Rabindranath Tagore, also known as Gurudev, was a renowned Bengali poet and a person of immense knowledge and learning. He reshaped Bengali literature and music and Indian art in the late 19th and early 20th century.
Born on May 7, 1861, Tagore became the first Asian to win the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1913 mainly for his famous work Gitanjali – a collection of 157 poems, the original Bengali version of which was published on Aug 14, 1910. The English translation by Tagore called the Song Offerings consists of 103 poems that was first published in November 1912 by the India Society of London.
The English version of Gitanjali became famous all over the world, especially the United States and England.
Tagore, the composer of India's National Anthem, was also a novelist, playwright, painter, educationist and philosopher. He also composed Bangladesh's national anthem Amar Shonar Bangla. He is also known as the 'Bard of Bengal'.
Tagore passed away on Aug 7, 1941 in Kolkata, which also happens to be his birthplace. On his death anniversary, let us look at some of his best and famous quotes.
"Love does not claim possession, but gives freedom."
"Faith is the bird that feels the light when the dawn is still dark."
"You can't cross the sea merely by standing and staring at the water."
"If you cry because the sun has gone out of your life, your tears will prevent you from seeing the stars."
"I slept and dreamt that life was joy. I awoke and saw that life was service. I acted and behold, service was joy."
"Depth of friendship does not depend on length of acquaintance."
"Reach high, for stars lie hidden in you. Dream deep, for every dream precedes the goal."
"It is very simple to be happy, but it is very difficult to be simple."
"Let your life lightly dance on the edges of Time like dew on the tip of a leaf."
"Clouds come floating into my life, no longer to carry rain or usher storm, but to add color to my sunset sky."
"When I stand before thee at the day's end, thou shalt see my scars and know that I had my wounds and also my healing."
"Let us not pray to be sheltered from dangers but to be fearless when facing them."
"The butterfly counts not months but moments, and has time enough."
"Don't limit a child to your own learning, for he was born in another time."
"I have become my own version of an optimist. If I can't make it through one door, I'll go through another door - or I'll make a door. Something terrific will come no matter how dark the present."
