IN THE LAND OF TAGORE

Santiniketan in West Bengal is the vision of the great social reformer, Rabindranath Tagore. ANUBHUTI KRISHNA travels to this far-flung land for a taste of its discreet charm.

- ANUBHUTI KRISHNA

“STEP OUT OF YOUR small little self, feel your pulse beat to the rhythm of this world wide and wondrous.” The opening lines of one of Rabindranath Tagore’s famous poems call out to me from afar. Etched on a humble wall piece, under the outline of Tagore’s face, they seem to be describing my state of mind.

I am in Santiniketan on a bright December morning after a long journey that included a flight from Delhi, a layover in Kolkata, and an early morning train to Prantik, a tiny railway station that feeds the town of Santiniketan. My husband and I are the only people to get off at the empty, two platform station that could very well belong in a Byomkesh Bakshi story. Just like in the stories, we too find our ride outside the station, to driver Nobi-da who has been sent to fetch us. He hasn’t seen us before but recognises us nevertheless. In less than five minutes we are on our way to our friend Nayana’s place that is to be our home here.

I was supposed to come to Santiniketan 20 years ago. My father wanted me to study at the Visva-Bharati University (visvabharati.ac.in), the beating heart of Santiniketan. I, on the other hand, wasn’t convinced. Santiniketan, according to me, was not a place where a modern woman was supposed to spend her best years. Ironically, even though I did not want to move here, Santiniketan has always intrigued me. It has taken me 20 years but I am finally here. The catalysts for my trip are Nayana, a friend whose beautiful home I could not resist, and Poush Mela, the annual craft fair that has been on my list for years.