Rabindranath Tagore: Songs of Prayer

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To translate Tagore’s songs is a challenging task. It is perhaps more challenging because it demands, and rightly so, all care and caution, involvement and attention to be justified to the original. I have tried my best to maintain every possible consistency and judicious approach to addressing the finer nuances expressed in his songs of prayer.

In selecting Tagore’s songs of prayer, primarily three dimensions have been chosen: one, his association with Nature; two, his dealings with serene sensibilities; and three, his prayer in and through love. Again, Tagore’s departure from the usual course of involvements in prayer has been highlighted in identifying-the religion of prayer in terms of aesthetics and mystic revelations. In fact, some of the selected songs of prayer create an altar of the finest imageries of whatever is encountered in the day-to-day world of ours and convey a catholic panorama of Truth, Goodness and Beauty in all poignance of mysticism.

The selected songs of prayer also include a few ones where, Tagore is very precise but poignant, categorical and vibrant. These songs not only appeal to the heart but also address the intellect so much so that in delineating with these in association with other human sensibilities one finds a magnificent aura of synchronized vision of life in all variations and suggestive- ness. Moreover, one is also thrilled with the prayer of a different kind where one visualizes oneself alone in the language of silence and calmness. The passions are controlled and crystallised in the poignance of prayer where devotion is an ever welcome elegance in fullness of life."

In translating some of Tagore’s songs of prayer, the ‘refrains at times may create constraints in the normal flow of imagination, but these are negotiated in such a manner as to remain justified to the original as far as possible. Naturally, one ought to be literal in some cases where the songs necessitate to be translated for better understanding and appreciation in the light of typical forms of manifestation. However, no compromise has been made anywhere in maintaining the essence and kernels of thoughts and expressions in all catholicity of grandeur and excellence

Introduction

The songs of Rabindranath Tagore bring forth an eternal treasure of the human mind. His songs of prayer in particular create an everlasting web of human life and experience where the heart aches, breathes heavily and points towards the endless horizon of the mystery of life and death, joy and sorrow, emptiness and fullness in an exquisite panorama of loneliness and desolation, aspiration and contentment.

Prayer in Tagore, therefore, is a perennial self-askance and self-dedication, involvement and inspiration. What prompts one to muse in Tagore’s songs of prayer is one’s very kinship, the very depth of emotions and sensibilities-caressed‘ and crystallised, encountered and encompassed in all finer visions and telling transparencies. In the assembly of all ukase, the tunes of prayer mellow the bereaved mind in all promise and poignance of future.

What makes Tagore’s prayer so vibrant and arresting, living and pulsating? How does he come closest to our diverse thoughts and emotions through his songs of prayer? How does he remain an eternal iconoclast in dealing with the prayers of the human heart? Perhaps love is the only key to negotiate, all these and other allied questions as Tagore marvellously spells out in his exquisite songs of prayer. Here is a creator of songs par? Excellence who unfolds the glory of love in course of prayer of an enviably inimitable manner. In fact, love opens the unknown vista of the human heart that never yields to desolation, disappointment, dullness, depression, dissociation or death. At the same time, Tagore unfolds a new horizon of human prayer where the heart is not in quest of the unknown alone but is also enchanted with the beauty of the world with all its flora and fauna. A sort of kindred relationship born of compassion and affection, kindness and conciliation is expressed in the words r of prayer that tell a new truth: man is never alone. The joys and sorrows, agonies and ecstasies of the human mind seek consolation not merely within oneself but also in an intimate association with all in and around one. Therefore, Tagore unfolds a new chapter of prayer where Nature becomes a living and abiding partner. The phoenix of human love is, as it were, born afresh in the prayer of the All Serene in love that knows no absence, no holiday from the lover or the beloved. What a gift from Tagore!

In translating Tagore’s songs of prayer, I recall in tears Pranati Chakrabarti, my partner of life beyond life and polestar of perfection, who has prematurely bid eternal farewell. I dedicate this book to her as her angel of love that inspires me to be in serene unison with her every moment everywhere.

I am grateful to Sobdo Chakrabarti, my son, who has taken all care `for computer processing of the manuscript.

If the book becomes an all-time companion of the revered readers in their solemn moments of prayer, I would pray in Tagore’s words of prayer: "Give me the strength lightly to bear my joys and sorrows."

Back of the Book

Tagore unfolds a new horizon of human prayer where the heart is not in quest of the unknown alone but is also enchanted with the beauty of the world with all its flora and fauna. A sort of the kindred relationship born of compassion and affection, kindness and conciliation is expressed in the words of prayer that tell a new truth: man is never alone. The joys and sorrows, agonies and ecstasies of the human mind seek consolation not merely within oneself but in an intimate association with all in and around one.

What makes Tagore’s prayer so vibrant and arresting, living and pulsating? How does he come closest to our diverse thoughts and emotions through his songs of prayer? How does he remain an eternal iconoclast in dealing with the prayers of the human heart? Perhaps love is the only key to negotiate all these and other allied questions as Tagore marvelously spells out in his exquisite songs of prayer. Here is a creator of songs par excellence who unfolds the glory of love in course of prayer of an enviably inimitable manner. In fact, love opens the unknown vista of the human heart that never yields to desolation, disappointment, dullness, depression, dissociation or death.

Mohit Chakrabarti, D. Litt.: Teaches Education and English at Visva-Bharati University, Santiniketan, Indian. Honoured with National Award as Teacher Educator. Credited with participation/presentation/acceptance of papers in international/national conferences/symposia/seminars etc. Associated with different universities, National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC), National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE) and educational institutions, etc. a consistent and prolific contributor to studies and researches on Mahatma Gandhi, Rabindranath Tagore and Swami Vivekananda.