Kadambari Devi

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A photograph of Kadambari Devi

Kadambari Devi (5 July 1859 – 21 April 1884) was the wife of Jyotirindranath Tagore and daughter-in-law of Debendranath Tagore. She was ten years younger than her husband, whom she married on 5 July 1868 (২৫শে আষাঢ়, ১২৭৫ বঙ্গাব্দ), at the age of nine. Her husband arranged for her to be educated.[1] She was nearly the same age as her brother-in-law Rabindranath Tagore, being only two years older than him.[2]

She inspired young Rabindranath in composing many of his poems with her creative feedback and comments. She was also a good friend and playmate. She was one of the women who played a very important part in his life. Her relationship with Tagore was controversial and had elements of tragedy.

Jnanadanandini Devi, Satyendranath Tagore, Kadambari Devi and Jyotirindranath Tagore (1867)
Face of a woman, inspired by Kadambari Devi,[3] by Rabindranath Tagore. Ink on paper. National Gallery of Modern Art, New Delhi

For reasons that are not known, she committed suicide on 21 April 1884,[4] four months after Rabindranath Tagore married. The Tagore family always remained silent about her suicide. Rumours of family problems having led to her suicide have circulated. After Kadambari Devi's death, Rabindranath was completely broken. For a long time after her death, he wrote many songs and poems in her memory.

In popular culture[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Ahmed, Wakil (2012). "Tagore, Jyotirindranath". In Islam, Sirajul; Jamal, Ahmed A. (eds.). Banglapedia: National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh (Second ed.). Asiatic Society of Bangladesh.
  2. ^ Mallika Sengupta, Kobir Bouthan & Tamal Ghosh, Kadambari, 432 pp., (A novel), Ujjwal Sahitya Mandir, College St. Kolkata
  3. ^ Som, Reba (2010). Rabindranath Tagore: The Singer and His Song. Viking. pp. 144–145. ISBN 978-0-670-08248-3. OL 23720201M.
  4. ^ Tamal Ghosh. Kadambari. Ujjwal Sahitya Mandir. p. 432.
  5. ^ http://epaper.prajavani.net
  6. ^ "Chhelebela will capture the poet's childhood". rediff.com. Retrieved 25 February 2020.
  7. ^ "Tagore or touch-him-not". The Times of India. Retrieved 1 March 2020.
  8. ^ "Celebrating Tagore". The Hindu. 7 August 2013. Retrieved 1 March 2020.
  9. ^ Banerjee, Kathakali (12 January 2017). "Kadambari explores Tagore and his sis-in-law's relationship responsibly". Times of India. Retrieved 15 October 2018.

External links[edit]