The Kuthibari, built-in Shilaidaha, Kushtia, in Bangladesh, bears the footprints of literature, architecture and the cultural legacy of Bengal. The popular name of this red brick building is 'Tagore Lodge' as it was Rabindranath Tagore's summer house when he was at the peak of his writing career. It is not just a structure associated with Tagore's writings and creative works. It also holds the socio-cultural narrations of the rural belt of Bengal in the last decades of the 18th and early 19th centuries.
The Background of Kuthibari
The estate at Shilaidaha was given to Rabindranath Tagore by his family, who purchased it to manage their zamindari activities. Kuthibari was built in the late 1800s with the specific aim of being a family retreat for Tagore's relatives on the estates located in this region. A dual purpose for Kuthibari was to enable Tagore to manage his estates while also providing him with a retreat away from Kolkata and then Calcutta.
Such was the Kuthibari experience, which was Tagore's lifelong perspective. He began residing in Kuthibari from 1890 to 1901, again returning to the place for parts of his work, specifically some of the portions of the Gitanjali, which eventually won the Nobel Prize for its composer. As a result, Kuthibari turned out to be the birthplace of many of Tagore's poems, novels, and songs.
Major Characteristics of Kuthibari
The mansion is a breathtaking display of colonial architecture, blending elements of Bengal and Western styles. Its vast structure, crafted from red bricks, houses numerous rooms, expansive porches, and large windows that offer panoramic views of the Padma River and the surrounding flora and fauna. The high walls, angular wooden staircases, and spacious balconies provide a perfect setting for Tagore's art, offering both beauty and practicality.
Today, Kuthibari stands as a museum, a living tribute to Tagore's life and work. Visitors can step into the very rooms where Tagore lived and worked and explore his personal effects, including letters and photographs from his years in the Shilaidaha region.
Tagore at Kuthibari
Tagore's bond with Kuthibari goes hand in hand with his work as a history writer. Other than overseeing his family's estates, he formed close ties with the local inhabited region. Akif's rich depictions of the landscapes of the Padma River and the quiet countryside affected his writers' imagination to a great extent.
It was at Kuthibari where Tagore composed a significant portion of his stories, songs, and, most notably, his poems. The tranquil countryside, the serene Padma River, and the quiet surroundings deeply influenced his imagination, leading to the creation of many of his works that vividly depict nature and divine concepts. The time he spent alone at this place was instrumental in shaping his views about relationships with people, nature, and the self, and these views are reflected in his works.
Kuthibari Today: A Living Heritage
The Bangladesh government has taken steps to conserve Kuthibari's building as a museum and a site of national importance as it has cultural and historical significance. Every year, many visitors, from foreign tourists and scholars to Tagore followers, come to Kuthibari with a desire to see the place which the eminent writer Rabindranath Tagore called "The Grandfather of Artistic Activities". Many celebrations take place there, including the inauguration of various art projects related to Tagore's universality, as well as events dedicated to September 04th.
Kuthibari, January 09th, Tagore 1861-1941, is the place where everyone devoted themselves to their art. Not an art writer or poet, Tagore was a master of many genres. Kuthibari was created to write Kirtans and songs, a collection that Tagore presented to the world. The life of Tagore is revealed in all its beauty at that time.
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