On the seventh of May ...

On the seventh of May, everybody is a Bengali - 150th birth anniversary of Rabindranth Tagore

Saturday May 7 marks the 150th birth anniversary of Rabindranath Tagore, whose songs are the national anthems of two countries. Thousands of books have been written on this great soul. What can I add to this further? I must, however, admit that he was one of the three poets who influenced me a lot. A poet, a novelist, a short story writer, a painter, a musician, a composer, a philosopher, a thinker, a speaker and above all a humanist. His intellect is like a lotus with a thousand petals. You may hear him singing the future national anthem of his free country here - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LBa46sjzjSE&feature=related . You may listen to his Bengali and English songs here - http://ww.smashits.com/the-voice-of-rabindranath-tagore/songs-7016.html . In my own humble way, I tried to translate seven of his songs in Telugu which you may find here along with the original songs - http://www.eemaata.com/em/issues/201105/1721.html?fmt=rts . Here is a famous song of his which was used by Satyajit Ray in the film chArulata (sung by kishOr kumAr gangUli)

Ami chini gO chini tOmArE OgO bidESinI | I know you, I know you, O foreigner,
tumi thAka siMdhupArE OgO bidESinI | I know you as the lady beyond the seas

tOmAy dEkhEChi SAradaprAtE | I have seen you on autumn mornings
tOmAy dEkhEChi mAdhabI rAtE | I have seen you on spring nights
tOmAya dEkhEChi hRdi-mAjhArE | I have seen you in the centre of my heart
OgO bidESinI | O foreigner

Ami AkASE pAtiyA kAn | Extending my ears to the skies
SunEChi SunEChi tOmAri gAn, | I have listened to your songs
Ami tOmArE sa@MpEChi prAN | I'll offer even my life to you
OgO bidESinI | O foreigner

bhubana bhramiyA SEshE | I have wandered around the world
Ami EsEChi nUtana dESE | I have to come to a new land today
Ami atithi tOmAri dbArE | I am standing as a guest at your doorstep
OgO bidESinI | O foreigner

Enjoy! Regards! - mOhana