Gitanjali by Rabindranath Tagore
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Rabindranath Tagore, one of the greatest ever multifaceted poet, writer, artist and lyricist, from Bengal was honored with a Nobel Prize in Literature in 1913 for his profound book of Song Offerings called “Gitanjali”. He thus became the first ever non European to receive this highest award in Literature in the world.

As per my understanding of the book, this is one such book that should be read and at the same time heard over in song or hymn form. It is a collection of over one hundred hymns or poems that have been converted into songs in various forms. The songs/hymns are all written in praise of the Lord and mostly waiting for His arrival to take him away with him in peace. Most of the hymns are based on the loveliness of life and its beauty enhanced by the surrounding nature unveiled through the poet’s mind and heart. One can experience peace and eternal happiness while listening to these hymns. It is said that these hymns have been recourse to the Western world which was at civil strife and under deep threat of a War. Literature has been redefined in the Western world after this book has created tremors in world of English literature. Though the personification of the singer is a female (as per my understanding) in the book, I deeply appreciate the author’s ability to produce such a wonderful experience of peace and harmony in a troubled heart and mind.

Positives: One would be called a genius if he understands the gist of the entire collection of song offerings at one go. A repeated audience to this great collection would carry the soul to an eternal happiness and make him/her devoid of all materialistic pleasures and troubles irrespective of age and sex. I would recommend a copy of this song book or audio device at one’s ready disposal to read or hear whenever he or she is off mood. A must read by every Indian and every citizen of the world who is at strife with his internal and external troubles.

Negatives: Most of the song offerings appear to be inclined towards retirement of life and appear to those who have lost everything and just waiting for God’s arrival to take him/her away from this materialistic world.

My rating is 4.5 out of 5


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