Primary sourceBook
The Postmaster
Rabindranath Tagore
A short story by Tagore from his Shilaidaha years, depicting rural Bengali life with tender realism.
A short story by Tagore reflecting his tender, realistic portrayal of rural Bengal during his Shilaidaha years.
About this source
What it is
A short story written by Rabindranath Tagore in Bengali, titled Postmaster, later translated into English in 1918 by Debendranath Mitra and published in collections of Tagore's stories.
Why it matters
Written during Tagore's years managing his family's estates at Shilaidaha, the story reflects his close observation of rural Bengali life and ordinary people. It is considered a classic example of his realistic, compassionate short fiction, in contrast to his more philosophical and political works.
Look closer
- What might Tagore's time living among rural communities at Shilaidaha have contributed to this story?
- How does a short story differ from a novel or play in how it can portray everyday life?
- What does the story's translation history tell us about how Tagore's work reached English-speaking readers?
This book 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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