Exploring 'My Reminiscences' by Rabindranath Tagore: A Journey Through Memories and Reflections -- englit.in

‘My Reminiscences’(1912) or “Jibon Smriti” was penned by one of India’s most cherished renaissance figures Rabindranath Tagore (1861-1941). The memoir’s  aspect is its “reflection”, which introduces Tagore’s life's experiences,  personal growth, offering insights into his family, education, travels as well as encounter with various individuals. During twentieth century, a time of great social and cultural change in india. When it was in British colony, and working towards social and political reforms which inspire him to compose the memoir.

At the beginning of the memoir, it is remained Tagore was painting a natural ability to express the obscure feelings.  He expresses, “Thus, when my opportunity came, did I look and was engrossed.” However, in the part of “teaching begins”, Tagore comes to learning preliminary lesson after crossing, “kara, khala” series. A member of their family, Kailash Mukherjee who used to recite very quickly for Rabi’s special pleasure.

In the third chapter, Tagore elicits his siblings had the pleasure of kicking the slippers on ahead, and catching them up again. He had read in the Ramayana of the tragedy of Sita for having left the ringtone by Lakshman. However, he expresses his Paradise, “inner garden” where consisted of a citron tree etc. Tagore has used to order everyday at the edge of South Verandah.

In the fourth chapter, Tagore expresses that he sometimes wonders why such cruel treatment was meted out to them by the servants. In the fascinated chapter, Tagore gets admission at the Oriental Seminary, and a few days later, he joins to the Normal school. He ranks top when an exam was arranged by Pandit Madhusudan Vachaspati. On the other hand, Iswar was Tagore’s school teacher.

In the sixth chapter, Tagore enters the world of “versification” for the first time. At his tender age, he was inspired by Jyoti (his nephew) to pen a verse of the Payar metre of Fourteenth syllables. In “The National Paper”, Jyoti asks, “Look here, Nabagopal Babu! Won’t you listen to a poem which Rabi has written?” Tagore informs he was learned Sanskrit by Pandit Tatwaratna. Additionally, Aghore Babu, Tagore’s english tutor who assorts the Medical College.

In the eighth chapter, Tagore gets a chance to see the outer-world as well as a Bengal village. In “practicing poetry”, Rabindranath laments something that he can not claim honor his reputation as a poet. He discusses the modern trend of versification among the youth and there’s nothing strange in a youngster writing verses.

In the tenth chapter, Srikantha Babu, who teaches a song: “No more of Vraja for me [Tagore]”. Srikantha Babu was devoted admirer of Rabi’s father. In the eleventh chapter, Tagore expresses about his Normal School. He confesses the value indeed in his learning. And Rabi concludes this chapter by advocating the importance of “mother tongue.” In the twelfth chapter, Tagore continues the discourse of his educational journey. Rabi finds out Munshi (his elder brother) was flexible to soft words.

Thirteenth, is the most significant chapter, where Tagore expresses his father who courages him not to afraid from Russians. On the other hand, Rabi had accompanied his father on a trip to the Ganges in his houseboat. In the fourteenth, Tagore outs with his father to the Himalayas Mountain. He expresses, “My father was the centre of my childish universe”.  At the Himalayas, they survive few times in Amritsar, where the road was blocked by a gorge. Additionally, he visits Bolpur with his father.. Another time, Rabi was appointed to the secretary of the Adi Brahma Samaj, and he comes back from Himalayas with his father.

In conclusion, Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore’s memoir  ‘My Reminiscences' shares the relationship of Tagore with his father, where he describes his thoughts and experiences on a wide range of topics. In the end, he never portrays a chronological order. The second, fifth, and eleventh chapters express his school life in the Oriental Seminary as well as The Bengal Academy. Tagore also talks about his father, Debendranath Tagore, who was a prominent religious and social reformer. His father’s presence became a gateway to the world for him, and he describes how they shared a common language of love and understanding.