Essential Tagore
PAROMITA PAIN
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Stories, poems and plays... a selection of some of the best writings.
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The Oxford India Illustrated Children's Tagore edited by Sukanta Chaudhuri, Oxford University Press, Rs. 195
To many young readers, especially those growing up away from Bengal, Tagore may be rather a stern figure with a Santa Claus like beard with little cheer about him. But as a writer Tagore has a delightful sense of the absurd and witty style that he reserves for his charming repertoire of stories and poems for young people. In fact, of the 31 collected volumes of his published work the equivalent of about two volumes, consists of writing for young people. The Oxford India Illustrated Children's Tagore brings together quite a few of the writer's best pieces including poems and plays. The best pieces are probably the ones taken from his memoirs that deal with his childhood. A style of growing up that is alien to most, they aren't just records of time with family and friends but also wonderful pen pictures of a time gone by.
Of special interest are the illustrations, some done by Tagore and others done by people from Shantineketan. Artists with special inclinations towards sketching can see how simple lines simply inked in can be so telling in their effect while adding verve to the tale or poem.
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