LETTERS OF GURUDEV RABINDRANATH TAGORE

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Khidki (Window)

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LETTERS OF GURUDEV RABINDRANATH TAGORE

    If the razzmatazz of this hurly-burly digital life is beginning to throttle your peace, pace and cheer of mind? If the endemic digital platform—whatsapp, played, more by adults than children, since its invention has turned your life into a hackneyed saga. You need to go back in times for some more sans souci. Let me therefore take you through the synopsis of a letter written by Tagore. That winds-back in time and is indeed a refreshing read.

    Tagore had written many such letters during his lifetime in Bengali. Later, in 1920 he translated them into English. And it goes without saying, that these letters take you to that litterateur’s magnetic world almost immediately. It unleashes that ‘thinking English’ on you that revs up your literary appetite. When you go into a pleasant reverie. It of course, stay’s away from the current day ‘instant English’ with that digital makeup. He narrates each letter in that typical atavistic settings. Today, I have attempted to summarise one such letter for you.

BANDORA, BY THE SEA –written in October 1885

    I have turned twenty seven. While being seated by the sea side in Bandora, located in Ponda Taluka of North Goa. I’m able to capture the gestures of the unprotected sea that huffs and puffs. And while doing so it transforms into the tiresome froth. The sea equates with the feel of some shackled giant as if straining at its bonds. That too, right in front of the gaping jaws of the land. Where, we build our homes on the shore and watch it lashing its tail at the sea. Wow! What a massive show of strength that sends the waves splashing high, like the muscles of a giant.

    Primeval and from time immemorial this battle between the land and water has been going on. The parched earth slowly and steadily is only adding the sea to its kitty and thus spreading a broader apron for its children. Where, the ocean is receding under consternation step by step. Wailing and sobbing, beating its chest in despair, as if to a somber call of beating the retreat. One shouldn’t forget. Sea was once the sole monarch—utterly unencumbered.

    After all, land has only risen from its womb and usurped its throne. Since then sea has become the mad old creature with a heavy crest of foam. It moans and groans, and laments continually. Like King Lear … exposed to the fury of these elements.

    These events of land and sea keep impacting my mind on and on. As nothing else has happened of late apart from my turning, twenty-seven.

    But turning twenty seven is no trifling … happening for me. As I have crossed the meridian of the twenties. I am now progressing to thirty. They say I’m now headed towards maturity an age. Where, people begin to expect fruit rather than fresh foliage consumed hitherto. But alas, where is the promise of fruit. As I shake my head. Life still feels like a brimful of luscious frivolity, with not a trace of deep philosophy.

    Folks in general have started complaining: “Where is that something that we expected of you. In the hope of which, we absorbed the soft tenderness of your childhood? We can’t be putting up with immaturity forever? So, it is high time for us to know what we shall gain from you. We want an estimate of the proportion of oil which even, a blindfolded miller or an unbiased critic can squeeze out of you.”

    It is impossible to delude people into waiting expectantly any longer for results. While I was under age they trustfully gave me credit. But it is sad to disappoint them now that I am on the verge of thirty. But what am I to do? Words of wisdom will not come so easily. I am utterly incompetent to provide things that may profit the multitude. Except for, a snatch of a song, or some tittle-tattle, and a little merry fooling, that I’ve been able to advance. As a result, those who had high hopes will turn their wrath on me. But then, no one has ever begged them to nurse these expectations of me.

    Such were the thoughts that assailed me since a fine Bysakh morning. When, I wake up amidst the fresh breeze and light with a new leaf and flower. Only to find, that I had stepped into my twenty-seventh year.

    Even way back in 1885 Gurudev was able to comprehend the rivalry between the land and the sea. 

By Kamlesh Tripathi

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https://kamleshsujata.wordpress.com

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Shravan Charity Mission is an NGO that works for poor children suffering from life threatening diseases especially cancer. Should you wish to donate for the cause. The bank details are given below:

NAME OF ACCOUNT: SHRAVAN CHARITY MISSION

Account no: 680510110004635 (BANK OF INDIA)

IFSC code: BKID0006805

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Our publications

GLOOM BEHIND THE SMILE

(The book is about a young cancer patient. Now archived in 7 prestigious libraries of the US, including, Harvard University and Library of Congress. It can also be accessed in MIT through Worldcat.org. Besides, it is also available for reading in Libraries and archives of Canada and Cancer Aid and Research Foundation Mumbai)  

ONE TO TANGO … RIA’S ODYSSEY

(Is a book on ‘singlehood’ about a Delhi girl now archived in Connemara Library, Chennai and Delhi Public Library, GOI, Ministry of Culture, Delhi)

AADAB LUCKNOW … FOND MEMORIES

(Is a fiction written around the great city of Nawabs—Lucknow. It describes Lucknow in great detail and also talks about its Hindu-Muslim amity. That happens to be its undying characteristic. The book was launched in Lucknow International Literary Festival of 2014)

REFRACTIONS … FROM THE PRISM OF GOD

(Co-published by Cankids–Kidscan, a pan India NGO and Shravan Charity Mission, that works for Child cancer in India. The book is endorsed by Ms Preetha Reddy, MD Apollo Hospitals Group. It was launched in Lucknow International Literary Festival 2016)

TYPICAL TALE OF AN INDIAN SALESMAN

(Is a story of an Indian salesman who is, humbly qualified. Yet he fights his ways through unceasing uncertainties to reach the top. A good read not only for salesmen. The book was launched on 10th February, 2018 in Gorakhpur Lit-Fest. Now available in Amazon, Flipkart and Onlinegatha

(ALL THE ABOVE TITLES ARE AVAILABLE FOR SALE IN AMAZON, FLIPKART AND OTHER ONLINE STORES OR YOU COULD EVEN WRITE TO US FOR A COPY)

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HAPPINESS and SIMPLICITY go hand in hand

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 In my spells of loneliness I look for my happiness. When I get up early in the morning, it is quiet and lonely. This is when, I hope to come across happiness. The ongoing moments are serenading and moving, where, you can even hear yourself breathing. It is still dark outside, but the dawn is about strike and where, the sun is gearing up to rise. The mood is dreary with all sorts of fears. As if, the heaven is far away, but the hell is about to strike, anytime during my life. People call it depression. But I guess that is only an impression. I slowly rise to sit on the bed. The silhouette on the side tells me, she is still, fast asleep. There is no pleasant reverie that tickles my funny bone. And like every day. I think of my God who has gone off to sleep and refuses to wake up. When I’m again struck, by that galling, every day whoosh that echoes once again … there is always so much to do, and how do I improve.

   My mind is all confused as if I’m still in the woods. I squirm in mild agita and hackneyed clutter. When, I decide to leave my cot. Pondering, slowly, I walk up to the loo. And where, the first thing I try and do, is to woo my rue, with a splash of water. That brings the first ray of happiness on my just woken up, face. I follow it up with another and then another. It tones me up.

    I decide to sprawl in the lawns for a while. Luckily I’m bereft of thoughts. So, the mind is empty. They say an empty mind is a devils workshop. But here, the devil is missing. Perhaps, he doesn’t believe in the age old proverb, anymore. He is in great demand. As, he has a lot to do, in terms of bearing out, this holy world turning unholy.

    My mind has nothing to say. There is no content fermenting in it yet. So, heart is at peace. The dawn is now alive and the sun is now behind the high rise. The loneliness has only expanded and with that happiness has arrived. But I know it is only momentary. I often wonder who distributes these merry tickets of joy. Barring the early morning cameo I’ve never seen her in full flow.

  She’s a mystery, happiness. She often comes uninvited. She follows no path. No paradigms and no rhymes. Nothing influences her, not even, tons, of holds in form of gold. People die for her and people lie for her. Everyone wants to hobnob with her. But she is aloof and beyond any loop.

    At times one gets to feel, even God cannot control her. But yes, there is something that can tame her.

    Says Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore—‘It is very simple to be happy, but it is very difficult to be simple.’

    So, won’t it better to look for happiness in divine simplicity than in nightmarish loneliness?

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By Kamlesh Tripathi

*

https://kamleshsujata.wordpress.com

*

Share if you like it

*

Shravan Charity Mission is an NGO that works for poor children suffering from life threatening diseases. Should you wish to donate for the cause the bank details are given below:

NAME OF ACCOUNT: SHRAVAN CHARITY MISSION

Account no: 680510110004635 (BANK OF INDIA)

IFSC code: BKID0006805

*

Our publications

GLOOM BEHIND THE SMILE

(Archived in 7 prestigious libraries of the US, including, Harvard University and Library of Congress. It can also be accessed in MIT through Worldcat.org. Besides, it is also available for reading in Libraries and archives of Canada and Cancer Aid and Research Foundation Mumbai)  

ONE TO TANGO … RIA’S ODYSSEY

(Archived in Connemara Library, Chennai and Delhi Public Library, GOI, Ministry of Culture)

AADAB LUCKNOW … FOND MEMORIES

(Launched in Lucknow International Literary Festival 2014)

REFRACTIONS … FROM THE PRISM OF GOD

(Co-published by Cankids–Kidscan, a pan India NGO and Shravan Charity Mission, that works for Child cancer in India. The book is endorsed by Ms Preetha Reddy, MD Apollo Hospitals Group. Book was launched in Lucknow International Literary Festival 2016)

(CAN BE BOUGHT FROM ON LINE BOOK STORES OR WRITE TO US FOR COPIES)

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SHORT STORY: THE POWER IN GOD’S NAME

Copyright@kamleshsujata1

By kamlesh Tripathi

Once upon a time there happened to be a novice pupil of a learned Guru. And, as told by the Guru he always chanted the name of God as his mantra. One day, a question came to his mind when he went up to his Guru and asked, ‘Gurudev why do I need to chant the name of God every now and then? as by doing so I am neither helping God, nor myself.’

    Guru smiled at the simplicity of his pupil. He wanted the pupil to learn something on his own. He said, ‘If you want to know the power in name of God, go close to that white bird perched on the tree near your house and ask him this question.”

    Pupil in compliance of Guru’s orders went close to the bird and uttered the name of God, but was shocked to see the bird died the moment it heard God’s name. Scared and shocked the pupil ran to his Guru and narrated the entire episode to him. Guru heard what the pupil had to say. He expressed sorrow, uttered some soothing words and said, ‘Don’t worry; now you go to all those animals that stay in animal stable near your house. There you have a cow that has just now given birth to a calf just now. You ask this question to the calf.’

    This time the pupil was not very enthusiastic in going there but still just to obey his Guru he reluctantly went to the calf and asked the question and he was shell-shocked as the calf too upon hearing God’s name died immediately.

    Devastated, he ran to his Guru again and said, ‘recitation of God’s name has made me a murderer of two, what should I do now? Guru expressed grief again followed by some kind words, ‘I regret both the times you were disappointed, but one last time you please go to the nearby kingdom and to the King’s palace there and ask his new born baby Rajkumar this question.’

    Once again the novice pupil felt dejected. But just to keep up to his Guru’s orders he headed towards the kingdom, extremely scared, and gingerly went up to the king after reaching there. He mentioned his Guru’s name and desired to see the new born baby Rajkumar. Since the King knew the Guru and respected him he allowed the pupil to see the Rajkumar. The novice slowly went up to the baby and whispered God’s name in his ear. And soon a mishap occurred as the baby died. The king got extremely upset and ordered his infantry to put the novice to death. Nervous, the novice started talking to himself, ‘O my God, I didn’t know your name was so harmful for others. I was better off without your name.’

    And, while he was murmuring all this, a piercing-celestial ray of light came out of the boy’s body and formed into a divine shape, and gestured pranam to the novice pupil and said, ‘I am grateful to you and your Guru. I was serving a curse that I will have three births on earth, and I that will suffer profusely. But your Guru to protect me sent you for my help. When I was a bird you got me mukti (salvation), when I was a calf then also you liberated me, and when I was born in human form then too you got me mukti by uttering the name of God. There is immense power in God’s name which you can’t see. And, after saying all this, the divine form vanished. The king released the pupil and gave him lots of presents. The pupil went running to his Guru. He was spellbound. Guru smiled and admiringly said, ‘now you know the real power in God’s name. Name of God can do such miracles, that we can’t even think of but the job is extremely precise and highly devotional.

The story is from our Upanishads.