Doodling Art by Rabindranath Tagore – Doodled Fancy
Rabindranath Tagore is recognized world wide for literature, but he had immense talent in other fields too. Art, music, dramatics… he was a genius in all of them and more. In this post I would like to highlight Rabindranath Tagore’s skill in doodling.
Till I saw doodling art of Rabindranath Tagore exhibited in Uttarayan in Shantiniketan, I never knew this could be an art too! I was completely awestruck at the display of this kind of work there. I always knew of the paintings of Rabindranath Tagore, but doodling by him was new!
Uttarayan in Shantiniketan
Tagore lived in Uttarayan complex whenever he was in Shantiniketan. There are 5 houses within this complex – Udichi, Udayana, Konaraka, Shamali and Punascha. Tagore’s museum here is Bichitra Sadan.
Very strict rules for entry to this complex; this is especially after the theft of the Nobel Prize medal that Tagore received. We had to leave our mobile and camera at the gate.
Doodling Art by Rabindranath Tagore
How did doodling take an artistic form? Tagore, while composing poems or prose would cross out a word or phrase. These pen-through erasures made him uneasy. His desire to rescue these islands of crossed out spots made him join them into some designs.
Initially they would form some visually decorative pattern then they would form some kind of zoomorphic shapes.
Quoting Nobel Laureate Rabindranath Tagore here:
The only training which I had from my young days was the training in rhythm, the rhythm in thought, the rhythm in sound. I had come to know that rhythm gives reality to that which is desultory, which is insignificant in itself.
And therefore, when the scratches in my manuscript cried, like sinners, for salvation, and assailed my eyes with the ugliness of their irrelevance, I often took more time in rescuing them into a merciful finality of rhythm than in carrying on what was my obvious task. – Rabindranath Tagore
Definition of ‘Doodle’ – Doodles are aimless scribble, design or sketch. But Rabindranath Tagore’s doodling was not aimless; there emerges order and elegance, a flight from chaos. This orderliness gave him a sense of ease.
Tagore’s was a different style. He scribbled, he daubed and dabbled with child like abandon. Some psycho analysts tried to study his work; all they could conclude was that such art work was his pure fancy and playfulness.
Book on Rabindranath Tagore’s doodles: Doodled Fancy
The way he cancelled date that was written by him. Pic is from the book.
No photography is permitted, but I was lucky to lay my hands on the book “Doodled Fancy”. Dinkar Kowshik compiled many of his doodled work in this book. The pics in the book are in black and white. Some of the original doodling work was done in colors.
Also read: My humble effort to translate Tagore’s poem Taal Gachh – the Palm Tree
What you share in ishare is not just some new trivia, its something wonderful discovered by you. Enjoyed the post and hope you share more such great posts.
Wow! never knew Rabindranath Tagore made such type of doodles. Thanks for enlightening me
Regards 🙂
What wonderful doodles!
interesting….
thanks
guru ji……. aapke charan kahan hain?????
That's fascinating. I never knew of such a thing. I'm going to click on your link now.
Wow, lovely post. Interesting !!!
Fascinating post – and blog!
Many thanks for stopping by too!
Interesting TFS
Brilliant, cheers Indrani.
Thanks so much for the comments friends!
Arti, that is how he artistically crossed out a date written by him. The date is not there in the pic. Only his doodle of the crossing out is present in the pic. I hope I am sounding clear. 🙂
Namrota, glad you wish to share, please do. I too love to share in my 'i Share'. 🙂
Who could have thought other than the genius himself. I would like to share your post on my Facebook page if you allow me to.
You are right: this way doodling is beautiful, but then Tagore was a real artist and a philosopher too!
Wil, ABCW team.
This is absolutely fascinating. The doodles are beautiful.
Well, I never knew about this thing. Thanks for the post got to learn a new thing at least before calling off the day 🙂
This is a collectible post 🙂
thanks for sharing Ind!
Fascinating post. It's amazing how much someone like him can do with doodling.
I watched a show as a kid which said that as a trend in doodling- men write names and women draw flowers
thanks for sharing it ! nice post
Great learning his another art form! Your posts on him are inspiring, Indra.
Creative even while doodling! Genius.
Very Nice Ones
That's really interesting. Thanks a ton for sharing.
Interesting!! Boom & Gary of the Vermilon River, Canada.
Wow, what the interesting informative article about a brilliant person! amazing find the picture..looking nice.
Great post…Indrani.
Never knew this aspect of his illustrious personality.Thanks
Lovely..What an Amazing Genius Person he was,and it is true creativity has no limits..
Tagore is an amazing person! The doodling is a cool work of art. Great post!
I literally grew up listening to this story how Tagore used to make those sketches while writing. Always amazed me.
This reminded me about our visits in Shantinekatan and the heated debates we had in the Chai er dokan of Kaloda near khoai. I think all these are reflections of his mindset at the time of editing and reviewing of his own work. there are enough hints to that direction from each poem where these art works were made by him.
Interesting.
very interesting.
Egulo shotti i osadharon…kono kotha hobena….Pronaam, Gurudeb! 🙂
The doodles and "scribbles" are just a work of art!
As someone who loves to scribble a bit, I loved this post, Indrani! Thanks for sharing.
Is that date written in Bengali? I could not figure it out!
Thank you for sharing this facet of Tagore
Indrani, This is such an interesting post. Next time I must cross out something, I'm going to wish I had this talent.
Me too was not aware of this hobby of the great poet!
Great post,Thanks a lot for sharing.
Flowing SCRIPT. Magical!
Aloha
Tagore is a long time favorite of mine! This is great! Thanks for sharing, Indrani! Have a good week!
I am delighted with your post.
This is something new, very intersującego.
Greetings.
Really interesting. I would like to try one soon 🙂
WOW!! I had no idea at all that this was also a part of the many great works of Rabindranath Tagore!! 'Doodling' who could have thought!! 🙂 Thanks a lot Indrani for sharing this!!