Madanapalle is a historical town in the Chittoor district of Rayalaseema in Andhra Pradesh in southern India. The town is also known for India’s revered poet Rabindranath Tagore (1861-1941) and Nobel Prize Winner in Literature in 1913.
One of the experiences to have in Madanapalle is to visit the cottage where Rabindranath Tagore spent a week. He was invited by the founder of Besant Theosophical College, Annie Besant. During this time, from February 25 to March 2, 1919, Rabindranath Tagore participated in the activities of the college, and also wrote the Jana Gana Mana … (The morning song of India) written by Rabindranath Tagore in Madanapalle was set to tune by Margaret Elizabeth Cousins. The song continues to be the national anthem of independent India.
Rabindranath Tagore was educated in India, at the age of 17 he was sent to England for formal schooling. When he returned to India, he managed his family estates, and a project that brought him into close touch with common humanity and increased his interest in social reforms. He also started Shantiniketan (Upanishadic ideals of education), participated in the Indian nationalist movement and wrote poetry, and short stories. Tagore was also knighted by the ruling British Raj (Britsh Empire) in 1915, but he returned the honour as a protest against British policies in India. He is credited for giving a voice to India’s spiritual heritage and became a great living institution.
The literature of Rabindranath Tagore are: Poetry: Manasi, 1890, (The Ideal One); Sonar Tari, 1894, (The Golden Boat); Gitanjali, 1910, (Song Offerings); Gitimalya, 1914, (Wreath of Songs); Balaka, 1916, (The Flight of Cranes); The Gardener (1913), Fruit-Gathering (1916), and The Fugitive (1921).
Plays: Raja, 1910, (The King of the Dark Chamber); Dakghar, 1912, (The Post Office), Achalayatan, 1912, (The Immovable); Muktadhara, 1922, (The Waterfall); Raktakaravi, 1926, (Red Oleanders).
Short stories: Gora, 1910; Ghare-Baire, 1916 (The Home and the World); Yogayog, 1929, (Crosscurrents). He wrote musical dramas, dance dramas, essays, travel diaries, and two autobiographies. Tagore also left numerous drawings and paintings, and songs for which he wrote the music himself.
The central government of India has released a postal cover of Rabindranath Tagore in commemoration of his centenary year of national anthem on 17th November 2018.
Rabindranath Tagore was a leader of the Brahmo Samaj. Brahmo Samaji is a new religious sect, which attempted the revival of monistic basis of Hinduism as laid down in the Upanishads.
The cottage where Rabindranath Tagore stayed is on the campus of BT College. The state government has also initiated to build an auditorium which is under construction and would be named after Rabindranath Tagore.