"The present volume [is] a survey of Tagore's contributions to Music, Drama and Dance. It is designed to be our Akademi's tribute to this aspect of Tagore's many-sided genius. We do not claim that it is an adequate tribute or a comprehensive one.
We feel, nonetheless, that the editors have done well in confining themselves, in view of the limited space that the funds permitted, to what may be called the most authoritative writings on the subject. The authority flows from two considerations-first, because of the long and intimate contact that the writers have had with this aspect of Tagore's creative genius, and, secondly, because of the serious study that they have made of the subject. These articles may be said to have stood the test of time. Scattered in books and journals, these fugitive pieces on cognate subjects long awaited collection in an anthology of this kind. We hope, therefore, that the volume will meet a long-felt need."
Foreword
The Year 1961 will go down in history as the Centennial Year of Rabindranath Tagore. There are few instances in recent history when the various countries of the world have vied with one another, with such spontaneous zeal, in celebrating the birth-centenary of a poet. This tribute has been paid not only to the universalism of Tagore's spirit but also to the myriad-mindedness of his genius. He touched life at many points, and all his life he sought to learn all the languages through which life expresses itself.
'A large part of main', he used to say, 'can never find its expression in the mere language of words. It must, therefore, seek for its expression other languages-lines and colours, sounds and movements. Through our mastery of these we not only make our whole nature articulate but also understand man in all his attempts to reveal his inner-most being in every age and clime It is the duty of every human being to master, at least to some extent, not only the language of the intellect, but also the language of the personality which is the language of Art.
Tagore's amazing versatility extended to the domain of these 'other languages' to such an extent that he made outstanding contributions to many of them. The present volume seeks to deal with one such facet of his genius. The editors describe the volume as a survey of Tagore's contributions to Music, Drama and Dance. It is designed to be our Akademi's tribute to this aspect of Tagore's many-sided genius. We do not claim that it is an adequate tribute or a comprehensive one.
We feel, nonetheless, that the editors have done well in confining themselves, in view of the limited space that the funds permitted, to what may be called the most authoritative writings on the subject. The authority flows from two considerations-first, because of the long and intimate contact that the writers have had with this aspect of Tagore's creative genius, and secondly, because of the serious study that they have made of the subject. These articles may be said to have stood the test of time. Scattered in book and journals, these fugitive pieces on cognate subjects long awaited collection in an anthology of this kind. We hope, therefore, that the volume will meet a long-felt need.
We recall with gratitude the good offices of Dr. Niharranjan Ray without whose sustained interest and labour this Number could hardly have taken shape.
Under Acknowledgment we have given the names of those others who have offered us valued help and co-operation in bringing out this publication.
Preface
This work was first issued in 1961 as a special number of the Sangeet Natak Akademi Bulletin on the occasion Rabindranath Tagore's birth centenary. Comprising writings by Rabindranath himself, his associates and some devoted Tagore scholars, this survey of Gurudev's contributions to music, dance and drama was much liked by general readers and scholars.
The work has been out of print for some time. There was a demand for its re-issue. Hence this reprint in its original form. I am sure readers will welcome the publication.
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