New book discloses Rabindranath Tagore son's untold story

With some rare and unpublished letters and photographs, a new book reveals the untold story of Rabindranath Tagore's eldest son Rathindranath Tagore during his last days when he was hit with controversies.

Written by Tagore scholar Nilanjan Bandyopadhyay, the Bengali book 'Apni Tumi Roile Dure: Shongo Nishongota O Rathindranath' throws light on the last nine years of Rathindranath and his controversial relationship with Dehradun professor Meera Devi.

"This period of his life was very valuable as he was hit with ego problems. There were some controversies and allegations that had made his life difficult," Bandyopadhyay told PTI after the book's release at Oxford Bookstore here yesterday.

Besides being an agriculturist, a talented architect, designer, master-carpenter, painter and writer, Rathindranath (1888-1961) was also the first 'upacharya' of Visva-Bharati University, started by his father.

The book sources its material primarily from the letters exchanged between Rathindranath, Mira and her husband Nirmal Chandra Chattopadhyay.

All these 150 letters were so far a part of private collection of Mira's son Jayabrata Chattopadhyay.

"Rathindranath and Mira had lived together in Dehrudan leading to rumours of an affair between them," Bandyopadhyay said.

Dismissing allegations of discrepancies in implementation of MNREGS, Mayawati said that Congress was raising the issue only for "cheap publicity and political gains" while claiming that strict action had been initiated against those indulging in irregularities.

"Congress is highlighting MNREGS in such a way as if it owns the scheme despite the fact that it was passed in Parliament and all the parties supported it. The Centre is giving us step-motherly treatment by not timely releasing funds creating hurdles in its implementation," she said, adding that the funds meant under the scheme were the "right of the state" and not a "mercy" of the Centre.

"The Congress is indulging in cheap publicity for political gains using MNREGS. In UP, strict action has been initiated against those involved in irregularities in the scheme," Mayawati said, promising that if BSP government was formed at the Centre, employment would be given for all 365 days under the job scheme.

Claiming that central commissions were sent to UP only, Mayawati said that even major incidents in Congress-ruled states were not noticed by these panels, "which make a lot of hue and cry here on minor incidents".

Trying to strike an emotional chord with dalits and OBCs, considered her support base, Mayawati said that it was her aim to have a dalit chief minister in the state for next 15 years and OBC chief minister thereafter so that problems faced by these communities could be addressed.