Amdavadis knew Satyendranath before Rabindranath

A lesser-known fact was revealed on the second day of the Rabindranath Tagore festival being held at Gujarat Sahitya Parishad (GSP). Satyendranath Tagore, brother of the Nobel laureate was first known to Gujarat and Ahmedabad much before the bard was read here.

Sharing more on this little known trivia was Gujarati poet, essayist and story writer, Prafull Raval, who was present with other scholars and experts during the second day of the Rabindranath Tagore festival being held at Gujarat Sahitya Parishad (GSP).

“Satyendranath was a district judge in Ahmedabad and Tagore would often to come to visit and stay with him. However, Satyendranath’s poems were first known to Amdavadis much before that of Rabindranath, thanks to Vasant a monthly magazine which was published during those days”,
reveals Raval.

Vasant was managed by Anand Shankar Dhruv. The first year and the first edition of this magazine published a poetry by Satyendranath Tagore, on its first page. His poetry was translated in Gujarati by Krishna Rao Bholanath. (A collection of Vasant magazine is in store at the GSP’s library and one can read to enjoy this poetry.)

Talking about Tagore’s plays and essays, Raval informs that they had deep-rooted impact and stayed for a longer period in people’s mind, unlike the impact of other books and its effect on the reader’s mind.

Raval said that, “Tagore’s first translated play in Gujarati was titled Post Office in 1918, by Hasman Rao Dhruv. In the following year, Dhruv translated yet another play of Tagore titled, Mukut.”

The Nobel prize made Tagore well-known since 1913, but he was known to Gujarat because of his association with the Mahatma since 1915. Raval reveals that from 1915 till 1930, youth from Gujarat and elsewhere travelled to Shantiniketan to pursue studies in art, literature and others.

“Since Vidyapith was imposed with a ban in those days, youth from Gujarat especially travelled to Shantiniketan. Amongst them were Prahlad Parekh who was into poetry writing and Krishnalal Sadhwani who learnt poetry, story writing and paintings,” Raval concludes.

The day had begun with eminent experts of Gujarati literary circle namely, Bholabhai Patel, Narottam Palan, Shirish Panchal, Anila Dalal and Prasad Brahmbhatt.