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Aesthetics of Ancient Indian Sylvan Colonies and Gardens: Tagore’s Reflexions

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Gardens and the Passion for the Infinite

Part of the book series: Analecta Husserliana ((ANHU,volume 78))

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Abstract

“Dao phire se aranya,lao e nagar” (give us back the sylvan past, take away today’s cities), is Rabindranath Tagore’s (1861–1941) earnest prayer as expressed in the poem “Sabhyatar Prati” (to modern civilization) of his poetical work Chaitali.1

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Notes

  1. Rabindranath Tagore, “Sabhyatar-Prati” (to modern civilization), Chaitali, Rabindra Rachanabali (collected works of Tagore), henceforth abbreviated as R.R., Birth Centenary Edition, Govt. of West Bengal, 1961, Vol. I, 550. Chaitali is the adjectival noun form of Chaitra, the last month of the Bengali year. Chaitra spreads from the middle of March to the middle of April. Chaitali also signifies the harvest-rich end of spring. A bunch of Chaitali poems was composed in Chaitra of the Bengali era 1302 (i.e. 1896 ).

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  2. Ibid., p. 551.

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  3. Ibid., p. 551. All of the above three poems were written by Tagore on the same day, i.e., the 19th of Chaitra 1302 B.S. (Bengal sal or Era).

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  4. Ibid., p. 552.

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  5. Prachin Bharate Ekah,” Dharma (religion), R.R. 12, pp. 28–36.

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  6. Ibid., p. 28.

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  7. Vanavani, R.R. 2, p. 837.

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  8. Kathopanishad 2.3.2.

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  9. Shwetashwatara Upanishad 2.17.

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  10. Quoted and explained by Tagore in the essay “Tapovana,” Siksha (education), R.R. 11, p. 598.

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  11. Ibid., p. 599.

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  12. There are various editions in the libraries.

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  13. Translated into English and Bengali by renowned professors and published by various publishers from time to time.

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  14. Several editions are in the libraries.

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  15. Rabindranath Tagore, “Tapovana,” op. cit., R.R. 11, pp. 592–3.

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  16. R.R. 1, p. 552.

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  17. Along with the original Sanskrit, there are various translations in English as well as Bengali and other Indian languages. Tagore refers to Kalidasa’s Kumarasambhavam in “Tapovana,” R.R. 11, p. 593.

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  18. Kalidasa’s Meghadutamis extremely popular among educated Indians. Tagore’s elder brother Dwijendranath Tagore translated it into Bengali verse. Tagore refers to Meghadutam in “Tapovana,” R.R. 11, p. 600. Kalidasa and his Meghadutam are eulogized in Tagore’s poem “Meghdut” in Chaitali, R.R. 1, p. 552.

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  19. R.R. 11, p. 592 and R.R. 11, p. 600.

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  20. Varshamangal,” Kalpana, R.R. 1, pp. 696–7.

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  21. Swapna,” ibid., pp. 699–701.

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  22. Bithika, R.R. 3, pp. 241–346.

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  23. Ibid., pp. 254–5.

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  24. Ibid., pp. 300–301.

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  25. Ibid., p. 301.

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  26. Vanaspati,” Puravi, R.R. 2, pp. 719–20. This poem, like some others in Puravi, was composed by Tagore during his voyage and visit to Argentina in 1924–25.

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  27. Mahuya, R.R. 2, pp. 755–834.

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  28. Even before reaching the age of twenty, Tagore had composed and staged Valmiki Pratibha (February 26, 1881).

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  29. Kalmrigaya (1882).

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  30. Vasanta (1329 B.S., 1923 ) R.R. 5, pp. 585–601.

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  31. Phalguni (1916), R.R. 6, pp. 441–488.

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  32. Sheshvarshan (1922), R.R. 5, pp. 603–617.

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  33. Netaraj Riturangashala (1926), R.R. 5, pp. 619–663.

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  34. Vanavani (1926), R.R. 2, pp. 835–867. The “Bhumika” (preface) of the book was written on October 23, 1926 while Tagore was in the Hotel Imperial in Vienna. The book was dedicated to the famous scientist Jagadishchandra Basu, who worked intensively on the life of trees.

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  35. Ibid., pp. 842–3.

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  36. Ibid., p. 843.

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  37. Ibid., pp. 855–8.

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  38. Ibid., pp. 864–867, dated Santiniketan, July 13, 1928.

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  39. Rabindranath Tagore, Personality (lectures delivered in America) (first edition 1917), Macmillan Indian edition 1985, pp. 118–9.

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  40. Ibid., p. 127.

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  41. Ibid., p. 133.

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  42. Ibid., p. 147–8.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Visva-Bharati (World University), Santiniketan, India

    Sitansu Ray

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  1. Sitansu Ray
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. The World Phenomenology Institute, USA

    Anna-Teresa Tymieniecka

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Ray, S. (2003). Aesthetics of Ancient Indian Sylvan Colonies and Gardens: Tagore’s Reflexions. In: Tymieniecka, AT. (eds) Gardens and the Passion for the Infinite. Analecta Husserliana, vol 78. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-017-1658-1_10

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-017-1658-1_10

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht

  • Print ISBN: 978-90-481-6119-5

  • Online ISBN: 978-94-017-1658-1

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