The following is a seminar presented by my student of the basic english course. Her name is Mrs. Naga Mani. Please red and give your comments.

Viswakavi Ravbindranath was born on 9, 1861 in Bengal. His father Maharishi Devendranath Tagore was a rich man and an aristrocrat and his mother was Sarada Devi. He was the eighth son and fourteenth child of his parents. Rabindranath Tagore was not sent to any school. He was educated at home by a tutor. Rabindranath was not happy, getting educated within the four walls. He was a curious and creative child. Even as a boy he felt that nature is a mystery.

Though he was educated at home, he studied many subjects and there was a method in his studies. He would get up early. After physical education he would study Mathematics, History, Geography, Bengali and Sanskrit. In the afternoon, he learnt drawing, English and play games. On Sundays he would learn music and conduct experments in Science. Reading plays was of special to him. He was happy to read play of Kalidas and Shakespeare. He had special interest in Bengali, which was his mother - tongue.

For further studies, he was sent to a public school at London, where he became a student of Prof. Henry Morley whose lectures influenced Rabindranath to take interest in English literature. He developed interest in English culture, traditions and literature. While studying in England, he wrote a poem "Broken Heart". After 18 months in England, he returned to India without taking any degree.

Rabindranath started writing poetry in Bengali. His poem "sandya Geet" was appreciated by many, including Sri Bankimchandra Chatterji, who wrote the National song "Vandemataram". He later wrote in Bengali a number of devotional songs.

"Gitanjali" is a well-know collection of his poems. Gitanjali contains his various noble thoughts common to the vast humanity, love, satisfaction, dignity of labour etc. For this book "Gitanjali" Rabindranath Tagore was awarded the Noble Prize for literature in 1913. Rabindranath was the first Indian to get a noble prize and the British Government conferred on him knighthood and gave the title "Sir".

He had great interest in village reconstruction, Indian culture, music and dance. He was himself a good singer ande he composed a new dorm of music called "Rabindra Sangeet". He had special interest in Kathak and Bali dance. He wrote a number of poems. Some of them are Valmiki Pratibha, Post Office, Nature's Revenge, Saradotsav and Gora etc. Gora deals with the theme of friendship between persons belonging to two different religijons.

Rabindranath started a school at Bholpur, a village 112 km. north of Calcutta. This school developed into Shantinikethan. Students come to shantinikethan from many countries. It specialises in arts, crafts, music and dance besides rural reconstruction.

He established Viswabharathi University near Santhiniketan in 1921. It is now a university of the Central Government.

What makes Rabindranath Tagore special for Indians is "Jana gana mana" and it is our National Anthem. Mahatma Gandhi and Jawahaerlal Nehru had the Greatest respect for Rabindanath Tagore. Though Tagore did not participate in politics headlong , he was a great nationalist. Many of his writings express his nationalistic spirit. For this, he got into trouble with British rulers. He was a great philosopher and a teacher. He was called "Gurudev" by all. He breathed his last on August 7, 1941, he leaving his thoughts and ideas for all to follow.

THANK YOU SIR.

NAGAMANI