- Birth & Early Life: Born 7 May 1861, Jorasanko, Calcutta (Kolkata) into the culturally active Tagore family.
- Pen‑Name: Wrote early poems under “Bhanusimha”.
- Major Works (Selected):
- Gitanjali (1910, Bengali; 1912, English translation)
- Gora, Ghare‑Baire (The Home and the World), Chokher Bali, Kabuliwala
- Plays: Dak Ghar (The Post Office), Raktakarabi (Red Oleanders)
- Essays: Nationalism, Sadhana
- Over 2,200 songs collectively called Rabindra Sangeet (incl. Indian national anthem “Jana‑Gana‑Mana” & Bangladesh anthem “Amar Sonar Bangla”).
- Nobel Prize: 1913, Literature – first non‑European laureate.
- Knighthood & Renunciation: Knighted in 1915; returned the title in 1919 after the Jallianwala Bagh massacre.
- Educational Vision: Founded Visva‑Bharati University at Santiniketan (1921) advocating “unity of humanity”.
- International Influence: Travelled widely; met Einstein, Yeats, Romain Rolland, etc.; lectured on nationalism and humanism.
- Death: 7 August 1941, Santiniketan, Bengal Presidency.
High‑Yield MCQs for Competitive Exams
(Single‑correct answer; try them before checking the key!)
-
Rabindranath Tagore received the 1913 Nobel Prize for which work?
A. Ghare‑Baire B. Gitanjali C. Gora D. Sadhana -
“Jana‑Gana‑Mana” was first sung publicly at the session of the Indian National Congress held in—
A. Calcutta 1896 B. Lahore 1929 C. Madras 1908 D. Bombay 1904 -
Tagore renounced his British knighthood in protest against—
A. Simon Commission B. Partition of Bengal C. Jallianwala Bagh massacre D. Rowlatt Act -
Santiniketan later became which central university?
A. Visva‑Bharati B. Nalanda University C. Banaras Hindu University D. Aligarh Muslim University -
Which foreign anthem was penned by Tagore?
A. Nepal B. Sri Lanka C. Bangladesh D. Bhutan -
The play Dak Ghar metaphorically deals with—
A. Industrial exploitation B. Child psychology and freedom C. Rural indebtedness D. Partition of Bengal -
What was Tagore’s childhood nickname used for early poems?
A. Kalikesh B. Bhanusimha C. Satyajit D. Devendranath -
Tagore’s collection of letters describing his trip to Europe is—
A. Europe‑Prabasir Patra B. Jivansmriti C. Chinnapatra D. Balak‑Stories -
The lunar crater named after Tagore is located on—
A. Near side B. Far side C. South pole D. Mare Tranquillitatis -
Which Tagore novel explores the Swadeshi movement?
A. Gora B. Chokher Bali C. Ghare‑Baire D. Jogajog -
Tagore’s song “Ekla Chalo Re” was Mahatma Gandhi’s favourite; it advocates—
A. Non‑alignment B. Self‑reliance C. Industrialisation D. Passive resistance -
Which Indian currency note once carried Tagore’s portrait?
A. ₹1 B. ₹5 C. ₹100 D. None -
Tagore composed a welcome song for which visiting scientist in 1921?
A. Albert Einstein B. Jagadish Chandra Bose C. C.V. Raman D. Subrahmanyan Chandrasekhar -
Raktakarabi allegorically attacks—
A. Colonial education B. Capitalist greed C. Religious orthodoxy D. Caste discrimination -
Tagore’s Japan essays are compiled under—
A. Letters from Japan B. Japan‑Jatri C. Asian Symphonies D. Eastern Dawn -
The dance drama Chitrangada is based on a character from—
A. Ramayana B. Mahabharata C. Upanishads D. Buddhist Jataka -
Tagore edited which literary magazine founded by his family?
A. Tatwabodhini B. Prabasi C. Bharati D. Bichitra -
“Where the mind is without fear…” belongs to which original Bengali poem?
A. Poem 35, Gitanjali B. Poem 1, Manasi C. Poem 72, Gitimalya D. Poem 50, Balaka -
Which painting style is evident in Tagore’s late visual art?
A. Cubism B. Surrealism C. Expressionism D. Impressionism -
Tagore visited all but which of the following countries?
A. Argentina B. China C. Soviet Union D. Australia -
The English translation of Gitanjali was helped into print by—
A. William Butler Yeats B. Ezra Pound C. T.S. Eliot D. George Bernard Shaw -
Sadhana consists primarily of Tagore’s—
A. Political essays B. Spiritual discourses C. Travelogues D. Short stories -
Tagore advocated which economic concept in rural reconstruction at Sriniketan?
A. Micro‑credit B. Cooperative agriculture C. Green Revolution D. Panchayati Raj -
The annual Tagore International Literature Prize was instituted in—
A. 2000 B. 2011 C. 2018 D. 2022 -
In Tagore’s philosophy, “Jivan‑Devata” refers to—
A. The supreme political leader B. The inner divinity of life C. The national soul of India D. The harmony of nature
Answer Key
1 B 2 A 3 C 4 A 5 C 6 B 7 B 8 A 9 B 10 C 11 B 12 D 13 A 14 B 15 B 16 B 17 C 18 A 19 C 20 D 21 A 22 B 23 B 24 C 25 B
Tip for Exams: Questions often test firsts (first Asian Nobel), seminal works (Gitanjali), nationalist actions (renouncing knighthood), and institutions founded (Visva‑Bharati). Revise chronologies and cross‑link literature, music, and socio‑political contributions for integrated questions.