Rabindranath Tagore

THE STORY OF THAKURBARI : REMEMBERING TAGORE

Dr. Sushil Rudra

09.05.2021

The great poet of India, Rabindranath Tagore in one of his poem, ” Janmokatha”( the story of birth ) longs to know about his birth story. As a child he asked his mother as to where he came and his mother answered the question of the child. Like the poet, we also eager to know how and where he borns in. Here, on his birthday anniversary we have to look back in his birth place where he was upbringing, playing with friends and brothers, and others activities.

Debendranath Tagore had fifteen siblings. Rabindranath was fourteenth out of fifteen. His birthplace is in Joresanko. His grandfather, Dwarakanath was an eminent businessman. Nilmoni Thakur established here at first being separated with his brother. Dwaraknath built a mansion just beside this house. His wife was a follower of Vaisnabism and worshipped Lord Krishna. So she did not like foreign culture. Naturally, Dwarakanath built this mansion where he arranged modern furnitures. English officials and their families used to attend there parties. Drinks and others precious menus were arranged for their dinner. Here children and women of the house were not allowed to participate.

No, I won’t discuss only about poet’s grandfather. We shall try to depict here the story of his forefathers and their whereabouts. Jagannath Kusari was the forefather of Rabindranath who married to daughter of Shukdev Raychoudhury. He was a Pirali Brahmin. Jagannath lived in the village of his father -in -law at Dakkhindihi ( Khulna, Bangladesh). As he married in Pirali family, he lived as an outcaste. It’s the era of the Turkish and Pathan rulers. People who came close contact with the rulers they were treated as an outcaste. Raychoudhury family had to bear such stigma.

Some generations after Jagannath, a dispute raised between Panchanan and his uncle’s family and they left the village by boat and reached in Kolkata( then Calcutta). It was British period. So there were no problem with the livelihood. English businessmen started Internationally export and import businesses.

Then Kolkata was a shopping centre. Village Gabindapur and two other villages turned into Kolkata. Kushari family settled in Gobindapur. There dwelled untouchable Hindus – depressed class among the Hindus. Most of the households were very poor. Not a single Brahmin family lived there. So the neighbours became delighted having them.

They were outcaste in Khulna, and here they were regarded as priests, even the honour of being Brahmin. At that time common people honoured Brahmins as God. They called them “Thakur Mashai” ( priest).

Panchanan extended his earning through the service in the Ship company. The English merchants, and others workers called him Thakur. But they couldn’t pronounce Thakur. They pronounced “Tagore”. From then they were called to Tagore as their title. The title Kushari ultimately had changed to Tagore or Thakur. They started writing Thakur or Tagore henceforth.

Panchanan had a son. Joiram was his name. He was also a businessman and became wealthy and affluent. He was an Amin or surveyor of British Company. He had four sons. Amongst them, Nilmoni and Darpanarayan were the ancestors of Rabindranath. Nilmoni lived in Jorasanko and Darpanarayan settled at Pathuriaghata in old Calcutta.

Neelmani engaged in a service in revenue department of Odisha Collectory in 1765. At that time East India Company got Dewani in Bengal. As a result, Neelmani managed a lot of wealth.

Darpanarayan was not also a idle man. He too earned massively. Both the brothers purchased a land in Pathuriaghata and built a mansion.

Money begets money. This saying of sages took place in the family. Their relations were strained. Ultimately, they’re separated. Neelmani handed over the mansion of Pathuriaghata and purchased a land in the east side of Chitpur near Jorasanko and constructed another building. That time it was Mechobazar by name. Later, its name had been changed to Jorasanko.

Tagore’s grandfather, Dwarakanath was born in this family. From 1794 to 1846 – only 52 years span of his life Dwarakanath gained a massive properties and wealth. Since his lifelime, Tagore family not only enriched with massive amounts of money and lands, they achieved also honour and respect. Dwaraknath was an eminent businessman of then Calcutta. He also started shipping business. He was highly educated, distinguished intellectual of this time. Both natives and Englishman used to respect him.

Dwaraknath Tagore was a dedicated his life in the upliftment of the Calcutta city and it’s citizens. For this purpose he had donated and endorsed a lot of his earnings. He travelled foreign countries. The royal families of the Western world respected him with high esteem. And he was conferred by the title of the Prince Dwaraknath. He had also donated there.

The Morning Star of India, Raja Rammohan Ray was his best friend. He did neither give up Indian cultures, not the practice of Hinduism, but in need he used to practice English fashion. Although he never put on foreign dresses.