 Like other great poets and writers, Tagore’s work knows no boundaries and is more often prophetic.
"The world today is wild with the delirium of hatred,
the conflicts are cruel and unceasing inanguish,
crooked are its paths, tangled its bonds of greed.
All creatures are crying for a new birth of thine"
(Natir Puja)
Another of his poem is "The Sunset of the Century", originally written on the last day of the nineteenth century .This is also prophetic in its vision of the wars which have since harrowed the world without a respite.
"The last sun of the century sets amidst the blood-red clouds of the west and the whirl-wind of hatred.
The naked passion of self-love of Nations, in its drunken delirium of greed, is dancing to the clash of steel and the howling verses of vengeance,
The hungry self of the Nation shall burst in a violence of fury from its own shameless feeding.
For it has made the world its feed."
(Written on 31st December, 1899)
Tagore’s internationalism, his universal range of sympathies, his fine blending of Asiatic and European, and ancient and modern cultures are his claims for future remembrance. Tagore was a Bengali and the Bengalis have always honoured him as Visva - Kabi (World Poet). His fine mastery of the English language will continue to inspire writers and poets of the West and the world at large. His work is a testament that will always be treasured and he will be remembered as one of the world's greatest international writers. Tagore’s legacy lives on.
“May the mortal bonds perish,
May the vast Universe take him into air,
And may he know in his fearless heart
The Great Unknown"
(Sesh Lekha)
(Tagore had requested this poem of his to be sung at his memorial service. This wish was carried out at the service held at Santiniketan on the evening of 7th August 1941)
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