Talk:Rabindranath Tagore

Name is not correct

Hi Team,

Rabindranath Tagore name is not correct in hindi. Kindly check 49.36.181.5 (talk) 05:23, 23 November 2022 (UTC)

This is English Wikipedia and it prefer English pronounciation. And also, his mother language wasn’t' Hindi. Mehedi Abedin 02:01, 3 March 2023 (UTC)

What was his mother language?

Cjjjkscratch (talk) 06:36, 10 May 2023 (UTC)

Bangali 202.8.112.4 (talk) 07:45, 30 May 2023 (UTC)

Semi-protected edit request on 4 May 2023

please refer to rabindranath tagore as indian as that was his nationality. Thanks 2607:FEA8:C5F:E7A0:2FAE:4099:ADAA:16BE (talk) 21:08, 4 May 2023 (UTC)

 Not done for now: please establish a consensus for this alteration before using the {{Edit semi-protected}} template. MadGuy7023 (talk) 21:10, 4 May 2023 (UTC)

I think "Bengali Indian" or "Indian Bengali" might be the most appropriate way to refer to him. He was an Indian and a Bengali and there is no contradiction in that. This is similar to being an American and a Californian with no contradiction. Except, “Bengali” doesn’t refer only to a geopolitical subdivision; it’s also an ethnolinguistic demographic category.

In any case, referring to Tagore as “Bengali” or as “Indian” can both be inadequate because of a complex history and current usage. Outside of India, the word “Bengali” is now often understood to be synonymous with “Bangladeshi” unless specifically referring to the Bengali language. This would be inaccurate in relation to Rabindranath Tagore. He was born in undivided Bengal in India during British rule. The region of Bengal where he was born and raised (and where he lived and died) is the region now called “West Bengal” and is still part of India, while “East Bengal” became the country of Bangladesh. Tagore was an Indian citizen and a prominent figure India’s independence movement and would have thought of himself as both Indian and Bengali, with no contradiction, in the same way that Bengali Indians still think of themselves. However, describing him ONLY as “Indian” is also inadequate. While renowned all over India, he is known primarily for his works in Bengali and his contributions to Bengali literature, music, and culture. This Bengali culture survives and is celebrated in BOTH regions of Bengal (the Indian state of West Bengal AND the country of Bangladesh). Two of his songs (both written in Bengali) went on to become the national anthems of India and Bangladesh, respectively.

I would recommend changing the description to “Bengali Indian” or “Indian Bengali.” Curious georgianna (talk) 02:29, 3 August 2023 (UTC)

I think only one small edit, from "was a Bengali poet" to "was a Bengali-Indian poet" in the intro section is sufficient to address the issue. I have gone ahead and made this change, but I'm happy to work with any editor who has an objection, of course. Curious georgianna (talk) 12:42, 3 August 2023 (UTC)

Tagore is the composer of national anthems of both India and Bangladesh. He lived and died in undivided Bengal, British India. It's unnecessary to define him in today's concept of nationality. Thanks. CharlesWain (talk) 11:51, 4 August 2023 (UTC)

I'm not defining him by today's standards. In his own day Tagore was definitely considered Indian. Bengali is an ethnolinguistic group within India. In his own day it was ENTIRELY within India, though now there's a separate country comprising the eastern part of Bengal. In both Tagore's day and today he was/is considered "Indian" as well as a "Bengali" poet. Those are not contradictory categories. Also, he was born in undivided Bengal, but he lived and later died in what was already "West Bengal" because Bengal was partitioned in 1905, well before India as a whole was partitioned. And of course, both Bengals were part of India until 1947 (6 years after Tagore's death). However, you slice it, he was Indian. "Bengali Indian" makes the reference clear. In your edit summary note your reason for reversing me is that it's an "odd combination" --what's odd about it? I don't know if you have any actual familiarity with India or Bengalis, but as a Bengali Indian, I can tell you there's absolutely nothing "odd" about that combination. And, again, Tagore was "Indian" during his lifetime and contributed to the Indian independence movement. He referred to himself as Indian. This is a very small edit that clarifies his nationality. I'm having a hard time understanding why it's even controversial. I don't want this to turn into an edit-reversal war, so I'm leaving your edit as is, for now. But please explain beyond "it's odd" why Tagore's factually accurate nationality should not be noted in the intro. Thanks. Curious georgianna (talk) 16:51, 4 August 2023 (UTC)

Semi-protected edit request on 17 July 2023

He briefly read law at University College London, but again left school, opting instead for independent study of Shakespeare's plays

- that reads better without the word ‘school’? 212.161.4.84 (talk) 14:49, 17 July 2023 (UTC)

 Done M.Bitton (talk) 16:03, 17 July 2023 (UTC)

Semi-protected edit request on 4 August 2023

Rabindranath Tagore is from a Brahmo family, not Brahmin as said here. Docnovosun (talk) 15:23, 4 August 2023 (UTC)