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?
ANINDA: Obviously with that….. my
pisi used to
teach me drawings of sahaj path
and kisholoy
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?
ANINDA: In my Bengali medium school
Rabindranath was central
focus…. Modernity meant Rabi
Tagore n Shaniniketan…
Cousin sisters of mine n my friends studied there….it was
common to do MA in musicology from
Rabindra University. Nazrul , Rajani Atul, Dijendra geetis
were not so common. In Films , film songs ,
dramas , plays , we
were encircled by Tagore in all
fields
SONGSOPTOK:
Which aspect of Rabindranath most impacted your
young adulthood?
ANINDA: His modernity. In all
matters of life , as I started competing
in debates… and college
fests… Xavotsav , Caledonia
Milieu, Sanskriti, in most programs
Rabi carried me along. It
is in Jamshedpur that I tasted
Nazrul in all localities..
in my successes n failures , he
was d best director
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?
ANINDA: Why me?
World has done that …IPTA
stars were doing Tagore
plays.. Ray , Mrinal , Ghatak were embracing
him…. But Samaresh, Sunil ,
& left inclinations started
blowing d lid off
Tagore…
SONGSOPTOK: Which aspect of Rabindranath attracts you most and why?
ANINDA: His philosophy n philanthropy,
his interests in all
subjects, an unparalleled
all rounder in talent in
art, novels, stories poetry, music, humanitarian history n
treatises…..And d only
saint to create vedic Shantiniketan with all
lingua , religions, castes….an equal
opportunity edn instn
SONGSOPTOK: Can you comment
on the influence of Rabindranath in your personal life and on your cultural
engagements?
ANINDA: From 1984 when in Scottish
Church I found d
new names in Bengali
literature.. & started discovering
talents beyond Tagore , mostly
leftists. I love Gora , Vimala, Ela, Binodini,
but started loving
Brecht , Gogol, Shlokov, Gorky,
Chekov , other
than Sarat Chandra, & Bazar
patrika’s brain eaters…
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?
ANINDA: Totally Disagree… Apart
from non Band songs n ganasangeets, Rabindrasangeet holds a pivotal role
in Bengalees ’ music spectrum.
But growing fad for such new
genre music has depleted d value of
traditional Rabindra sangeet among
youth. But, again, Rabindra
sangeets’ newer versions
are flooding market & bands
& film-songs.. with a lot of experiments. Also, surprisingly, traditional
classical ones are flowing as a 3rd alternative
with lots of patronage.
What is
crucial to note is that in other arenas , the scenario was quite contrary. In literature of modern Bengal, there are 2
parallel currents—a) brain washing
bazaar lineage literature &
b) ultra-modern / post-modern literature with ultra-left leaning. Pandavless
Bengal was first to bathe in Reneissance, so development of Bengali modernism has always been dynamic n
progressive n devoid of rightist / religious conservatisms .
Coming to
cooperative movement, Gandhi’s influence in Bengal was limited owing
to excessive leftist militant leanings
of youth since Yugantar & Kshudiram days and further advent of Manavendra Roy, Rashbehari Bose & Forward
Block of Netaji. Coop movement in Bengal emanated from Soviet model & a bit
of Chineese model. Tagore’s idea in this regard emanated from Gandhi
& Tolstoy, which had limited acceptance in Bengal. So, Dr Bidhan
Roy’s Bengal had its lion’s share of
Nehru-Mahalnabish USSR model
implemented , with joint sector & a very major public sector & very
little Gandhism followed
with Ajoy Mukherjee, Prafulla
Ghosh & Prafulla Sen , owing to too much of
central dominance of Soviet model
& its sheer influence.
In fact,
self-reliance n coop movement
in Bengal were gifted by Benoy Choudhury . Bengal got the British advantage of highest no of industries & Hindu capital
despite nil resources. And a lot of
manpower influx from neighboring
states to the hinterland; which
decayed due to technological depreciations . Bengal got no Dr Yusuf &
Dr Sen ‘s eco version had ltd application in Bengal.
In short,
pure Gandhian isolation is a myth unsustainable. Too premature
to succeed.
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?
ANINDA: Again , the impact came from Reneissance & dominance of British in Bengalee elite’s
cult n mindset… Bengali is not Hindi
& whatever Left Front did in
Tagore’s line was half- hearted…
Unlike in Hindi, there are hardly any good
book in most of medical ,engg,
CA/ ICWA / ICSI / MBA / law etc etc. Whatever be the
tune, that happened in
Bangladesh. So, unlike China/ Korea/ Europe, mother tongue did not flourish.
Since when English of worst
standard started being taught wef class
VI, Bengalees as IAS / IFS/ IRS / IIT / IIM have depleted drastically , and plenty
of JU masters cannot compete in English in national
arena. In Hindi belt , max of aforesaid
u can have in Hindi. But our CU / Presidency Univ have relegated to much lower rank over
3 decades of decay.
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?
ANINDA: Why do u need that?
Personally I feel it meaningless to see a
lot of research in Ramkrishnaism / Tagorism. Already so many
are flocking to Visva Bharati from China/ Japan/ Korea/ Bangladesh… Both
Rabindra Bharati & Visva
Bharati can be entrusted with the task
of reglorifying not just brand
Tagore but the whole of Bengal ethos..
Feel, Indian Embassies in all
countries should walk extra
mile to spread messages
of Vivekananda & Rabindranath
together , the way they propagated Nehruism
during 60 years
of Congress rule.
In an Irreligious way, maybe , an
enriched Visva Bharati ( Central Univ) can propagate teachings of
& researches in Tagore, Patel, Maulana Azad, Ambedkar & other cult figures… Why Tagore alone???
SONGSOPTOK:
Is Rabindranath’s
relevance among the younger generations on the decline? If so, what is the
cause of that?
ANINDA: Already addressed . How
many of Bengalees world over know Tagore?? There
should be associations to address
that. Now, how many know Khalil Zibran / Octavio Paaz / William
Golding??? Owing to saint’s
self-started Shantiniketan , too many people know him more world over compared
to many Nobel Laureates. But , 3
decades of leftism spread Soviet literature at throw away prices , &
Pragati Prakashan became a household name . If Tagore
has to assume that level of
reach, Harper Collins to Oxford to
Penguin , with some govt / pvt
support, need to do that world over.
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?
ANINDA: This is because of
death of socialism. Lack of
cultural revolution & socialist
revolution created Leftist elitist also
as a part of Bourgeoisie. Since there is no self-satisfaction, there is no egalitarianism either in Visva Bharati , or among
Tagorist elites.
SONGSOPTOK:
What is your optimism about the relevance of
Rabindranath in Bengal of the future generations?
ANINDA: If Tagorism is
relevant , it shall sway, & bloom.
No need to beat the
drum n blow d conch for that so vigorously. Rest, I have already answered .
[ANINDA GHOSH: POET WRITER AND CHARTERED ACCOUNTANT]
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