Tajmahal

Rabindranath
Tagore

Profile of Rabindranath Tagore

Rabindranath Tagore(1861-1941) was the youngest son of Debendranath
Tagore, a leader of the Brahmo Samaj, which was a new religious sect in
nineteenth-century Bengal and which attempted a revival of the ultimate
monistic basis of Hinduism as laid down in the Upanishads. He was educated at
home; and although at seventeen he was sent to England for formal schooling,
he did not finish his studies there. In his mature years, in addition to his manysided literary activities, he managed the family estates, a project which brought
him into close touch with common humanity and increased his interest in social
reforms. He also started an experimental school at Shantiniketan where he tried
his Upanishadic ideals of education. From time to time he participated in the
Indian nationalist movement, though in his own non-sentimental and visionary
way; and Gandhi, the political father of modern India, was his devoted friend.
Tagore was knighted by the ruling British Government in 1915, but within a few
years he resigned the honour as a protest against British policies in India.

Shaj Jahan and

Mumtaz

Theme of the Poem

All of you know Shah Jahan, the great emperor of India. The
poet says, the emperor knew that in the stream of life
everything, including life, youth and wealth would float away.
Shah Jahans only dream was to preserve his hearts pain for
ever. The harsh thunder of imperial power would fade away as
the crimson splendouer of sunset fades. But Shah Jahan
hoped that at least a single eternally heaved sigh would
remain consoling the sky. The glittering of precious stones too
fade away as the glitter of a rainbow vanished just after
making the sky bright for a few minutes. However, the white
gleaming Taj Mahal would remain as a solitary tear on the
cheek of time forever.

Similes of the
Poem
The harsh thunder of imperial power.
Would fade into sleep.
Like a sunsets crimson splendour.
Though emeralds, rubies, pearls is are all.
But as the glitter of a rainbow tricking out
empty air.
And must pass away .

Auditory image of the

poem
The harsh thunder of imperial power.
Would fade into sleep.
Like a sunsets crimson splendour.

Visual Image of the

poem
It gives us a visual image of things
floating down a stream during floods. It
remains us that worldly pleasures will
perish one day.

Words from the poem

that related to
transience
Youth
Wealth
Life

Words from the poem

that related to Eternity
Beauty
Time
Art

1. What , in the poets view, are the things that

would float away down the stream of time?

In the poets view, life, youth, wealth and
renown all float away down the stream of
time.
2. What do you think was Shah Jahans hearts
pain?
Shah Jahans hearts pain was the loving
memories about his beloved sweetheart
Mumtaz.
3. Why is imperial power compared to the
splendour of sunset?
Just like the splendour of sunset, the
imperial power also disappears.