Dwijendranath Tagore

Dwijendranath Tagore (11 March 1840 – 19 January 1926) was an Indian poet, musician, philosopher, mathematician, and painter. He was one of the first people to use shorthand and music notation in the Bengali script. He was the oldest son of Debendranath Tagore. He was also the oldest brother of Rabindranath Tagore.হিরণ্ময় বন্দোপাধ্যায়। ঠাকুরবাড়ির কথা। শিশু সাহিত্য সংসদ। পৃষ্ঠা ৯৫–৯৮।

 Early life 
Dwijendranath Tagore was born on 11 March 1840. He was the grandson of Dwarkanath Tagore from the Jorasanko branch of the Tagore family. He was the oldest son of Debendranath Tagore and Sarada Devi. He mostly learned from a private teacher at home as a child. However, he also studied for a short time at St. Paul's School and Hindu College in Calcutta (now Presidency University).সুবোধ চন্দ্র সেনগুপ্ত; অঞ্জলি বোস, সম্পাদকগণ (১৯৯৮) [১৯৭৬]। সংসদ বাঙালি চরিতাভিধান। ১। সাহিত্য সংসদ। পৃষ্ঠা ২২৫। আইএসবিএন 81-85626-65-0। Dwijendranath was very close to his younger brother Satyendranath Tagore, even though the two brothers were different. Dwijendranath believed in following the old customs of society very strictly. But Satyendranath wanted to break these old rules and make a new modern society.ইন্দিরা দেবী চৌধুরাণী। স্মৃতিসম্পুত। বিশ্বভারতী। পৃষ্ঠা ২৯–৩১। Dwijendranath liked a simple life. He loved poetry, knowledge, and trying new things. His wife was Sarbasundari Devi. She died in 1878. Dwijendranath did not marry again. He spent the rest of his life as a widower.

Dwijendranath had nine children. Two of them died soon after they were born. The five sons who lived were Dwipendranath, Arunendranath, Nitindranath, Sudhindranath, and Kripendranath. His two daughters were Saroja and Usha.

 As a poet 
Dwijendranath's first work in Bengali literature was a translation. He translated Kalidasa's Meghaduta Kavya into Bengali. The original book was in classical Sanskrit. He published this book in 1860. This was exactly one year before his younger brother Rabindranath Tagore was born. Rabindranath later won the Nobel Prize. Dwijendranath was only twenty years old when he published the book. This was the first time anyone had translated Meghdoot into Bengali. Dwijendranath used two different rhyming styles in this book.

He published his second important book of poetry in 1875. It was called Swapnaprayan. Rabindranath was only a teenager at that time. This poem tells the story of a young man's travels. The writing shows that Dwijendranath could use many different rhythms very well. This book helps people understand the Bengali poetry of that time. Because of this, it has great historical value.

When Dwijendranath started writing poetry, Michael Madhusudan Dutt was very famous. Madhusudan had returned to Calcutta from Madras (now Chennai) in 1857. He enriched Bengali literature with many poems and plays like Tilottamasambhav Kavya (1859), Padmavati (1860), Meghnadabadh Kavya (1861), Brajangana (1861), and Birangana Kavya (1862). Later, Bankimchandra Chattopadhyay and Rabindranath Tagore made Bengali literature very glorious.Nag, Kalidas, Introduction to the Bethune School and College Centenary Volume, 1949. Most poets in Bengal at that time followed Madhusudan's style. However, Dwijendranath did not follow him. In fact, Madhusudan praised Dwijendranath and called him the poet of the future.

Dwijendranath was a very talented poet, but he was not organized. Rabindranath wrote that Dwijendranath's poems were often on torn pieces of paper. These papers were scattered all over the Jorasanko Thakur Bari (Tagore house). If someone had collected and published them, it would have been a valuable book.

 As a philosopher 
Dwijendranath Tagore was a true philosopher. He helped start and run two philosophy groups. They were called the National Society and the Vidvajjan Samagam. He was also very interested in the philosophy of the Gita.

His main philosophy book is Tattwabidya. It has three volumes and was published between 1866 and 1868. This was a new kind of book in the history of Bengali philosophy. No one had published a book like this in Bengali before. He wrote two other philosophy books. They are Advaita Mater Samalochana (1896) and Aryadharma O Boudhadharmer Ghat-Protighat (1899).

 As a mathematician 
Dwijendranath Tagore did a lot of work in mathematics. He wrote some books in English. He wrote a book about ontology (1871) and one about geometry. He also wrote a book on "boxometry" (Baksamiti) in 1913. This book is about the structure of boxes.

He started many new and important things. He invented a form of shorthand for the Bengali language. He even wrote a manual about it in verse (poetry form). He wrote a book on Geometry where he replaced the 12th Axiom with new ones. Scholars of mathematics really like his writings on Boxometry, which is the science of folding paper.

 Other prominent activities with composing music 
He was the editor of the Tattwabodhini Patrika for 25 years, starting in 1884. He also started the Hitavadi Patrika. Dwijendranath wanted to keep publishing the Tattvabodhini Patrika. However, his brother Jyotirindranath Tagore suggested starting a new magazine called Bharati. Dwijendranath was the editor, but Jyotirindranath mostly ran the paper.

People elected him President of the Bangiya Sahitya Parishad from 1897 to 1900 because of his great work in Bengali literature. He was the priest at the Bengal Literary Conference session in 1914.

In 1873, there was a rebellion in Pabna. The income from his land (zamindari) went down. He told his people to take strict actions against the farmers to "restore peace".Sarkar, Sumit; Modern India 1885-1947; New Delhi 1998; আইএসবিএন ০-৩৩৩-৯০৪২৫-৭, p. 52

Dwijendranath liked to do experiments. He was one of the first people to create Bengali shorthand. He also created a sign script using poems. He played a big role in using notation for Bengali songs. Before him, only Kshetramohan Goswami had done this. Goswami was an assistant to King Saurindra Mohan Tagore. In 1913, Dwijendranath wrote Baksamiti, a book about making boxes. His hobby was folding paper into different shapes.

From 1866 to 1871, he was the Acharya (teacher/leader) of the Adi Brahmo Samaj. He went to Dhaka with his father Debendranath. They went there to open the Dhaka Brahmo Samaj under the care of Braja Sundar Mitra.Sastri, Sivanath, History of the Brahmo Samaj, 1911-12/1993, p. 344, p. 395, Sadharan Brahmo Samaj.

Dwijendranath worked closely with the Hindu Mela. He wrote patriotic songs for the Mela. Writing songs was a habit for him. He wrote the Brahma Sangeet, Karo Tar Nam Gaan, Jatadin Rahe Deha Pran. People used this song as a prayer on the 7th of Pous for many years. People in the Brahmo Samaj often sing his songs during general prayers. One of his popular patriotic songs for the Hindu Mela was Malin Mukhchandrama Bharat Tomari.

 Shantiniketan days 
Dwijendranath spent the last twenty years of his life in Santiniketan. He lived close to nature and spent his time learning and writing. He used to write funny short poems (quatrains) with the people of the Ashram. They published these rhymes in Santiniketan. Everyone there talked about his sense of humor. His friendship with birds, squirrels, and crows in Santiniketan was very famous. He learned many things, but he loved philosophy the most. He organized meetings (majlis) with other scholars, including Rabindranath. He would recite his writings in these meetings. If he did not understand something, he would ask Bidhusekhar, Shastri, or Kshitimohan Sen for help.

Rabindranath called him "Barodada" (Eldest Brother). When Mahatma Gandhi and Charles Freer Andrews came back from South Africa, they visited Santiniketan. They met Dwijendranath and also called him Barodada.হীরেন্দ্রনাথ দত্ত। শান্তিনিকেতনের এক যুগ। বিশ্বভারতী গ্রন্থন বিভাগ। পৃষ্ঠা ২৭–৩২। আইএসবিএন 81-7522-329-4। Mahatma Gandhi once wanted to publish a letter from Dwijendranath in a newspaper. Gandhi wrote an introduction saying, "You know Dwijendranath. He was the eldest brother of Sri Rabindranath Tagore and he lived life of a monk practically like his father Debendranath Tagore".দেশাই, মহাদেব। "Day to day with Gandhi"। Secretary’s Diary। সর্ব সেবা সাংঘ প্রকাশন, রাজঘাট, বেনারস - ২২১০০১। ২০০৭-০৫-২৪ তারিখে মূল থেকে আর্কাইভ করা। সংগ্রহের তারিখ ২০০৭-০২-২৬।

Dwijendranath Tagore died in Shantiniketan on 19 January 1926.

 Successors 
Dwijendranath had five sons: Dipendranath, Arunendranath, Nitindranath, Sudhindranath, and Kripendranath. Sudhindranath Tagore (1869-1929) became a famous writer. He wrote several poems, novels, and short stories. In 1891, he published a magazine called Sadhana. He was the editor of this magazine. Later, Rabindranath took over the job of editing it. Eventually, the paper merged with Bharati.

Dipendranath's son was Dinendranath Tagore (1882-1935). He was Dwijendranath's grandson. Dinendranath was a famous musician. He could learn a song just by hearing it once. Rabindranath wrote songs, but he often had trouble remembering them or writing down the notes. Dinendranath did this for him. He was one of the main people who preserved Rabindra Sangeet. Rabindranath used to call him the "Kandari of all songs" (the captain/guide of all songs).

Soumendranath Tagore (1910-1984) was another grandson. He was the son of Sudhindranath. He was a famous speaker. His name was well-known in the cultural world during the 1960s and 1970s. In his early life, he was part of the communist movement. Krishna Rimbu (1927-2000) was the daughter of Anna Roy, who was Sudhindranath's daughter. She is famous internationally in the art world. Jean Rimbu was the head of the Schlumberger Company, one of the richest companies in the world. Madame Rimbu collected art, researched textiles, and was important in international politics and art.

Dwijendranath is also an ancestor of the film actress Sharmila Tagore. Latika was Dwijendranath's granddaughter. She was Sharmila Tagore's grandmother.

 Books 
Bengali:Sarker, Dulal। "Article on: Tagore, Dwijendranath"। Dwijendranath Tagore। Banglapedia। 
 Bengali translation of Kalidasa's Meghaduta Kavya (1860) 
 Bhratribhab (1863)
 Tattwabidya (in three volumes, 1866–68)
 Swapnaprayan (1875) 
 Sonar Kathi, Rupar Kathi (1885)
 Sonay Sohaga (1885)
 Arayami and Sahebiana (1890)
 Samajik Roger Kabiraji Chikitsa (1891)
 Adwaita Mater Samalochana (1896)
 Aryadharma O Boudhadharmer Ghat-Protighat (1899)
 Bhrahmagyan O Brahmasadhana (1900)
 Bangaer Rangobhumi (1907)
 Haramonir Anveshan (1906)
 Rekhakshar-Barnamala (1912)
 Gita Pather Bhumika (1915)
 Pravandhamala (1920)
 Kavyamala (1920)

English: 
 A book on boxometry (Baksamiti) (1913). This book describes how to make many kinds of containers by folding paper using special rules and math.
 Ontology (1871)
 Geometry

Magazines published many of his works. These magazines included Jnanankur, Pratibimb, Tattvabodhini Patrika, Bharati, Sadhana, Nabaparya Bangadarshan, Mansi, Sahitya Parishad Patrika, Santiniketan, Budhabar, Shreyasi, Prabasi, Sabujpatra and Suprabhat Patrika.

 See also 
 List of Bengalis
 List of Bengali language authors (chronological)

 References 

 External links 

 Dwijendranath Tagore on Bengali wikisource

Category:1840 births
Category:1926 deaths
Category:Indian composers