Rabindranath Tagore’s popularity has not diminished over the years and his work is considered evergreen by artistes and litterateurs alike. The sobriquet Kobiguru was born 150 years ago and we tried to figure out why Tagore is still important in this modern world or why his work is still fashionable.
Room for modern music arrangement
Rabindranath himself had the openness of experimenting with different genres of music. He introduced Irish and Bangla folk-song fusion in his line of music design. From the time Viswa Bharati’s copyright over Tagore’s works have expired, there have been a hive of young singers who have taken up on remixing the age old Tagore compositions. Basically some musicians and bands from Kolkata and Dhaka who have inclination towards rock music including Kabir Suman, Arnob, Shironamhin, Sahana Bajpaie and Dohar regenerated Tagore songs with contemporary compositions. About this notion, eminent Bengali poet Sankho Ghosh said: “Launching of Rabindranath Tagore’s songs by bands cannot be a taboo if it conforms and upholds the spirit and basics of the original pieces.”
Addressing issues that are always contemporary
Tagore’s stories and plays have been the centre of interest for many young filmmakers and theatre directors who are keen to add new dimensions to the works and present it in today’s context. Thus, countless adaptations are being made. One exemplary work is done by Bengali filmmaker Kaushik Mukherjee who made an adaptation of Tagore’s play “Tasher Desh” and revealed his work’s fresh explanation particularly on the play: “I’m amazed by his power of prediction. What Tagore predicted in 1933 became a reality in the 1960s – women roaming around naked on the streets with flowers in their hair singing songs. The 60s revolution, the flower power generation and hippie logic, the idea of peace being central to revolution were actually predicted in ‘Tasher Desh.’”
Array of wonder-works
Among the array of his numerous pieces, he has done such works which have been considered as wonder-works, even to the contemporary generations.
Indicating the fact, Kabir Suman said: “How on earth did he make songs like “Tomar Holo Shuru,” “Aji Je Rojoni Jay,” “Tumi Robe Nirobe,” “Ke Jabi Pare Ogo Tora Ke,” “Na Go Na Koro Na Bhabna,” “Birosh Din Birol Kaj,” “Momo Dukkher Shadhon,” “Amar Ei Poth Chawatei Anondo” and so many others so long ago? How could he work such miracles? There was nothing before him in the 19th century which could have been an example.”
Bangladeshi singer Arnob once said: “Tagore took all the best resources of arts of his time and presented those in his own way.”
Beyond worship, logic and sense
At one point, a generation used to worship Tagore. But as time changed, that generation has been replaced by another who value the logic and sense demonstrated in his works and they are keeping Tagore alive in a new way.
Tagore singer Lily Islam said: “To praise Tagore, you don’t need to be blind. If you are logical, filled with literary sense and a certain level of taste, you are bound to admit that Tagore is evergreen. I think we haven’t discovered all of Tagore yet.”
Advocacy of the brighter side of human life
Tagore’s work always performed as powerful advocate in bringing the positive side of human life beyond the discrimination based on caste, creed and religion. Seasoned Tagore artiste Mita Haque termed his work as “a weapon against ignorance and narrowness.”
