Editing Rabindranath Tagore

{{#seo:
|title=Rabindranath Tagore Biography – Poet, Philosopher & Nobel Laureate
|description=Rabindranath Tagore was a Bengali polymath, poet, writer, composer, and philosopher. He reshaped Bengali literature and music and became the first non-European to win the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1913.
|keywords=Rabindranath Tagore Biography, poet, philosopher, Nobel Prize, Bengali literature, composer, Indian literature, Nobel Laureate, Gitanjali, Tagore poetry
|image=Rabindranath Tagore.jpg
|og:type=article
|og:title=Rabindranath Tagore – Literary Genius & Cultural Icon of India
|og:description=Explore the life, works, and legacy of Rabindranath Tagore, India’s Nobel Laureate, who contributed immensely to literature, music, and art.
|og:image=Rabindranath Tagore.jpg
|twitter:card=summary_large_image
}}

{{Infobox deceased
| name           = Rabindranath Tagore {{Verified}}
| image          = Rabindranath Tagore.jpg
| image_caption  = Rabindranath Tagore in the 1930s
| birth_date     = {{Birth date|1861|05|07}}
| birth_place    = Calcutta, Bengal Presidency, British India (now Kolkata, West Bengal, India)
| death_date     = {{Death date and age|1941|08|07|1861|05|07}}
| death_place    = Calcutta, British India
| resting_place  = Visva-Bharati University, Santiniketan
| nationality    = Indian
| occupation     = Poet, Writer, Composer, Philosopher, Painter
| years_active   = 1877–1941
| known_for      = ''Gitanjali'', ''Jana Gana Mana'', Visva-Bharati University
| notable_works  = ''Gitanjali'', ''The Home and the World'', ''Kabuliwala'', ''Chokher Bali'', ''Jana Gana Mana''
| awards         = Nobel Prize in Literature (1913)
| spouse         = Mrinalini Devi
| children       = Five (including Rathindranath Tagore)
| parents        = Debendranath Tagore (father), Sarada Devi (mother)
| religion       = Hinduism
| age_at_death   = 80
}}

'''Rabindranath Tagore''' (7 May 1861 – 7 August 1941) was a Bengali poet, writer, philosopher, painter, educationist, and composer. He reshaped modern Bengali literature and music and became the **first non-European to receive the Nobel Prize in Literature** in 1913 for his celebrated work ''Gitanjali''.<ref name="britannica">https://www.britannica.com/biography/Rabindranath-Tagore</ref>

He also wrote the national anthem of India, ''Jana Gana Mana'', and the national anthem of Bangladesh, ''Amar Shonar Bangla'', making him the only person in history to author the national anthems of two countries.

== Early Life and Education ==
Tagore was born into a culturally influential Bengali Brahmo family in Calcutta. The youngest of thirteen surviving children, he grew up surrounded by music, literature, and art.

He was largely homeschooled and began writing poetry at the age of eight. In 1878, he traveled to London to study law at University College London but returned to India without completing the program, drawn instead to literature, philosophy, and music.

== Literary Contributions ==
* Wrote over **2,000 songs**, including Rabindra Sangeet  
* Authored **short stories, novels, plays, essays, and poetry**  
* His poetry collection ''Gitanjali'' earned him global acclaim  
* Composed **Jana Gana Mana** (India’s national anthem)  
* Composed **Amar Shonar Bangla** (Bangladesh’s national anthem)

Some of his most acclaimed works include:
* ''Kabuliwala''
* ''The Home and the World''
* ''Gora''
* ''Chokher Bali''
* ''Stray Birds''

== Educational & Social Reforms ==
* Founded **Visva-Bharati University** at Santiniketan in 1921 to promote a blend of Eastern and Western learning  
* Advocated for **rural reconstruction, self-reliance, and humanistic education**  
* Criticized rigid nationalism and colonial rule through his lectures and essays  

Visva-Bharati remains one of India’s leading cultural and academic institutions.

== Philosophy ==
Tagore’s philosophy combined:
* Vedantic spirituality  
* Universal humanism  
* Harmony between nature, art, and humanity  
* Freedom of thought and creativity  

He believed in cultural unity, individual freedom, and the elevation of human consciousness. His conversations with figures such as Einstein reflected his deep interest in bridging science and spirituality.

== Legacy ==
* First Asian Nobel Laureate  
* Pioneer of the Bengal Renaissance  
* His works influenced global writers including **W. B. Yeats**  
* His birthday is celebrated as **Rabindra Jayanti**  
* Considered India’s greatest cultural icon  

Tagore’s artistic reach spans poetry, music, dance-drama, novels, painting, and education, making him one of the most versatile creators in world literature.

== See Also ==
* Gitanjali  
* Jana Gana Mana  
* Visva-Bharati University  
* Bengal Renaissance  
* Nobel Prize in Literature  

== References ==
<references />

[[Category:1861 births]]
[[Category:1941 deaths]]
[[Category:Bengali poets]]
[[Category:Indian Nobel laureates]]
[[Category:Indian writers]]
[[Category:Indian composers]]
[[Category:Indian philosophers]]
[[Category:People from West Bengal]]