Tagore's Shelaidah and Dakhhindighi: Seeds of creativity
“Whoever wishes to,
May sit in meditation
With eyes closed
To know if the world be true or false.
I, meanwhile,
Shall sit with hungry eyes,
To see the world
While the light lasts.”
This verse written in Shelaidaha, exemplifies poet Rabindranath Tagore's thirst to discover the real beauty of then East Bengal (now in Bangladesh). In 1891 Tagore went to East Bengal to manage his family estates at Shilaidaha and Shazadpur for 10 years. Between 1861 and 1941, the poet spent only 10 years in Shelaidah, Kushtia.
Those 10 years were an important milestone in the poet's life. This is evident in his wonderful letters that portray the real essence of Bengal and Bangalee life, written to his niece Indira, which was later published as “Chhinnopatra”. The lyrical beauty of Bangladesh, the rivers, the boats, the simple life of the people--gave the poet serenity as well as inspired him to write “The Postmaster”, “Sonar Tari”(Poetry
Collections), “Chitrangada”(Play) and many more.
Most of his finest short stories were written in this period.
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