Viswakavi (World Poet) Rabindranath was born on May 9, 1861 in Bengal. His father Maharihi Devendranath Tagore was a rich man and an aristocrat and his mother was Sarada Devi. He was the eighth son and fourteenth child of his parents. Rabindranath Tagore was not sent to any school. He was educated at home by a tutor. Rabindranath was not happy, getting educated within the four walls. He was a curious and creative child. Even as a boy he felt that nature is a mystery and he should unravel the secrets of nature, through education.

Though he was educated at home, he studied many subjects and there was a method in his studies. He would get up early. After physical education he would study Mathematics, History, Geography, Bengali and Sanskrit. In the afternoon, he learnt drawing, English and play games. On Sundays he would learn music and conduct experiments in science. Reading plays was of special interest to him. He was happy to read plays of Kalidas and Shakespeare. He had a special interest in Bengali, which was his mother-tongue.
For further studies, he was sent to a public school at London, where he became a student of Prof. Henry Morley whose lectures influenced Rabindranath to take interest in English Literature.
Rabindranath started writing poetry in Bengali. His poem “Sandya Geet” (Song of Dusk) was appreciated by many, including Sri Bankimchandra Chatterji, who wrote the National song “vandemataram.” He later wrote in Bengali a number of devotional songs “Nivgarer”, “Prabhat Sangeet” etc.
“Gitanjali” is a well-known collection of his poems. Gitanjali contains his various noble thoughts common to the vast humanity, viz. pessimism, love, satisfaction, dignity of labour etc. for this book “Gitanjali” Rabindranath Tagore was awarded the Nobel Prize for literature in 1931 and was the first Indian to get a Nobel Prize. The British Government conferred on him knighthood and gave the title of “Sir.”
What makes Rabindranath Tagore special for Indians is “Jana gana mana” and it is our National Anthem. Rabindranath Tagore wrote it when he visited Madanapalli in Andhra Pradesh on the eve of the Rishi Valley School Anniversary at the invitation of Dr. Arundale, the Principal. Mahatma Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru had the greatest respect for Rabindranath Tagore.

“Clouds come floating into my life, no longer to carry rain or usher storm, but to add colour to my sunset sky.”
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“Beauty is truth’s smile when she beholds her own face in a perfect mirror.”
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“Faith is the bird that feels the light when the dawn is still dark.”
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“I slept and dreamt that life was joy. I awoke and saw that life was service. I acted and behold, service was joy.”
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“Trees are the earth’s endless effort to speak to the listening heaven.”

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“Love does not claim possession, but gives freedom.”
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“Death is not extinguishing the light; it is only putting out the lamp because the dawn has come.”
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“By plucking her petals, you do not gather the beauty of the flower.”
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“Do not say, ‘It is morning,’ and dismiss it with a name of yesterday.”
“See it for the first time as a newborn child that has no name.”
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“Everything comes to us that belongs to us, if we create the capacity to receive it.”
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“Let your life lightly dance on the edges of Time like dew on the tip of a leaf.”
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“Don’t limit a child to your own learning, for he was born in another time.”
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“The butterfly counts not months but moments, and has time enough.”
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“The water in a vessel is sparkling; the water in the sea is dark. The small truth has words which are clear; the great truth has great silence.”
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“Depth of friendship does not depend on length of acquaintance.”
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“We live in the world when we love it. ”
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“Every child comes with the message that God is not yet discouraged of man.”
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“Let us not pray to be sheltered from dangers but to be fearless when facing them.”
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“You can’t cross the sea merely by standing and staring at the water.”
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“Love is the only reality and it is not a mere sentiment. It is the ultimate truth that lies at the heart of creation.”
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“The highest education is that which does not merely give us information but makes our life in harmony with all existence.”
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“I have become my own version of an optimist. If I can’t make it through one door, I’ll go through another door – or I’ll make a door.”
“Something terrific will come no matter how dark the present.”
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“The flower which is single need not envy the thorns that are numerous.”
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“Facts are many, but the truth is one.”
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“Age considers; youth ventures.”