वैसे तो उस दिन रास्ते में बड़ी भीड़ थी,
दुकानों में ग्राहकों की होड़ सी लगी थी।
चार पहिया वाहनों की बीच में,
दोपहिया चालक खटमल बने घुस रहे थे।
मैं भी चला जा रहा था बगल के फुटपाथ से,
के अचानक दाई तरफ देखा,
तो समय मानो थम सा गया।

एक बड़े से दरवाजे के पीछे,
कुछ संकरी गली सी बनी थी।
उसके अंत से आ रही थी धुंधली रौशनी।
मानो, कोई दरवाजा खुला हो
और अतीत में जल उठे दिए टिमटिमा रहे हो।

Introduction with the Old Sage of Thakurbadi

With hindsight, I feel sorry for myself. Before my visit to Kolkata for our Blogchatter retreat, I knew him only as the author of our national anthem, a Nobel laureate and the founder of Shantiniketan. But one of the sessions at our retreat opened my eyes. Dr. Somadatta Mandal, a former faculty at Shantineketan expanded on the whole fabric of life of Gurudev. Subsequent visit to Thakurbadi – Tagore house and museum managed by Rabindra Bharati University proved to be enchanting.

It would be foolish even to think that I know who Rabindranath was and what is his contribution to the world after this one visit. That’s why I will just say, I was introduced to the old sage in the City of Joy and we had a very brief encounter. Yet it had intrigued me so much to know more about him and his times. I am looking forward to learning more about him. Maybe, I will visit him again in his abode at Thakurbadi.

Thanks to Blogchatter for this opportunity!

Here’s my refelction on Banaras from our earlier retreat!