Who is the author of the famous book 'Gitanjali'?
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: A
Explanation
Correct Answer
Rabindranath Tagore
Explanation
The famous book 'Gitanjali' (Song Offerings) was written by the legendary polymath, poet, and philosopher Rabindranath Tagore. Originally composed in the Bengali language and published in 1910, it is a profound collection of deeply spiritual and devotional poems.
Tagore translated these poems into English prose, which was published in London in 1912 with an introduction by the famous Irish poet William Butler Yeats. For this masterful work, Rabindranath Tagore was awarded the prestigious Nobel Prize in Literature in 1913, making him the very first non-European and first Asian to win a Nobel Prize.
Key Points
The term 'Gitanjali' is derived from two Sanskrit words: Gita meaning song and Anjali meaning offering, translating literally to 'An Offering of Songs.' Apart from Gitanjali, Rabindranath Tagore is globally distinguished for composing the national anthems of two countries: 'Jana Gana Mana' for India and 'Amar Shonar Bangla' for Bangladesh. He also founded the historic Visva-Bharati University in Santiniketan, West Bengal.
Important Questions and Answers
Question: In which specific year was Rabindranath Tagore honored with the Nobel Prize in Literature for his English translation of Gitanjali?
Answer: 1913.
Question: Which prominent Western poet wrote the comprehensive and highly appreciative introduction for the English edition of Gitanjali published in 1912?
Answer: William Butler Yeats (W. B. Yeats).