facsimile of the original manuscript

Rabindranath Tagore

• • •

Sahitya Samsad
GITANJALI
(facsimile of the original manuscript)
Compiled and arranged by Abhik Kumar Dey

ISBN : 978-81-7955-183-7 f

The photocopy of manuscript was

this original
presented to us by Shri Mohantiasbhai Patel of
Ahmedabad. We are grateful to him.
This volume is printed by permission of the
Houghton Library, Harvard University.
They are the custodians of the Rothenstein Papers,
which include the Gitanjali manuscript
[vide call number. bMS Eng 1159(1)],
The publisher expresses his heartfelt gratitude
to the custodians.

^ 170.00 US$ 10
William Rothenstcin and Rabindranath Tagore,
London, Summer 1912

Photograph by ; John Trevor, Hampstead, reprint from

Imperfect Encounter In/ Mary M. Lago, 1972
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Sf^J The Manuscript of Gitanjali : A Supplementary note
(V.B.Q.' Vol. 44, Nos* 3 & 4 : 150-75) «W 4| WRT ^<
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iR^.Wfi^ ^ : On the day thou breakst through this

^rm&t C#l Tjj&ire ^fl$f I #s7#f ^>88 More ; life, my

lord, yet more, . . .
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Gitanjali (VBQ Vol. 43 Nos. 3 &4 : 235-62) W$

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 About the book '
>

Two years after the publication of Gitanjdi (191D),

before he sailed for England in May 1912, Rabindranath
Tagore spent quite some time convalescing at Shelidah
(a village in East Bengal on ,the banks of the river
Padma which was very dear to him). It was during
this period that he started translating the Giianjali as
well assome other poems into English, an endeavour
which soon took him over completely.

i
Tagore had a previous acquaintance with William
Rothenstein, the renowned artist, who was also familiar
with some of his works. In a letter to Indira Debi,
Tagore recollects his experience pf this period as:
[At Shelidah] ... I took up the poems of Gitanjali
and them one by one.
set myself to translate The , .

pages of a small exercise-book came to be filled

gradually, and with it in my pocket I boarded the
snip. The idea of keeping^t in my pocket was that
when my mind became restless on the high seas,
I would recline on a deck-chair and set myself-

to translate one or two poems from time to time.

And that is what actually happened. From' one
exercise-book I passed on to another. Rothenstein
already had ar\ inkling of my reputation as a poet
from another Indian friend. Therefore, when in the
course of conversation he expressed a desire to see
some of my poems, I handed him my manuscript
 with some diffidence, I could hardly believe the
opinion he expressed after going through it. Hea-

thenmade over the manuscript to Yeats. The story

*of what followed is known to you.
Soon after this, Tagore's poetic genius was globally
acclaimed and he was honoured with the Nobel Prize
for Literature in 1913.
1
The' English Gitanjali (Song "'Offerings) was first
published in November 1912. It contained 103 poems,
Gitanjali 53, Naivedya 17, (Nos. 89 and 90 came as one),
Gitimahjii 15, The Klieya 11, Sisu 3 and one each from
Achalayatan, Chaitali, Kalpana, Smaran, Utsarga.
Throughout his life Rothenstein preserved the first
notebook of Tagore's translation with extreme care,
while the second notebook remained with the poet
himself. Tagore scholars worldwide, however, affirm the
firstnotebook to be the pioneer, it is in the Houghton
Library of Harvard University among the Rothenstein
papers. This book aims at providing the admirers of
Tagore with that invaluable first source-manuscript of
Gitanjali (Song Offerings).

31 January, 2009 . Abhik Kumar Dey

I
 INDEX OF FIRST LINES

Art thou abroad on this stormy night 91

At this time of my parting 85

By all means they try to Kold me secure 75

Clouds heap upon clouds and it darkens 21

Day after day, Oh lord of my life, stand

shall I 123
Deliverance is not for me in renunciation 129

Early in the day it was whispered 11$

Pver in my life have 1 sought thee 65

Hast thou not heard his silent steps 113

He came and sat by my side 97
He, whom I enclose with my name 69

I am here to sing thee songs 31

I am like remnant of a cloud of autumn
ft 161
1 am only waiting for love to give myself 77
1 ask for a moment's indulgence 81
1 dive down into the depth of the ocean of forms 1

1 have got my leave. Bid me farewell 87

1 have had rriv invitation in this world festival 95
I know not from what distant time 33
1 know not thou singest, my master 105
how
1 know thee as my God and stand apart 47
I must launch out mv boat 89
1 thought I should ask of thee 159,
1 thought that my voyage was at its end 169
1 was not aware of the moment 145
 Xv::

el-

I went abegging from door fo door 155

I willdeck thee with trophy-garland 13
if it is not my portion to meet thee 25
If thou speakest not I will fill my heart 43
hi one salu tation to thee, my lord 73
In the deep shadow of the rainy July 23
Is it beyond thee to be glad with the gladness 35
Tt is he, the innermost one 79 '

Tt is the pang of severance 93 *

Langour is in thy heart and the slumber is still on 109

Leave this chanting and singing 61
Let'all the strains of joy minlge in my las^ song 171
Let me
never lose hold of hope, 147
Let only that little remain of me 67
Life of my life, I shall ever try 139
Light, my light, the world-filling light 1X9
Lights oh where is the light?. 103

More life, my lord,, yet more 121

Mother, I shall weave a chain of pearls 165
My desires i*rc many and my cry is pitiful 15

No more noisy loud words from me 9

O fool, to try to carry thyself 51

O thou the last fulfilment of life57
On many an idle day have 125 1 grieved
On the day thou bfeakst through this my name 71
On the day when death will knock at thy door 55
On the day when the lotus bloomed 83
On the seashore of endless worlds children meet 1
:

Pluck this little flower and take it 45

That 1 should make much of myself 107

That 1 want thee, only thee 167
The day is no more, the shadow is upon the earth 27

^^^^^^^^^^^^^
The day was when I did riot keep myself 131
The night darkened. Our day's works had been done 157^
•
The rain has held back for days and days 143
The game stream of life that courses through my veins 127
The sleep that flits on baby's eyes 175
The time of my journey is, vast 101
There is thv footstool and there rest 53
This is my, delight, thus to wait and watch 6
This is my prayer to thee, my lord 151
v

Thou art the sky and thou art the nest as well 141
Thou hast made me endless 11
Thou hast made known to me friends whom I knew not 17
Thus it is that thy joy in me is so full, ^9
Thy gifts to us mortals fulfil all our needs 135
Thy rod of justice thou hast given to everyman 1 37
Time is endless in thy hands, my lord^ 133

Whatdivine drink wouldst thou have, my God 49

When first they came out, the warriors 63
When 1 bring to thee coloured toys, my child 177
When I give up the helm 99
When I lelve from hence let this beVny parting word 19
W hen my play was with
r never questioned 41
thee I

When the creation was new and all the stars shone 163
When the heart is hard and parched up 39
When thou commandest me to sing 115
Where dost thou stand behind them all 153
Where the mind is without fear 149

Yes, know, this is nothing but thy love 29

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You came doyvn from your throne 37

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