Rabindranath Tagore, the great poet philosopher, a versatile genius, though outwardly very grave in appearance and posture, by heart he was very jovial. According to him, life becomes quite bore and dry like desert if there is no humour. In every step of his personal and domestic life, there are innumerable instances of his great witty and amusing nature.
Maitreyi Devi, one of those who were closely associated with him and served him till his last days, described many interesting stories of Tagore’s humor, in her book ‘Swarger Kachakachi’ which are very much enjoyable!
Rabindranath used to sneez with an exceptionally vociferous sound which he himself tittled as, ‘Biswakampayani Hachi’ (Earth Terrorising Sneezing)
He used to compose rhymes and songs on his sneezing, tuned them in his own way which were listened very amusing!
Rabindranath used to maintain a big staff, (officials and non–officials), including his attendants, cook etc, and from his own minute observation, named many of them in a very humorous but dignified way which would not hurt them rather glorified; eg. one of his personal assistants, Sudhakanta Babu had a big bald on his head, Rabindranath named him as ‘Mr. Baldwin’. Stanley Baldwin a famous statesman who dominated the British, serving as Prime Minister on three occasions.
Rabindranath used to take a glass of Neem Sarbat i.e Neem leaves would be boiled in water, till the water is green, which had a very bitter taste but of great medicinal value. Rabindranath used to take ‘Neem Sarbat’ early in the morning in empty stomach, braving its bitterness.
One fine morning he was taking that Neem Sarbat in a transparent glass (tumbler). A stranger came to visit him. He was glancing at the green sarbat (drinks) very greedily as if it was very tasty! Rabindranath observed his greedy looking, and took a big sip with a very delicious sound! He asked the stranger, ‘Do you need’? ‘The stranger nodded’.
Rabindranath then and there called his servant and ordered for another glass of that sarbat. Accordingly it was offered to the stranger who took it very happily; but after the very first sip, made a very distasteful peculiar face! It was so-o bitter!!
Rabindranath enjoyed his reaction and burst into a laughter ! Such was his humor!Once there was a meeting of the intelligentia in Calcutta; where Rabindranath was one of the participants. The subject of discussions was regarding some critical social problems of Bengal. One of the vital problems was plight of the widows. One of the questions was though the Hindu widows of Bengal were under strict food restrictions, how they could survive much longer period in comparison to other women. The answers from the participants were not satisfactory or acceptable Rabindranath so long kept mum. Everybody was looking at him eagerly. He stood very gravely and said, ‘I think, the widows of Bengal are long lived despite so much restrictions, because they get rid from the oppression of their demi-gods, i.e their husbands!’
The whole audience burst into a big laughter! His points could not be ignored !
Rabindranath left many such instances of his humorous nature. Once he called a meeting of the University Professors in his Shantiniketan Complex regarding some reformation of administrative rules. A good number of professors from different universities joined the meeting. Rabindranath discussed some points regarding the administration of his ‘Viswabharati’ Institution and asked for suggestion if any. A very young professor stood and pointed out some faulty sides of Tagore’s administration in the Viswabharati. Rabindranath marked minutely, and defended his views, but the professor insisted on his points.
After the meeting, everybody criticised the young professor for his audacity to argue with such a big personality which looked very indecent and ungentle etc. The young professor himself could realise his fault and was repentent. They spent the night in a hostel at Shantiniketan. Next morning a messenger came to call that young professor to meet Tagore without fail. The professor got nervous! Everybody was sure, it was reaction of yesterday’s incident! Anyway he went to meet Tagore.
Tagore asked him in a very grave voice to come inside and be seated. The professor took his seat very gently and was preparing himself mentally for any adverse situation!
Tagore in a hoarse voice said, – You did a blunder yesterday!
The professor admitted that very humbly.
Then Tagore reacted dramatically — You will have to take ‘Danda’ (punishment) for that.
The professor more humbly said, ‘Yes Gurudev, I am ready to get any Danda’ from you’!
Tagore in a very grave voice, commanded ‘Then get ready, I am coming’!
He left his seat, entered the adjacent room, and came back with a ‘Stick’ in his hand, and said in a loud dramatic voice “Take your ‘Danda’, you left yesterday in the meeting.”…..
Both of them burst into a big laughter.
It is mentionable here that the Bengali word ‘Danda’ carries double meaning; one is ‘Punishment’ and the other is ‘Stick’ (wand). Rabindranath intentionally used the word ‘Danda’ to make a big humor !
(During that age it was a style/fashion for the young stylish people to walk with fashionable stick in hand. The young professor followed that).
Maitreyi Devi, while a teen-ager, drew a nice picture of a beautiful girl, and showed it to Tagore. Tagore in a very disappointing voice said, ‘You, the girls are very selfish. The male painters always draw pictures of the girls so sincerely; but you never draw the picture of the males’!
Maitreyi Devi admitted that, and very attentively drew a picture of a young handsome prince on horse back, Rabindranath highly appreciated and humorously asked Maitreyi whispering, ‘Is he your selected person?’]
Such was his innocent humor!
It is worth mentioning that difference of age between Tagore and Maitreyee was 53 years, and their relation was also like grandfather and grand daughter.
It is observed that Rabindranath himself had belief in Ghost. Though he did not admit that openly, in many of his short stories, there are indications of existance of something supernatural or unearthly. He used to frighten others with ghost-stories, and enjoy their fright humorously.
Once Maitreyi Devi came to Shantiniketan as a guest of Tagore. Rabindranath welcomed her very warmly. All arrangements was done properly for her stay. In the evening Rabindranath visited the bedroom arranged for her, and told Maitreyi that the room was very comfortable and conveninent for sight seeing by the adjacent window; but only problem was that, at dead of night or very early in the morning a ‘headless man’ would sing loudly disturbing others’ sleep!
Maitreyi trembled and screamed, ‘Headless man’!!
Rabindranath assured her not to be worried, it was harmless! During the ‘Nilkar oppression’ he was vicitimised and his head was chopped off by the oppressors. He was a very good singer, so his sad aggrieved soul with headless body used to roam and sing the whole night, but it never harms!
Next morning Maitreyi Devi admitted that she had heard song at the late hours of night, but it was the Night-guard, nothing ghostly!
Such was the humor of Tagore.
Rabindranath himself, being a man of humor, used to enjoy and indulge others witty and humorous approach equally. Once in Shantiniketan, early in the morning when classes would be just starting, there was a big chaos in the classrooms!
In the Notice Board, the school was declared holiday that day! Everybody rushed to the Notice Board, and it was really so! Rabindranath himself reached there. Yes, it was clearly written and duely signed by Tagore himself that the school was declared a holiday!
Rabindranath was stunned to read his own handwriting on the Notice Board!
Syed Mujtaba Ali, (renowned writer) then a teen-ager student of Shantiniketan, appeared before Tagore and bowed his head, ‘Please forgive me Gurudev! It is me, who copied your handwriting and signature. It is ‘April Fool’ today!
Being fooled, Rabindranath burst into a laughter and embraced the boy Mujtaba! Such was his gesture!
[This story was collected by the author herself from Syed Mustafa Ali, elder brother of Syed Mujtaba Ali, once her neighbour]!Another enjoyable incident of Tagore’s young age is as follows:-
Once Rabindranath, Atul Prasad Sen and Sarat Chandra, three rising poet and writters were invited by a Zaminder (Landlord) of ancient Calcutta, to grace a function in his village. They started accordinly by a local train. There were a flock of young girls with flowers and garlands to receive them in the Railway station. Rabindranath, a very handsome young poet of Bengal was welcomed first by a very beautiful young girl with garland. Rabindranath asked her name, and she smartly replied with a smile – ‘I am Godhuli’! Tagore appreciated the meaning of her name Godhuli i.e Evening.
Sarat Chandra and Atul Prasad were also greeted properly, but Sarat Chandra minutely marked that ‘Godhuli’ was the best of the lot who had welcomed Rabindranath. He also marked that Rabindranath was given special attention.
The meeting started accordingly. The Zaminder himself, very proudly introduced the celebrities with the audience and welcomed them with proper formalities.
In the recess hours, they were taken for sight-seeing, to a beautiful place full of natural beauty. It was named as ‘Bakultala’ as the garden was surrounded by ‘Bakul trees a very sweet scented flower’.
They came back, and after launch, the afternoon session started with song and recitation etc. Atul Prasad was singing. A boy approached Rabindranath and reached him a small folded piece of paper. Rabindranath accepted the paper very eagerly, glimpsed upon that, where it was written in a decent female handwriting, ‘Dear poet, please come to Bakultala in Godhuli’. Rabindranath very swiftly kept the slip in his pocket. Sarat Chandra eagerly asked what that was, Rabindranath replied in vague.
It was evening, the function was over, and after formalities, they started for Railway station. But after crossing a few steps suddenly Rabindranath said that he would be going by the next train, as he had left some important work there. The other two went away and Rabindranath came back in search of ‘Bakultala’.
It was a dark and isolated place full of thick trees and mosquitoes. Nobody was there! Rabindranath waited for sometime but no trace of Godhuli! Being very much disappointed Rabindranath came back and availed the next local train for Calcutta.
Getting down to the platform, he found Sarat Chandra was waiting for him. His first question was, ‘Could you meet Godhuli’?
Both of them burst into a big laughter! Actually Sarat Chandra himself wrote the request slip to Rabindranath, immitating female handwriting, to befool him!
Such was the great Humorist Rabindranath Tagore.
Uma Purkayastha is a renowned Educationist, Author and Social Activist from Shillong,Meghalaya
