Rabindranath Tagore`s literary reputation is disproportionately influenced by regard for his poetry; however, he also wrote novels, essays, short stories, travelogues, dramas, and thousands of songs. Of Tagore`s prose, his short stories are perhaps most highly regarded; indeed, he is credited with originating the Bangla-language version of the genre. His works are frequently noted for their rhythmic, optimistic, and lyrical nature. However, such stories mostly were borrowed from deceptively simple subject matter - the lives of ordinary people.
Rabindranath Tagore wrote eight novels and four novellas, including Chaturanga, Shesher Kobita, Char Odhay, and Noukadubi. Ghare Baire (The Home and the World) - through the lens of the idealistic zamindar protagonist Nikhil - excoriates rising Indian nationalism, terrorism and religious zeal in the Swadeshi movement; a frank expression of Tagore`s conflicted sentiments, it emerged out of a 1914 bout of depression. Indeed, the novel bleakly ends with Hindu-Muslim sectarian violence and Nikhil`s being (probably mortally) wounded. In some sense, Gora shares the same theme, raising controversial questions regarding the Indian identity.
As with Ghore Baire, matters of self-identity (jati), personal freedom, and religion are developed in the context of a family story and love triangle. Another powerful story is Yogayog (Nexus), where the heroine Kumudini - bound by the ideals of Shiva-Sati, exemplified by Dakshayani - is torn between her pity for the sinking fortunes of her progressive and compassionate elder brother and his foil: her exploitative, stylish, and patriarchic husband. In it, Tagore demonstrates his feminist leanings, using pathos to depict the plight and ultimate demise of Bengali women trapped by pregnancy, duty and family honour; simultaneously, he treats the decline of Bengal`s landed oligarchy.
Other novels were more uplifting: Shesher Kobita (translated twice - Last Poem and Farewell Song) is his most lyrical novel, with poems and rhythmic passages written by the main character (a poet). It also contains elements of satire and postmodernism, whereby stock characters gleefully attack the reputation of an old, outmoded, oppressively renowned poet who, incidentally, goes by the name of Rabindranath Tagore. Though his novels remain among the least-appreciated of his works, they have been given renewed attention via film adaptations by such directors as Satyajit Ray; these include Chokher Bali and Ghare Baire; many have soundtracks featuring selections from Tagore`s own rabindrasangit.
Tagore also wrote many non-fiction books, writing on topics ranging from Indian history to linguistics. In addition to autobiographical works, his travelogues, essays, and lectures were compiled into several volumes, including Iurop Jatrir Patro (Letters from Europe) and Manusher Dhormo (The Religion of Man).
