In his song Keno amay pagol kore jas, Rabindranath Tagore paints a vivid picture of nature in its twilight moments, symbolising the journey of life towards an end. Within this imagery, a poignant melody emerges, reflecting a deep longing and an insatiable desire to cling to what remains. It appeared as the 12th song in the ‘Abasan’ section of Prabahini (book of poems) and was first recorded during Tagore’s lifetime by HMV. The song was rendered by Kanak Das. For Tagore, music, with its inherent beauty and harmony, offers a unique perspective that transcends temporary discomforts. Within this beauty lies a contradiction between the temporary and the eternal, evoking a deep sense of pain at the prospect of life’s transient nature.
Lyrics:
কেন আমায় পাগল করে যাস ওরে চলে-যাওয়ার দল।
আকাশে বয় বাতাস উদাস, পরান টলোমল॥
প্রভাততারা দিশাহারা, শরতমেঘের ক্ষণিক ধারা
সভা ভাঙার শেষ বীণাতে তান লাগে চঞ্চল॥
নাগকেশরের ঝরা কেশর ধুলার সাথে মিতা।
গোধূলি সে রক্ত-আলোয় জ্বালে আপন চিতা।
শীতের হাওয়ায় ঝরায় পাতা, আম্লকী-বন মরণ-মাতা,
বিদায়বাঁশির সুরে বিধুর সাঁজের দিগঞ্চল॥
English translation (Own translation):
Why do you leave me distraught,
O troupe destined for departure?
The breeze is tinged with sadness,
the heart is restless.
The morning star has lost its way,
the fleeting stream of autumnal clouds —
At the meeting’s end, the harp’s restless melody resonates —
O troupe destined for departure.
The fallen pollen of the Nagkesar (ironwood) flower
befriends the dust.
Dusk unveils its crimson glow
and kindles its own pyre.
Leaves are shed in the winter breeze,
while the Aamlaki (gooseberry) woods appear to be ravaged.
The parting melody of the flute echoes through the radiant evening’s cardinal directions —
O troupe destined for departure.
Some useful information:
Song: Keno amay pagol kore jas
Parjaay (Category): Prem (Love)
Upa-parjaay (Sub-category): Prem-Boichitra (Love- Miscellaneous)
Taal: Teyora
Raag: Ramkeli
Written in: November-December 1925
Collection: Probahini
Swarabitan: 2
Age of the poet: 64
Notation by: Anadikumar Dastidar
Purpose of the presentation
Tagore’s music resonates with people from all walks of life. His songs are performed at cultural events, religious ceremonies and social gatherings, reflecting their enduring popularity. In an effort to bring home this treasure trove to the non-Bengali population and Bengalis around the globe, Brainware University offers a selection of Rabindrasangeet in this presentation. It is enriched with details on the songs and relevant anecdotes.
Sung By
Sri Phalguni Mookhopadhayay Chancellor, Brainware University
Phalguni Mookhopadhayay is the founder-Chancellor of Brainware University, founder-Chairman and Managing-Director of Brainware Consultancy Private Limited and founder-Chairman of Webguru Infosystems Private Limited. He did his schooling at Ramakrishna Mission Vidyalaya, Narendrapur, and graduated with honours in Economics from St Xavier’s College, Kolkata. He completed his masters in Economics from Calcutta University and MBA from IISWBM, before joining Hindustan Lever as a management trainee. He worked as a market planner for the ABP group for nearly a decade before striking out on his own and successfully launching two private limited companies and one University. Phalguni Mookhopadhayay is a self-taught digital artist, a versatile photographer, a filmmaker and a weekend singer who has already recorded 78 songs and is now immersed in a project to popularise Tagore songs among a global audience.
