Saturday, February 23, 2008
Pous Mela : The biggest fair of Shantiniketan as well as Bengal
The first Pous Mela was organized on December 21st, in the year 1895. This event was aided by a trust run by Maharishi Devendranath Tagore who felt the need of bringing together the people of different communities residing in West Bengal. This fair was a platform for social get together and interaction that would lead to bridge the gap amongst the people.
Basonto Utsav : The Coloured Festival
The tradition of Vasantotsav, meaning Spring Festival was started by poet and Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore at Shantiniketan...
Friday, February 22, 2008
Rabindranath Tagore : The Nobel Laureate
"because of his profoundly sensitive, fresh and beautiful verse, by which, with consummate skill, he has made his poetic thought, expressed in his own English words, a part of the literature of the West"
Quote from : http://nobelprize.org
History of Visva Bharati : Shantiniketan....
A study of the evolution of Visva-Bharati during the lifetime of its founder, Rabindranath Tagore, offers an insight into what this institution was intended to achieve. Rabindranath founded a school for children at Santiniketan and it was around this nucleus that the structure of an unconventional university developed through careful planning.
In 1863, on a seven-acre plot at the site of the present institution, Debendranath Tagore, the poet's father, had built a small retreat for meditation, and in 1888 he dedicated, the land and buildings, towards establishment of a Brahmavidyalaya and a library. Rabindranath's school Brahmacharyasrama which started functioning formally from December 22, 1901 with no more than five students on the roll, was, in part, a fulfilment of the wishes of his father who was a considerable figure of his time in the field of educational reforms. From 1925 this school came to be known as Patha-Bhavana.
The school was a conscious repudiation of the system introduced in India by the British rulers and Rabindranath initially sought to realize the intrinsic values of the ancient education in India. The school and its curriculum, therefore, signified a departure from the way the rest of the country viewed education and teaching. Simplicity was a cardinal principle. Classes were held in open air in the shade of trees where man and nature entered into an immediate harmonious relationship. Teachers and students shared the single integral socio-cultural life. The curriculum had music, painting, dramatic performances and other performative practices. Beyond the accepted limits of intellectual and academic pursuits, opportunities were created for invigorating and sustaining the manifold faculties of the human personality.
Shantiniketan : Visitors Guide
An International University founded by Nobel Laureate Rabindranath Tagore where the cultures of the East & the West could meet and mingle. Named Vishva-Bharati, the University represents Indian traditions while incorporating the best of other cultures. Shantiniketan, the abode of peace, was initially an Ashram or hermitage founded in 1863 by Maharishi Devendranath Tagore. In 1901 his son, Rabindranath converted it into an experimental open-air school with just five students. It proved a success. He widened the scope of studies which gradually formed the nucleus of a University.
Another interesting feature about Santiniketan is that splendid sculptures, frescoes, murals and paintings of Rabindranath, Nandlal Bose, Ramkinkar, Bindobehari Mukhopadhyaya and others adorn the campus.
Temperature (deg C) : Summer- Max.39.4, Min.34.3; Winter- Max.15.7, Min.12.1.
Rainfall : 125 cms ( June to September ). Heavy in July\August.
Season : Throughout the year.
The University remains closed in May-June and for one month during the Puja Holidays i.e. September-October.
Access
Air : The nearest airport is Calcutta 213 km.
Rail: The nearest railhead is Bolpur, 2 km away. Trains connecting Bolpur with Howrah/Sealdah (Calcutta) are 3015/3016 Howrah-Bolpur Shantiniketan Exp, 3133/3134 Sealdah-Mughalsarai Exp, 3071/3072 Howrah-Jamalpur Exp, 2557/ 2558 Kanchenjunga Exp., 335/336 Vishwabharati Fast Pgr., Shantiniketan Exp., Danapur Fast Pgr. and Tarapith Passenger.
Road: Good motorable roads connect Shantiniketan with Calcutta 213 kms (Bolpur 2-Panagarh 44-Burdwan 48-Calcutta 119), Durgapur 56 kms, Sarnath 197 kms
Places to visit
Shantiniketan is a University town and a centre of learning. The Uttarayan complex where the poet lived consists of several buildings such as Udayana. Konark, Shyamali, Punascha and Udichi which reflect the architectural genius of the poet's illustrious son the late Rathindranath Tagore. In addition there are Kala Bhavan (College of Fine Arts and Crafts). Sangit Bhavan (College of Music and Dance), Vidya Bhavan (College of Humanities), Siksha-Bhavan (College of Science) and Vinaya Bhavan (Teacher's Training College), Cheena Bhavan and Hindi Bhavan. The Shantiniketan campus of Viswa Bharati has grown up to be a centre for learning with a bias towards art, music and humanities. At Shriniketan, mainly a Centre for Rural Service and Studies (Palli Samgathan Bibhaga), there is a college of Agriculture (Palli Siksha Sadan) as well.
The places of interest are mainly on the campus and have a distinctive feature of some of the best in Indian art and culture.
China Bhavan : The Chinese Faculty.
Chhatimtala : Here Maharshi Devendranath, the father of Rabindranath Tagore, used to meditate. Prayers are held usually at Convocation time. Successful graduates of the Vishwa Bharati University are presented a branch of five leaves each from the Saptaparni trees which abound in the area.
Kala Bhavan : The College of Fine Arts & Crafts has an museum exhibiting sculptures, frescoes & murals and a library of art books.
Patha Bhavan : Now a secondary school, it is of particular interest as an example of the traditional `Brahmacharya Ashram'.
Prayer Hall : Founded by the poet's father in 1863, the hall is made of glass. Prayers are held on Wednesday.
Bichitra : Also called Rabindra Bhavan, a Research Centre and Museum where the poet's personal belongings, paintings & various editions of his works are exhibited.
Sangeet Bhavan : College of Dance and Music. The University is replete with works on Art, Music and the Humanities.
Uttarayan Complex : The poet lived and worked in the Northern Complex consisting of several buildings as : Udayana, Konarka, Shyamali, Punascha and Udichi. The Bichitra ( or, Rabindra Bhavan ) designed by the poet's son Rathindranath Tagore.
Fullora (40 kms), Nalhati (104 kms), Kankalitala (7 kms), Bakreshwar (58 kms): Nearest railway station Dubrajpur 12 kms. WBTDC Tourist Lodges & PWD Inspection Bungalows available
Massanjore (78 kms): Mayurakshi Bhavan, Youth Hostel available to stay there.
Kendubilwa (42 kms): Buses ply from Bolpur railway station. Buses also ply or Kenduli from Calcutta for tourists.
Nanoor (23 kms) : Birthplace of the Vaisnava poet,Chandidas (14th century). Buses ply from Bolpur railway station. Travet Sng time: one hour.
Tarapith (80 kms) : One can reach Tarapith firstly from Bolpur to Rampurhat by train or bus and then 5 kms by bus or cycle rickshaw. Ramkanai Dharamshala a number of hotels are there.
Photography is not permitted
Visiting Timings
Shantiniketan
Winter:- 1400 to 1630 hours
Summer:- 1430 to 1730 hours.
During vacations:- 0730 to 1100 hours.
Shriniketan
Winter:- 1030 to 1230 hours
Summer:- 0800 to 1000 hours.
Click The Map for your Reference
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
Rabindranath : LIFE SKETCH
1861 Born on Monday, May 7th, (Vaisakha 25, Saka Era 1783, Bengali Era 1268). |
1865 Admitted to Calcutta Training Academy. |
1868 Admitted to Oriental Seminary and later to Normal School. |
1871 Admitted to Bengal Academy. |
1873 Goes with his father Debendranath Tagore on a trip to the Himalayas; his first visit to Bolpur on the way, composes a drama, Prithviraj Parajay. |
1874 His poem entitled Abhilash appears in the Tattvabodhini Patrika. He is admitted to St. Xavier's School in Calcutta. |
1875 On the 11th February, in his first public appearance, recites a patriotic poem at the Hindu Mela. |
1877 Starts to publish poems and articles regularly in his family's monthly journal, Bharati. |
1878 Goes to England with brother, Satyendranath. |
1880 Returns to India without completing any course of study. |
1881 |
1883 Marries Mrinalini Devi. |
1884 Is appointed Secretary to the Adi Brahmo Samaj, enters into controversy with Bankimchandra over the neo-Hindu movement. |
1885 Takes charge of Balak, a monthly magazine for the young. |
1890 |
1891 Writes his first six short stories including Post Master. |
1892 At the request of the Rajshahi Association writes his first criticism of the system of education, Sikshar Herpher, a logical and vigorous proposal for the acceptance of mother tongue as the medium of instruction. |
1894 |
1898 Initiates agricultural experiments on his estates. Sedition Bill; arrest of Bal Gangadhar Tilak; he reads his paper Kantha-Rodh (The Throttled) at a public meeting in Calcutta. |
1899 At the anniversary of 7 Poush, leads the prayer and delivers his first sermon on Brahmoponishad in the Mandir at Santiniketan. |
1901 |
1905 Agitation against Lord Curzon's proposal to partition Bengal. Rabindranath advocates policy of constructive non-cooperation against the British. On 16th October (the day partition becomes a settled fact), Rabindranath initiates the Rakhi-bandhan ceremony as a symbol of unity in Bengal. Leads a huge procession through the streets of Calcutta singing Banglar mati, Banglar jal. |
1906 Writes a series of articles on problems of education and draws up a comprehensive programme of work for the National Council of Education. |
1908 Initiates organised village uplift work in the Patisar region of the Tagore estates with the help of Kalimohan Ghosh and others. |
1910 Christmas Day is observed at Santiniketan for the first time - the Poet conducts the service. |
1912 English Gitanjali published by the India Society, London. |
1913 English versions of Gitanjali, The Crescent Moon, The Gardener and Chitra were published by Macmillan. On 13th November, Rabindranath was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature. |
1914 Gandhi's students from Phoenix, South Africa come to Santiniketan. |
1915 Receives knighthood. Meets Gandhi for the first time. |
1916 Travels to Japan and USA, giving lectures on Nationalism and Personality. |
1917 Lends support to Pramatha Chaudhuri's attempts to popularise spoken Bengali as a vehicle of literary expression and himself contributes to Sabujpatra, his first story written in colloquial Bengali, Paila Nambar. |
1918 Formal foundation stone of Visva-Bharati is laid. |
1919 Cautions Gandhi against misuse of passive resistance. Renounces knighthood in protest against Jalianwallah Bagh massacre. |
1920 Leaves for England on a lecture tour to raise funds for Visva-Bharati. Travels to France, Holland and USA. |
1921 Visits England, France, Switzerland, Germany, Sweden, Austria and Czechoslovakia. |
1922 Rural Reconstruction Institute at Sriniketan is formally inaugurated with Elmhirst as its first director. |
1923 Visva-Bharati Quarterly starts publication under his editorship. Visarjan is staged at the Empire Theatre, Calcutta where the Poet plays the role of Jaysingha. |
1924 Visits China and Japan and then sails for South America; stays in Buenos Aires as the guest of Victoria Ocampo. |
1926 Travels to Italy (as a guest of Mussolini), Switzerland (where he meets Romain Rolland) and other countries of Europe. |
1927 Tour of Southeast Asia. |
1928 Starts painting regularly. |
1930 His paintings are exhibited at the Gallerie Pigalle in Paris. Other exhibitions follow in Birmingham, in several European capitals and in USA. Delivers Hibbert lectures in Oxford (published as The Religion of Man). Writes The Child, his one and only original English poem. |
1932 Starts experimenting with vers libre in his Punascha. |
1937 Rabindranath falls seriously ill. Prantik (Borderland) poems published. Convocation address in Bengali. |
1940 Oxford University holds special Convocation at Santiniketan to confer Doctorate on Rabindranath. |
1941 His final lecture, Crisis in Civilisation is read on his eightieth birthday. Dies 7th August. |