Rabindranath Tagore

Born:: May 7, 1861 (Bengali calendar: 25th Boishakh, 1268), Jorasanko Mansion, Calcutta, British India
Died:: August 7, 1941 (Bengali calendar: 22nd Shravan, 1348), Jorasanko Mansion, Calcutta, British India
Nationality:: Indian
Profession(s):: Poet, Writer, Playwright, Composer, Philosopher, Social Reformer, Painter

Early Life and Education

Largely self-educated; received instruction at home.
Briefly attended the Bengal Academy and St. Xavier's School but disliked formal schooling.
At age seventeen, sent to England for formal schooling but returned without a degree.
Developed a deep connection with nature and Bengali folk traditions.

Career and Major Achievements

Published his first poems at the age of sixteen under the pseudonym "Bhanusimha".
Founded Visva-Bharati University in 1921, promoting intercultural understanding.
Led the vanguard of Indian cultural renewal and challenged colonial educational systems.
Delivered lectures worldwide, advocating for peace, unity, and humanism.
Knighted in 1915, but renounced the title in 1919 in protest against the Jallianwala Bagh massacre.

Notable Works

Poetry: Gitanjali, Sonartari, Balaka, Purabi
Novels: Ghare Baire (The Home and the World), Gora, Chokher Bali, Jogajog
Short Stories: Kabuliwala, The Postmaster, Streer Patra
Plays: Dak Ghar (The Post Office), Rakta Karabi (Red Oleanders), Chitrangada
Songs: Composed over 2,230 songs, known as Rabindra Sangeet. This includes speculation regarding the first song written by Rabindranath Tagore biography that could point toward early, less documented works.

Legacy and Impact

Rabindranath Tagore's work profoundly impacted Bengali literature and music, as well as Indian art and culture. He was a champion of humanism and universalism, leaving behind a vast body of work that continues to inspire generations worldwide. He was the first non-European to win the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1913.

Awards and Recognition

Award	Year
Nobel Prize in Literature	1913