On June 4, 1921, Rabindranath had delivered a speech titled ‘The Message of the Forest’ at Berlin University. The last part of the speech and the song Mor Bina Othe in his voice was recorded and preserved. The recordings were kept in an underground vault but the copy of the same recording kept in the library was badly damaged by the bombing in World War II. However, the German engineers successfully restored them and the then Prime Minister of East Germany had sent it to Santiniketan through Jawaharlal Nehru, the then Chancellor of Visva Bharati. The song Mor Beena Othe was sung at the first performance of Shapmochan at Jorasanko by the Rabindra Jayanti committee in December 1931 and the song was included in the Shapmochan booklet printed on the occasion.
English translation (Lyrics) of the Rabindrasangeet: Mor Bina Othe
Which melodious tune does my lute play, which new and exuberant rhythm?
My heart pulsates in resonance with the heartbeat of the Universe.
Who is that restless youth, flying in from one end of the universe,
His face aglow with the dance of light, his heart full of joy.
At the courtyard of the heavens, the clouds rumble silently.
Keeping beat with this unheard rhythm, is the clapping of leaves.
Anticipating being touched by whose feet, every blade of grass speaks.
Set free, the wind revels in the fragrance of the forest.
Some useful information on the Rabindrasangeet: Mor Bina Othe
Written in: May-June 1919
Age of the poet: 58
Published in: Santiniketan
Parjaay (Category): Nature (Prakriti)
Upa-parjaay (Sub-category): Spring (Basanta)
Taal: Kaharba
Raga: Bhairavi
Notation: Poetry (Songs)
Swarabitan: Vol. 42 (Arupratana)
Purpose of the 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
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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.
