Today was the 146th birth anniversary of Rabindranath Tagore.
Here is Amartya Sen’s essay on Tagore and his India.
The above sketch is by Satyajit Ray.
Moushumi has recorded some lovely Rabindrasangeet here, including Aaj Jyotsna Raate, Amar Raat Pohalo, and Bhenge Mor Gharer Chaabi.
“Our opinion is that there ought not to be rule of foreigners in India…”
from a letter written by Lakshmibai to the Raja of Banpur (via)
Jhansi’s Lakshmibai…
Tera Smarak tu hi hogi, tu khud amit nishaani thi,
Bundeley Harbolon key munh hamney suni kahani thi,
Khoob ladi mardani woh to Jhansi wali Rani thi.
(full text and translation of Subhadra Kumari Chauhan’s poem here)
and Jhalkari Bai.
Radio Gaga: Patrick Moore thinks that women have ruined the Beeb, so he would like to see two separate channels, one run by women and the other by men.
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Yes, children, there was a time when women didn’t go into space! In those days, when women astronauts were referred to as “98 pounds of recreational equipment”, these 13 women trained as astronauts but weren’t sent into space.
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And in New Zealand, 640 women have volunteered their time and effort to build two Habitat for Humanity homes.
