Ganendranath Tagore
Encyclopedia
Gagendranath Tagore was a musician and theatre personality, and contributed substantially to nationalist discourse. One of the first students to pass the Entrance Examinations (school leaving or university entrance) of Calcutta University
, he was the founder-secretary of Hindu Mela.
, the founder of Jorasanko
branch of the Tagore family
had left behind three sons at the time of his death – Debendranath
, Girindranath and Nagendranath. Both Girindranath and Nagendranath died quite young. Nagendranath did not leave behind any children. Gagendranath was the eldest son of Girindranth and Jogmaya Devi. His younger brother was Gunendranath. Gagendranath did not leave behind any children. Gunendranath’s children were – Gaganendranath
, Samarendranath, Abanindranath
, Binayini Devi and Sunayani Devi.
They used to live in what was known as the “Baitakkhana Bari” of Jorasanko Thakur Bari
. That portion has since been demolished.
He used to be called ‘Mejadada’ (second elder brother) in the joint family, as he was younger to Dwijendranath
but older to Satyendranath
.
and when Calcutta University introduced the Entrance examination in 1857, he and Satyendranath Tagore passed out in first division.
Gagendranath was an ardent writer and translated Kalidas’s
Vikramorvashiya into Bengali in 1869. He composed devotional songs known as Brahma Sangeet and songs with patriotic fervour. A Brahma Sangeet CD containing songs sung by Subinoy Roy and brought out in 2007 has a composition of his entitled “Gaao Hey Taahaari Naam” (Oh! sing His name) as the title song.
Chitra Deb writes, “More than from any other source, it was from this group (Debendranath Tagore’s children) and their cousins (Gagendranath and Gunendranath) that the rising new currents of Bengali literature and culture drew their strength.”
had the first opportunity to act in it in the role of Ahalyadevi. At first men played women’s roles, but subsequently women of the family also acted before an audience of friends and relatives.
As there were few good plays in Bengali, which could be taken up for staging, Gagendranath announced a prize for writing plays on social themes. Nabanatak written by Ramnarayan Tarkaratna won the first prize. He awarded the playwright Rs.
200 (a princely sum in those days) and promised to bear the cost of printing a thousand copies of the play. Akshay Mazumder, Sarada Prasad Ganguly, Jyotirindranath Tagore and others took part in the acting.
, and Nabagopal Mitra
in 1867. He was founder-secreatry of the organisation. It sought to promote patriotism as well as indigenous industry. Speaking at the inaugural session, he said, “This gathering is not for ordinary religious activity, not for attaining happiness in any matter, not for entertainment, it is for the country, the mother land.” On another occasion he said, “One of the major drawbacks of India is that we are always looking towards the nobility for whatever assistance we require. It is a matter of great shame. Are we not human beings? One of the aims of the mela is to infuse the spirit of self-dependence in the country.”
Gagendranath earned a great reputation for a song which was sung in the Hindu Mela several times – “Lajjay Bharat-jas gaibo ki kore” (How shall I sing in glory of India, because I am buried in shame.)
University of Calcutta
The University of Calcutta is a public university located in the city of Kolkata , India, founded on 24 January 1857...
, he was the founder-secretary of Hindu Mela.
Family
Dwarkanath TagoreDwarkanath Tagore
Dwarkanath Tagore , was one of the first Indian industrialists and entrepreneurs, was the founder of the Jorasanko branch of the Tagore family, and is notable for making substantial contributions to the Bengal Renaissance.-Childhood:...
, the founder of Jorasanko
Jorasanko
Jorasanko is a neighbourhood in north Kolkata. It is so called because of the two wooden or bamboo bridges that spanned a small stream at this point.-History:...
branch of the Tagore family
Tagore family
The Tagore family, with over three hundred years of history, has been one of the leading families of Kolkata, and is regarded as a key influence during the Bengal Renaissance...
had left behind three sons at the time of his death – Debendranath
Debendranath Tagore
Debendranath Tagore was one of the founders in 1848 of the Brahmo Religion which today is synonymous with Brahmoism the youngest religion of India and Bangladesh....
, Girindranath and Nagendranath. Both Girindranath and Nagendranath died quite young. Nagendranath did not leave behind any children. Gagendranath was the eldest son of Girindranth and Jogmaya Devi. His younger brother was Gunendranath. Gagendranath did not leave behind any children. Gunendranath’s children were – Gaganendranath
Gaganendranath Tagore
See Tagore for disambiguationGaganendranath Tagore was an Indian painter and cartoonist of the Bengal school. He belongs to the Tagore family and was born at Jorasanko.-Early life:Gaganendranath Tagore was born in Calcutta...
, Samarendranath, Abanindranath
Abanindranath Tagore
Abanindranath Tagore was the principal artist of the Bengal school and the first major exponent of swadeshi values in Indian art. He was also a noted writer, particularly for children...
, Binayini Devi and Sunayani Devi.
They used to live in what was known as the “Baitakkhana Bari” of Jorasanko Thakur Bari
Jorasanko Thakur Bari
The Thakurbari The Thakurbari The Thakurbari (Bangla: House of the Thakurs (anglicised to Tagore) in Jorasanko, north of Kolkata, West Bengal, India is the ancestral home of the Tagore family. It is currently located on the Rabindra Bharati University campus at 6/4 Dwarakanath Tagore Lane...
. That portion has since been demolished.
He used to be called ‘Mejadada’ (second elder brother) in the joint family, as he was younger to Dwijendranath
Dwijendranath Tagore
See Tagore for disambiguationDwijendranath Tagore was an Indian poet, song composer, philosopher, mathematician, and a pioneer in Bengali shorthand and musical notations.-Formative years:...
but older to Satyendranath
Satyendranath Tagore
Satyendranath Tagore was the first Indian to join the Indian Civil Service. He was an author, song composer, linguist and made significant contribution towards the emancipation of women in Indian society during the British Raj.-Formative years:...
.
Formative years
He was a student of Hindu SchoolHindu School, Kolkata
Hindu School is a school in Kolkata , India. It is located on College Street, in the vicinity of Hare School, College Square, Presidency College and Calcutta University....
and when Calcutta University introduced the Entrance examination in 1857, he and Satyendranath Tagore passed out in first division.
Gagendranath was an ardent writer and translated Kalidas’s
Kalidasa
Kālidāsa was a renowned Classical Sanskrit writer, widely regarded as the greatest poet and dramatist in the Sanskrit language...
Vikramorvashiya into Bengali in 1869. He composed devotional songs known as Brahma Sangeet and songs with patriotic fervour. A Brahma Sangeet CD containing songs sung by Subinoy Roy and brought out in 2007 has a composition of his entitled “Gaao Hey Taahaari Naam” (Oh! sing His name) as the title song.
Chitra Deb writes, “More than from any other source, it was from this group (Debendranath Tagore’s children) and their cousins (Gagendranath and Gunendranath) that the rising new currents of Bengali literature and culture drew their strength.”
Jorasanko Natyashala
Gagendranath had great attraction for the theatre. He established the Jorasanko Natyasala, a private theatre in the household, in Calcutta (now Kolkata) in 1865 and staged Krishnakumari written by Michael Madhusudan Dutta that year itself. Young JyotirindranathJyotirindranath Tagore
Jyotirindranath Tagore was a playwright, a musician, an editor and a painter. Endowed with an outstanding talent, he had the rare capability of spotting talent in others...
had the first opportunity to act in it in the role of Ahalyadevi. At first men played women’s roles, but subsequently women of the family also acted before an audience of friends and relatives.
As there were few good plays in Bengali, which could be taken up for staging, Gagendranath announced a prize for writing plays on social themes. Nabanatak written by Ramnarayan Tarkaratna won the first prize. He awarded the playwright Rs.
Indian rupee
The Indian rupee is the official currency of the Republic of India. The issuance of the currency is controlled by the Reserve Bank of India....
200 (a princely sum in those days) and promised to bear the cost of printing a thousand copies of the play. Akshay Mazumder, Sarada Prasad Ganguly, Jyotirindranath Tagore and others took part in the acting.
Hindu Mela
Gagendranath founded the Hindu Mela, along with Dwijendranath Tagore, Rajnarayan BasuRajnarayan Basu
Rajnarayan Basu was a writer and intellectual of the Bengal Renaissance. He was born in Boral in 24 Parganas and studied at the Hare School and Hindu College, both premier institutions in Kolkata, Bengal at the time. A monotheist at heart, Rajnarayan Basu converted to Brahmoism at the age of...
, and Nabagopal Mitra
Nabagopal Mitra
Nabagopal Mitra was an Indian playwright, poet, essayist, patriot and one of the founding fathers of Hindu nationalism. Along with Rishi Rajnarayan Basu he founded the Hindu Mela, the pioneer institution behind the genesis of Hindu nationalism...
in 1867. He was founder-secreatry of the organisation. It sought to promote patriotism as well as indigenous industry. Speaking at the inaugural session, he said, “This gathering is not for ordinary religious activity, not for attaining happiness in any matter, not for entertainment, it is for the country, the mother land.” On another occasion he said, “One of the major drawbacks of India is that we are always looking towards the nobility for whatever assistance we require. It is a matter of great shame. Are we not human beings? One of the aims of the mela is to infuse the spirit of self-dependence in the country.”
Gagendranath earned a great reputation for a song which was sung in the Hindu Mela several times – “Lajjay Bharat-jas gaibo ki kore” (How shall I sing in glory of India, because I am buried in shame.)