The song Ebar nirab kore dao was first published under the title ‘Nishithe’ in the April 1910 issue of Suprabhat magazine. Rabindranath Tagore in a letter to Indira Devi, his niece, expressed his perceptions of music. Tagore observes, “In my opinion, the world during the day is a tapestry of European music, a dynamic fusion of harmonies that intertwine in melodic dissonance. And the world during the night is our Indian subcontinent’s music, a pure, compassionate symphony of mixed emotions. Both move us, yet both contradict each other. How can we resolve this dilemma, a conflict embedded in nature’s depths, a profound contradiction between the king and queen, day and night, diverse and indivisible, expressed and eternal.”
English translation (Lyrics) of the Rabindrasangeet: Ebar nirab kore dao
Silence your garrulous poet now,
You grab the flute playing in his heart and make it play deeper.
May the melodious notes of the silent night emanate from the flute.
Music that amazes the planets and the moon.
May all of me that lies scattered, in life and in death,
Meet at your feet in the lure of melody.
The profusion of words harnessed over time will be washed away in a trice.
I will sit alone in the endless darkness, listening to the flute.
Some useful information on the Rabindrasangeet: Ebar nirab kore dao
Written on: April 13, 1910, at Bolpur
Age of the poet: 48
Published in: Gitanjali (1910)
Parjaay (Category): Puja (Worship)
Upa-parjaay (Sub-category): Antarmukhi (Introspective)
Taal: Tritaal
Raga: Darbari Kannada
Notation: Gitalipi
Swarabitan: Vol. 37
Notation by: Surendranath Banerjee
Purpose of this Rabindrasangeet presentation:
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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.
