Tagore's Legacy

Centre of Global South Asian Studies and Institute of Cross-Cultural and Regional Studies, University of Copenhagen is pleased to invite you to the lecture

Tagore's Legacy - Rabindranath Tagore's Literature and its Relevance in Modern India

by Dr. William Radice, School of Oriental and African Studies, London

Drawing on the translations of Tagore's poems, stories, plays and songs over the last three decades - and especially in his new translation for Penguin India of Tagore's most famous work, Gitanjali (1912) - Dr William Radice discusses what makes Tagore particularly relevant to an international readership today. He considers the relationship between Tagore's philosophy and his creative imagination, and asks whether a poet as complex as Tagore can ever be reduced to a simple set of religious or moral ideals. He considers - and illustrates with readings - the rhythmic, musical and dramatic energies that drove Tagore's creative work, and asks whether these were successfully communicated in Tagore's own lifetime. He speculates this at the 150th anniversary of Tagore's birth, on future developments in the translation, interpretation and dissemination of Tagore. He was between his Nobel Prize in 1913 and his death in 1941 the most famous poet in the world. Could he rise to that position again?

William Radice (b. 1951) is internationally known for his translations of the poems and stories of Tagore. He lectures in Bengali at SOAS, University of London since 1988, and has been given awards and honours in both India and Bangladesh. His many books include nine collections of his own poems, Myths and Legends of India, Teach Yourself Bengali, and The Poem of the Killing of Meghnad - an annotated translation of an epic poem by Michael Madhusudan Dutt (1824-1873). In recent years he has written opera libretti. In May 2011 Penguin India will publish his new translation of Tagore's most famous work Gitanjali. 

Date: 21 March 2011
Time: 14.15-16.00
Venue: Room 0.113, CGSAS, Artillerivej 86, Annex, 2300 Cph S

All are welcome. Participation is free. No registration required.