Rabindranath Tagore, the "Bard of Bengal" was the first Asian (and Indian) writer to win the Nobel Prize for Literature, in 1913.
A great philosopher, poet, and painter, Tagore controversially remolded the art of poetry writing in Indian literature. He invented the prose poem, translating his Bengali poems from verse to prose, thus disrupting the traditional poetry format. The prose poem brought a new dimension to the style and content of poems, blending the linear style of prose that focuses on concrete ideas with the non-linear style of poetry that engages fragments of incomplete thoughts and emotions. The technique created a unique effect, presenting complete ideas in the poems without losing the intriguing charm of the flow of thoughts.
The maestro who wrote his first poem at the age of eight, never completed his higher education abroad as he returned to his roots in India to follow his passion for poetry and writing.
Here are seven golden lessons that any budding writer can learn from the legendary writer and emulate, to upgrade one's writing skills and broaden one's vision.
1. Explore and experiment
Rabindranath Tagore was inspired by poets of the 15th and 16th centuries. His poetry is dotted with variety and has a unique lyrical style. Throughout his life, Tagore continuously experimented with his writing style, producing marvelous gems of poetry. His poetic style ranges from visionary, classical, and comic, to ecstasy. In the later years of his life, the revolutionary writer absorbed styles developed by the then new-gen poets. One thing to learn from his poetic writing is the fearless approach to experimenting with styles and being open to learning and adapting to the changes.
2. Adapt to the changes
Much of his work in the field of art was constantly seeking the attention of younger artists. These new-gen artists were idealizing new concepts in poetry. And Tagore used these concepts to further produce more refined work. He is remembered as a revolutionary who adapted to modern philosophies that went to to stand the tests of time.
3. Consistent effort and following your passion
Tagore was born and brought up in a region where art and culture hold a special place. His inclination toward various writing art forms was visible at an early age. He discontinued his higher education to pursue his passion for writing. It was his passion for writing that earned him a Nobel prize in the field of literature. Taking a difficult journey to follow the passion may not be a common approach but consistent effort and hard work always pay off in the long run.
4. Inspiration of unity and patriotism
Tagore composed around 2230 songs and is popularly recognized as “Rabindra Sangeet”. His songs influence the Thumri style and ran the complete range of human sentiments. Some of his songs emulated classical ragas and some of the tunes were refurbished to accommodate western, Indian, and Bengali folk flavors. Tagore will always be remembered for his patriotic contribution and national anthem. The national anthem of India was first sung in 1911 in an assembly of the Indian National Congress. It was adopted by the Republic of India in 1950. His songs give an inspiration of unity and patriotism.
5. Humanity and spirituality
Tagore began his drama experience at the age of sixteen and wrote his first drama at the age of twenty. His drama work sought to communicate feelings. Visarjan is one of his finest pieces of art and such works initially involved extended monologues and intricate subplots. Later his style evolved and used more metaphorical and philosophical themes. Dak Ghar, Chandalika, and Raktakarabi are some of his famous dramas that epitomized the best phase of his life. His drama work inspires us to prioritize humanity, spiritual enlightenment, and human rights.
6. Stimulate intellect
Tagore started his short stories venture when he was sixteen and that’s when this genre was invented. He wrote most of his short stories between 1891 to 1895. These stories depict Tagor’s reflection on mind puzzles, modern ideas, and surroundings. His initial work was full of spontaneity and vitality and these aspects were closely connected with his life. His short stories stimulate the intellect and motivates to explore to the penetrative depth.
7. Let your work speak and influence
Bengali culture was greatly influenced by his writing and Bengali art got a pinch of modern touch because of his vision. In the field of literature, Tagore was the first Asian to receive the Nobel prize for his composition Gitanjali. He wrote many poems, dramas, and stories. He composed music also and wrote the national anthem for India, Srilanka, and Bangladesh. Tagore acted as an influencer to Amjad Ali Khan, Buddhadev Dasgupta, and duo sitar masters Sarodiyas and Vilayat Khan.
Conclusion
Rabindranath Tagore is a role model and attracted many across the globe. His flair in writing was deep-rooted and focused more on social causes. He believed in faith and always focused on the brighter side of life.
Are you exploring the field of content writing or maybe you want to know how to write a book? How about understanding topics to write about? There are endless facets in the writing field and getting the right direction is vital for a good start. We at ThePendits can help you here. Read through our blog section to see some of the finest articles across various niches.