Visiting Tagore's abode in 'City of Joy'

I did my graduation from St Xavier's College, Kolkata. Despite having lived there for three years, l had hardly visited any prominent monuments of the city, except for Victoria Memorial which happened to be close to Fort William where l lived. During my last months there, I decided to make up for the lost time by visiting all famous places before saying goodbye to the 'City of Joy'.

The Indian Museum, Botanical Gardens, etc, figured on my list, but l was most interested in visiting Jorasanko Thakurbari, the abode of Rabindranath Tagore. Thakurbari was a permanent presence in Tagore's life. The house was witness to his birth, death and his life in between.

On reaching the place, l came across an orange-coloured gate at the entrance of a narrow lane. But I could not find any sign board. I assumed it must be the wrong place. When I asked around l was told that l was, indeed, at the right place, and the narrow lane would take me to Tagore's residence. I walked through the lane and reached Thakurbari. There was no security guard or guide in sight and no ticket to enter the house, so I just walked in.

My first reaction was similar to that of the great Kenyan author Ngugi wa Thiong'o when he had visited the place and said, "Tagore was rich". Tagore's lifestyle may have been simple but Thakurbari was a huge mansion. With red and green shutters, corniced columns, huge corridors, large courtyards, countless rooms and manicured lawns, it was a sight to behold. Being the only visitor, l explored in silent contentment.

I was most impressed by the simplicity of Tagore's room which just had a bedding on the floor with a white sheet. I also visited the Japanese room, dedicated to Tagore's four trips to Japan.

The visit to Jorasanko Thakurbari made me feel more appreciative of the works of the great bard. But what saddened me was that thousands of people visited Victoria Memorial, a monument constructed for a woman who never came to India, but hardly any person visited Tagore's house, the man whose words we sing with immense pride every time our National Anthem plays. On Tagore’s death anniversary (called baishe srabon in the Bengali calendar) this year, may his words from Gitanjali: ‘Where the mind is without fear and the head is held high’ continue to inspire Indians.

Gurnoor Grewal, Chandigarh