Mahatma Gandhi and Rabindranath Tagore shared a deep bond and often engaged in discussions on humanity, freedom, and nationalism among others.
"... among the world's great men today Gandhi and Tagore were supreme as human beings." - Jawaharlal Nehru.
Mahatma Gandhi, a stalwart of India's freedom movement, and Rabindranath Tagore, the Nobel laureate, were poles apart in their ideologies and political views. As Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, the first Prime Minister of independent India, wrote about them, "No two persons could probably differ so much as Gandhi and Tagore in their make up or temperament." However, what's interesting here is the two yet became close friends, who often engaged in discussions on various subjects. Perhaps it was their differences that drew them closer. Perhaps - while neither could convince the other in most cases - their differences allowed both to see beyond their vision, offering them new perspectives.
Mahatma Gandhi, Kasturba Gandhi, and Rabindranath Tagore at Santiniketan.
It was Tagore who first called Gandhi a 'Mahatma'. According to him, Gandhi was a "great man, and great soul, wielding tremendous power over the teeming millions of India." Gandhi, on the other hand, referred to Tagore as 'Gurudev', whose “spiritual strength was unmatched internationally.” The two met multiple times from 1915 to 1941 (till Tagore's death) and were close pen pals - exchanging letters which are now studied at universities for their intellectual depth.
Mahatma Gandhi Meeting Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore
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Today, as we observe Mahatma Gandhi's 77th death anniversary, let's learn more about their friendship in this article.
Mahatma Gandhi and Rabindranath Tagore first met on March 6, 1915, in Shantiniketan, West Bengal, where Tagore resided and established his cultural and educational institution.
Tagore was already a global phenomenon by then (having won the Nobel Prize in 1913), while Gandhi had just returned from South Africa and was yet to become a mass leader in India. The Nobel laureate deeply admired Gandhi's work and believed that his principles of nonviolence would help India achieve its goals.
Gandhi spent almost a month in Shantiniketan where the two discussed various topics such as social reforms, education, cultural renaissance, and India's future. Also, he advised Tagore to implement a self-reliance system in Shantiniketan, where the students would themselves do their jobs alongside their studies. The latter agreed to that, and the new system was started on March 10, 1915.
Mahatma Gandhi and Rabindranath Tagore at Shantiniketan pic.twitter.com/6A0trl8KyZ
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Thereafter, Gandhi visited Shantiniketan on several occasions - the last one was in 1940, a year before Tagore's death. Now, "Gandhi Punyaha Din" is celebrated on March 10 every year in Shantiniketan.
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After reaching Shantiniketan on March 5, 1915 and meeting Guruvdev Rabindranath Tagore for the first time, Mahatma Gandhiji with Tagore’s concurrence introduced cleaning of the kitchen and its surroundings by the students and teachers of Shantiniketan. pic.twitter.com/8MgQosJdrZ
(Credit: Gandhi Smriti and Gandhi Darshan, New Delhi)
That meeting in Shantiniketan marked the beginning of a close friendship that lasted for nearly three decades. Tagore admired Gandhi's evolution as a leader, and time and again spoke about that. And whenever Gandhi was in confusion, he reached out to Gurudev for advice.
In 1932, just a few hours before Gandhi was arrested in Pune, he wrote to Tagore, "Dear Gurudev, I am just stretching my tired limbs on the mattress as I try to steal a wink of sleep, I think of you. I want you to give your best to the sacrificial fire that is being lit." And when he announced undergoing a fast unto death in his protest against the British, Tagore sent him a telegram that read, "It is worth sacrificing precious life for the sake of India’s unity and her social integrity. Though we cannot anticipate what effect it may have upon our rulers, who may not understand its immense importance to our people, we feel certain that the supreme appeal of such self-offering to the conscience of our own countrymen will not be in vain. I fervently hope that we will not callously allow such national tragedy to reach its extreme length. Our sorrowing hearts will follow your sublime penance with reverence and love."
Tagore was so worried about Gandhi that he (despite his own illness) reached Pune to see him. Later, in 1936, when Tagore was moving around Delhi to collect funds for his dance drama, Gandhi came to meet him and help him arrange the money.
Actually, there were numerous instances that showed the sheer depth of their friendship. Tagore sang his self-composed song, "Jiban Jakhan Shukai E Jai, Karunadharai Eso" when Gandhi broke his fast in 1932. And Gandhi not only loved his literary works but also embraced their philosophy in his own works. For instance, he followed the philosophy in Tagore's song "Jodi Tor Daak Shune Keu Na Ase, Tobe Ekla Cholo Re" (If no one responds to your call, then walk alone) his whole life.
Rabindranath Tagore and Mahatma Gandhi.
— History of Congress (@HistoryofCongr2) May 9, 2023
From Gandhiji’s visit to Shantiniketan in early 1940s#RabindranathTagore #RabindraJayanti #MahatmaGandhi pic.twitter.com/0tgbsU4dSJ
(Credit: History of Congress)
And although Tagore was a harsh critic of several of Gandhi's actions (including the Non-Cooperation Movement and the Charka), he never doubted the latter's intentions. He described Gandhi as a "living truth of life", saying, "At Gandhiji’s call India blossomed forth to new greatness, just as once before, in earlier times, when Buddha proclaimed the truth of fellow feeling and compassion among all living creatures."
As already mentioned, the two last met in 1940, a year before Tagore's death, in Shantiniketan. But it wasn't really the 'last' - their friendship itself became a legend, setting an example for generations to come.
