RABINDRANATH TAGORE

LIFE HISTORY
Rabindranath Tagore was born on 7 May 1861. Rabindranaths grandfather, Dwarkanath Tagore followed Raja Rammohan Roy, the nineteenth century social and religious reformer. Roy started a religious reform movement in 1828 that came to be known as the Brahma Samaj Movement. Rabindranaths grandfather supported Roy in his attempts at reforming Hindu society. Dwarkanaths son, Devendranath Tagore, also became a staunch supporter of the Brahma Samaj Movement. In order to encourage its spread, in 1863 he established a meditation centre and guest house on some land about 100 miles from Calcutta at a place called Santiniketan, the Abode of Peace.

 Rabindranath was the fourteenth child of his parents. His brothers and sisters were poets, musicians, playwrights and novelists and the Tagore home was thus filled with musical, literary and dramatic pursuits. The family was also involved with diverse activities at the national level. He was also sent to a number of Englishspeaking schools, but he did not like their teaching style and had no wish to be taught in a foreign language. He gradually withdrew from formal schooling when he was around 14 years old.

 When Rabindranath was 12, his father took him to Santiniketan, the meditation centre established in 1863. During their brief stay there, Devendranath gave his son lessons in Sanskrit, astronomy and the scriptures that formed the basis of his reformed religion. After these lessons were over, Rabindranath was free to roam among the fields and forests. In 1878, when he was 17, he was sent to London by his father to qualify for the Indian Civil Service or as a lawyer. He took his matriculation examination and then joined University College, London.

 He became aware of his unusual talent as a poet. Between 1884 and 1890 various volumes of his poems appeared, together with a profuse output of prose articles, criticism, plays and novels. In 1912 Tagore left for the United Kingdom once again. Some of his poems and writings had already been translated into English and had attracted the attention of the well-known English painter Sir William Rothenstein and the poet W. B. Yeats. He made such an impression on the British writers and intellectuals that he was at once accepted as a great poet and intellectual. He was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature in November 1913. The foundation stone of Visva Bharati was laid on 24 December 1918. A separate institution called Sri Niketan was established in 1921

RABINDRANATH ON EDUCATION
Tagore considered lack of education to be the main obstacle in the way of Indias progress and at the root of all its problems. The basic objectives of any worthwhile national education system, such as promoting creativity, freedom, joy and an awareness of a countrys cultural heritage, were completely ignored. The education offered was not even modern, since it was unrelated to any developments going on the field of education outside India Educational process failed to develop scientific attitudes and the spirit of inquiry.

 Each nation was different and this fact should be reflected, he thought, in its system of education. The Ashram School at Santiniketan was founded in 1901 on the basis of the ancient Indian forest schools. A national system of education in India should try to discover the characteristic truths of its civilization. The aim was all-round development of the individual personality through harmonious interaction and union of the spirit with the environment. About the place of religion in education, Rabindranath said: Nature and human spirit, wedded together, would constitute our temple and selfless good deeds our worship

Principles of Tagores Educational Philosophy

1. Freedom, Joy and Sympathy : Freedom of knowledge, action and worship. Freedom can be achieved through harmony with nature. Sympathy can be developed through intimate contact with nature. Education should be full of joy. 2. Harmony with all things : True education is the one which brings child in harmony with all existence. 3. Union of Man and Nature : Education should be given in the natural environment. 4. Self-Expression 5. Education for complete human being.

Aims of Education
Physical Development : Development of body is very important. Mother nature has everything for healthy body and sound mind. Contact with nature is very important for physical development. Moral and Spiritual Development : Teaching morality and religion should be given importance. Inner discipline should be developed through simple living and high thinking. Mental Development : Bookish learning should be avoided. Power of Thinking and imagination should be developed.

 Social Development: Good ideals should govern the Society. Social functions and activities should be stressed in educational institutions. Qualities of friendship , cooperation and adjustment should be developed. Development of National and International Attitude: Love for the Nation and Universal brotherhood should be developed in the students.

Curriculum
Mathematics Natural sciences Social sciences Art, Music, Dance Mother tongue Religion, Philosophy and Psychology Language and Literature Activities

Methods of Teaching
Teaching while walking : Tour and Excursions to understand the geography of the different place. Visiting historical places. Gain knowledge through direct experience. Activity Method : Projects and Problem Solving. Activities like climbing trees, dramatics, plucking fruits etc. Debate and Discussion Heuristic method : Clearing doubts by asking questions from the teaching and thinking independently on scientific lines.

Discipline
Free discipline : Giving maximum opportunities to the children to develop their potentials. He was against any type of punishment.

Teacher
Teacher and students should live together in a natural surrounding and live a disciplined life. Teacher should create a good atmosphere in the school Teacher should be tolerant and has a lot of patience Teacher should be a friend Teacher should inspire his students