Exploring Tagore in the lanes of Kolkata

Another significant figure of Bengali literature– Novelist Humayun Ahmed once stated a funny yet true thing about Tagore that this person had almost created a sentence for almost every type of feeling and experience. Even for a person who is sick in bed for a long time and cannot lift up his body due to weakness, Tagore wrote– ‘Amar ei deho khani tule dhoro’ as in ‘lift my whole body’. This quotation Humayun Ahmed stated in his one of the most popular novels that later turned into a film named ‘Aguner Poroshmoni’. This name also comes from the aforementioned song of Tagore.

Tagore resides in the essence of Kolkata. A city where it carries its culture, history and literature all along together– be it in the roads, the monuments. In the northern part of Kolkata, still stands proudly the ancestral home of Rabindranath Tagore. The old buildings taking you to the streets of Jorasanko leads a way to the era of Tagore, where he bloomed with the spirit that is still relevant for every kind of feeling we tend to have.

The journey does not start after someone steps inside of the Thakurbari gate. It starts in the streets where one can just spend time gazing at all the old buildings, the walls that tell stories before our time, the piping hot Shingara and tea in an earthen pot that is dearly called ‘Bharer cha’ or an Aam sondesh (mango flavoured sweet) from famous Bhim Chandra Naag's shop– enables our taste buds to vibe with the atmosphere.

Jorasanko Thakurbari holds not only the memories of Rabindranath Tagore, a nobel laureate, but also the family tree of Prince Dwarakanath Tagore and other members. It feels so lively with all the preserved architecture and memories related to the prestigious Tagore clan. The houses situated alongside also carry a heritage of the previous timeline, even the doorplates show us a glimpse of a heritage– untouched, to some extent unchanged even though none of the glorifying persons are still alive in flesh and blood. We can realize again and again the spirit of the intangible presence of specific people throughout the bricks of Thakurbari. People who built it, people who lived their lives here and of course people who provided the best of their creations.

It feels like the windows are singing with the recorded Rabindrasangeet– both lyrical or instrumental. One can just spend a lazy afternoon while enjoying the green and white courtyard, the sun taking a peek above the rooftop. It might not spread any knowledge but it would surely give a chance to open up the soul along with one's ears. Thakurbari is open for visitors but some of its parts are not to enter or roam around. Maybe some mystery is good to cook up with a new thought for a Tagore fan. But it is not only a thought that would be brewed after visiting Jorasanko, but also some new food ideas might kick in. The kitchen or Mrinalini debi and all the authentic recipes of Thakurbari might inspire a foodie chef sleeping in our heart to wake up and create some new, or age-old storm up the oven.

But the museums are undoubtedly an enriched source of visual and written history where one can accidentally discover brand new information to themselves and wonder– what would happen if not this? But the huge portraits hanging around the walls can distract from these thoughts. Then you can just soothe your eyes and cannot help but admire the painters. It is another case that one day might seem a short time to absorb all the new names.

Not so far away from Kolkata stands another memorabilia of Tagore and it takes one through a bus or train journey to Bolpur, Birbhum. Santiniketan– which is literally a home of peace holds many sources of Tagore's writings, his passed time here and so many other experiences that he carried away in his lifetime.

It is a matter of amazement as well how the dwellers residing here have built their day-to-day life revolving where Tagore established an institution. To these people, Tagore himself seems to be an institution himself. Almost every guest house or hotel here seems to carry a name taken from Tagore's poem or fiction. After entering into the Santiniketan area, one can start feeling like entering into a bibliographical region where nature and poetry romance like Radha and Krishna. Not to mention the booming business and commodification of the same thing is also very celebrated here as it is a popular tourist place.

The same thing can be found in Kolkata. Rabindranath Tagore or Kabiguru– it has become a brand there and you can find many places where shoppers would like to sell a product by taking the name of Tagore.

Amusingly it might not be a book but other things such as decor items, souvenir gifts, clothes etc. Lyrics printed in Saree or Kurta are a hot sale both in Kolkata and Santiniketan.

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