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Primary sourcePainting1916

Rabindranath in the Role of 'Blind Singer'

Abanindranath Tagore · 1916

A 1916 painting by Tagore's nephew Abanindranath Tagore showing him performing as a blind singer in his own play Phalguni.

This painting depicts Tagore performing on stage in his own play, showing his role as an actor and dramatist.

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A dim, muted painting of a small figure in a long pale robe with a grey head, leaning on a staff, standing on a vast dark-green and brown ground beneath a deep blue-grey sky. The figure is at the right edge.
Abanindranath Tagore, Rabindranath in the Role of 'Blind Singer', 1916. Victoria Memorial.

About this source

What it is

This painting by Abanindranath Tagore, Rabindranath's nephew, shows him performing the role of a blind singer in his own play, Phalguni, in 1916. It is held at the Victoria Memorial.

Why it matters

The painting shows Tagore not only as a writer but as a performer who acted in his own theatrical works. It also reflects the artistic talent within his family, since Abanindranath Tagore was himself a noted painter who depicted his uncle on stage.

Look closer

  • Why might the figure be shown so small against such a large landscape?
  • What does it suggest that a family member painted this scene rather than a photographer?
  • What does this image tell you about Tagore's interests beyond writing poetry?

This painting is part of the curated material that grounds the AI version of Rabindranath Tagore on Humy.ai — when students ask about related events, the AI can quote it and cite it.

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Title page of the book Gitanjali (Song Offerings) by Rabindranath Tagore, a collection of prose translations made by the author from the original Bengali, with an introduction by W. B. Yeats, published by Macmillan and Co., London, 1913.Book

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Rabindranath Tagore · 1912

Black and white photograph of Rabindranath Tagore leaving a building, Sigtuna, May 1921.Photograph

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Bertil Waldén · May 1921

Title page of Gitanjali (Song Offerings) by Rabindranath Tagore, a collection of prose translations made by the author from the original Bengali, with an introduction by W. B. Yeats. Macmillan and Co., Limited, London, 1913.Book

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Rabindranath Tagore · 1910

Black and white photograph of Rabindranath Tagore standing with K.B. Westman and M. Björkqvist, Sigtuna, May 1921.Photograph

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Bertil Waldén · May 1921

Piano sheet music score titled 'Jana Gana Mana' by Rabindranath Tagore, in D minor/F major key with 4/4 time, tempo 96, two staves (treble clef) with dynamics like f, p, ff and a fermata at the end.Document

Primary source

Jana Gana Mana

Rabindranath Tagore · 11 December 1911

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