, during the Gitanjali period, we will witness the manifestation of this spiritual pursuit.