SONGSOPTOK: Most Bengalis
are introduced to Rabindranath through ‘Sahaj Paath’. With that introduction,
people become familiar with him in their own ways. Can you share with us how you developed that
relationship?
RUMA: My relationship with
Tagore began much in the same way. I think my mother was remarkable for
managing to do this, despite living in Africa and having a full time job of her
own. She also introduced his songs to me with regular lessons from her in the
evenings on the harmonium.
SONGSOPTOK: If we analyze
carefully, we will see a gradual unfolding of Rabindranath in us through
different stages of our life, from childhood to adulthood. We may not be
prepared for this evolution, but Rabindranath leads us through this
developmental process to the blooming of our lives. Can you share with us how
your personal development was influenced by Rabindranath?
RUMA: I find
that Tagore has something to offer to readers of every age. For me, songs and
stories that once appealed have often
moved off centre stage and new ones have
gained in importance. Some songs are as clear as crystal to me at some points
in time and I feel a sense of amazement as to why the meaning was not clear,
not evident to me just days or hours earlier.
SONGSOPTOK: Which aspect of
Rabindranath most impacted your young adulthood?
RUMA: As a
child, I was exposed to his songs and his stories for children. His poems for
children and his autobiography Jeevan Smriti would have to be the most
influential on my love for him in my adult years.
SONGSOPTOK: How would you
explain the rediscovery of Rabindranath at different phases of life? Won’t you
agree that this rediscovery is a consequence of journeying with him? Or do you
feel that this rediscovery happens mostly at the intellectual level instead of being soul-bound?
RUMA: This
rediscovery happens always when one is least aware. My involvement with
translating his works into English came about as a way of dealing with some
issues in my personal life. The peace that came from that was such that it soon
became clear to me that it might be helpful to others who were in need of a
sanctuary from all the business of living. For me it has been both intellectual
as well as of the soul. Without the soul being involved, the intellect would
not have been fully satisfied.
SONGSOPTOK: Which aspect of
Rabindranath attracts you most and why?
RUMA: His keen understanding of the human condition.
SONGSOPTOK: Can you comment
on the influence of Rabindranath in your personal life and on your cultural
engagements?
RUMA: Tagore
provides me with an understanding of a large number of things without my active
realization. I am not religious and his spirituality is what I understand; in
that sense Tagore to me is almost as a prophet.
SONGSOPTOK: We are all aware
of the immense influence that Rabindranath exerts on the modern Bengali
society. However, the guidance that he provided about societal development has
not been pursued. He emphasized rural economic self-reliance. He wanted to
establish cooperative system as a way to counter capitalism. We chose to ignore
his views. How would you address this topic?
RUMA: I think
there is a deep need for structuring vocational education according to the
teachings of Tagore and his practices at Santiniketan and Sriniketan. We will
never succeed as a nation if we strive endlessly to turn every child into a
doctor or an engineer. Rural development will come through implementing his
progressive ideas in matters such as agriculture, microfinance and rural
upliftment. These can be addressed most successfully with the help of a
national program.
SONGSOPTOK: There is another
issue that Rabindranath unequivocally championed – the importance of mother
language in education! He argued that children should be instructed only in
their mother tongues till the age of twelve. On the other hand, Bengali parents
would like to send their children to English-medium schools if they can afford
to do so. What is your opinion on this issue?
RUMA: I suppose
his view that children must be taught only in their mother tongue till the age
of twelve might have been influenced by the fact that he was living in a
country ruled by a foreign power. As a teacher I know that children can handle
the learning of more than one language at a time and feel that while a
knowledge of good grammatical English may be essential for job-readiness later
in life, all children do learn a second language more effectively when they
know their own well. Therefore, both languages must be taught and with equal
emphasis. If parents are happy to take a child to cricket coaching and French
language classes for a fee, why not have them learn Bengali as well while at
school? That is still the most inexpensive way to learn anything.
SONGSOPTOK: We are all too
enamored about globalization, yet we lack interest to (re)introduce
Rabindranath globally. What is your opinion? How and who can be trusted with
that responsibility?
RUMA: For most
people globalization is merely what they see on cable television. True
globalization and global citizenship has always been around and Tagore himself
described his patriotism as a global construct and not a blind following for a
geographical expression of nationhood. I believe it is the responsibility of
Bengali writers, speakers and bloggers to share their Tagore with the world
around them. Through my blog on Tagore, I have been doing that and am proud to
say that there is still a great deal of interest in Tagore and other vernacular
literature. We must not sit back and hope someone else will do this for us.
SONGSOPTOK: Is
Rabindranath’s relevance among the younger generations on the decline? If so,
what is the cause of that?
RUMA: I think
the young are by nature always inclined to experiment and test ground with new
things. As Tagore himself said, they were born in a different time and are not
citizens of the same world that their parents might have known. Given the
chance to learn for themselves about good and bad literature, they will always
choose the better alternative. Tagore will always be the better alternative.
SONGSOPTOK:
Rabindranath
emphasized the need to develop egalitarian views instead of egocentric ones.
Unfortunately, we as a society are receding into our impenetrable egotistic armor.
How much has this behavior impacted you?
RUMA: I am
lucky to be living at some geographic distance from the home of Tagore where
this self centredness has a more abiding and damaging effect. The West has
always had the egalitarian views that Tagore espoused.
SONGSOPTOK:
What is your optimism about the relevance of
Rabindranath in Bengal of the future generations?
RUMA: I believe that Rabindranath will continue to be relevant to
Bengalis if his work is taught to the younger generations without attempting to
water it down.
[RUMA
CHAKRAVARTI: A MATHEMATICS TEACHER BY PROFESSION IS A BLOGGER AND WRITER WHOSE
INTERESTS INCLUDE TAGORE AND WOMEN’S ISSUES. SHE CURRENTLY LIVES IN ADELAIDE. ]
We sincerely thank you
for your time and hope we shall have your continued support.
Aparajita Sen
(Editor:
Songsoptok)
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