Tagore impact on Punjab

Many would know it, but there would be many others who would be surprised to know that Rabinndranath Tagore had a very profound impact on Punjab in a coming together of two distant states that were to bear the brunt of the Partition of 1947.

The towering literary figure that ran parallel to the national struggle for freedom was undoubtedly that of Nobel Laureate Rabindranath Tagore. He was revered and knighted by the British imperialists. But the Jallianwala Bagh massacre on April 13, 1919, proved to be a turning point in his life.

On May 30, 1919, he returned his knighthood in the poignantly penned letter to Viceroy Lord Chelmsford. The sentiments expressed in the letter went straight to the hearts of all self-respecting Indians, and the Punjabis at once accepted him as their very own. Tagore wrote in the historical letter: "The time has come when badges of honour make our shame glaring in the incongruous context of humiliation, and I, for my part, wish to stand, shorn, of all special distinctions, by the side of those of my countrymen who, for their so-called insignificance, are liable to suffer degradation not fit for human beings."

Punjab's history and the philosophy of the Sikh religion inspired Tagore to write three poems on Guru Gobind Singh and a poetic tribute to Banda Bahadar. He also wrote an essay on Guru Nanak's Sacha Sauda as a young adult in a Bengali magazine for children called Balak. Tagore also said that Gurbani had inspired some of the songs and compositions of Rabindra Sangeet. In fact, he also translated into Hindi Guru Nanak's Gagan Mein Thal.

Several writers and painters in Punjab were influenced by the multi-dimensional talent of Gurudev Rabindranath, who was a poet, playwright, novelist, painter and musician. Many chose to dress like him, and among them were Punjabi writer Devendra Satyarthi and painter Sobha Singh.

Ramesh Sharma, a Doordarshan executive, who had a close association with the latter, says: "Sobha Singh used to say that he was inspired to take to painting by seeing the works of Tagore. He dressed up like his ideal and used to say that as far as art goes, I am the Tagore of Punjab."

Also adorning the Tagore garb was the late Satyarthi, who first met Gurudev through acclaimed painter Nandlal Bose. He had a long relationship with him, visiting Santiniketan many times. In fact, he was inspired by both Gandhi and Tagore in executing the mammoth task of collecting the folk songs of Punjab as well as from some other parts of India by moving from village to village. Satyarthi began this task in 1927, and he used to quote Tagore, who said: "The vitality of the Indian villager is India's real vitality. Villages are like women — in their keeping is the cradle of the race.

Satyarthi was deeply impressed by two poems of Gurudev, Katha Kaho and Urvashi. In fact, he asked Tagore if he could combine the two names for the title of one of his books. The permission was fondly given and Satyarthi's book was called Katha Kaho Urvashi. This title became very popular and was later borrowed by Dalip Kaur Tiwana for one of her novels. Tagore also gave names to the two older daughters of Satyarthi — Kavita and Alka.

Celebrated doyen of Punjabi letters, Gurbax Singh Preetlari, in 1938 set up the hamlet of Preet Nagar in the rural terrain of Punjab, equidistant from Lahore and Amritsar, inspired by the model of Visvabharati at Santiniketan. The Punjabi writers, and others who got associated with it, included Bhisham Sahni, Balraj Sahni, Nanak Singh, Sobha Singh, Faiz Ahmad Faiz, Sahir Ludhianvi, Amrita Pritam, Upendra Nath Ashq, Kartar Singh Duggal, Mohan Singh, and Balwant Gargi.

A close associate, Guru Dayal Malik of Santiniketan, was specially deputed by Tagore to visit Preet Nagar on June 30, 1941. He wrote in the Visitors' Book: "I am on pilgrimage to Preet Nagar, believing as I do that it is a miniature map of India in the making. It is the ideal of community building on the basis of mutual service and sacrifice. To me, Preet Nagar is the sister of Santiniketan."

Punjabi poet Amarajit Chandan recalls that it was Tagore who inspired both Balraj Sahni and Gargi to write in their mother tongue. Once actor Balraj Sahni asked Tagore: "You have written the National Anthem for India. Can you write an international anthem for the whole world?" "It has already been written, not only international but for the entire universe, in the 16th century, by Nanak," replied Tagore.
Ma, I want to be Tagore

One of the most celebrated pieces of short fiction in Punjabi is a story called Mainu Tagore Bana de Ma. Penned in the Sixties by Mohan Bhandari, it tells the story of  Badroo, a potter’s son, who has a special literary talent and dreams of becoming a Tagore. However, following his father’s illness he is forced to leave school and become a labourer. His dream dies young. This story is remembered by many readers as tale of lost dreams in the face of want and poverty. 

Bhandari says that the story was based on the life of one of his classmates in a Malwa village near Sangrur. He recalls that Satyarthi had visited their school while gathering folk songs. Inspired by his visit, Badroo started writing short poems and the schoolmaster encouraged him saying: “One day you will become Tagore. Alas! Badroo could not become Tagore.