The Play

Young Rabindranath, barely in his early teens, while walking down a winding red clay country road in the village of Bhubandanga, heard these lines from a stray folk singer, that stayed with him for the rest of his life. The lyrics mean something like this

How does this strange bird easily come and go…

Sometimes she’s inside the cage, sometimes out…

If only I could get my hands on that bird…

I’d sure try to tie her down, at least in my mind….

Rabindranath perhaps can be compared to that bird – who can not be tied within the finite boundaries of space and time, but one who can easily stay afloat in the sky, walk on the grainy soils on the earth, and dip in the depth of a bottomless ocean – with equal zeal and comfort.

Rabindranath not only assimilated the complete Indian literary universe of Upanishad, Kalidasa, Vaishnab Padabali, and all in his writings – but also embraced the world literature and philosophy like none before or after. Among the Indian poets and intellectuals, Rabindranath was at once a true Indian to the core, while he was also a world poet with no specific boundaries of country, religion or culture. Rabindranath was equally at ease with Classic English literature as he was with authentic Indian classics and contemporary writings, as well as regional and colloquial nuances of deep interior villages of rural India. Rabindranath was also a superb composer and genius lyricist creating more than 2000 compositions that are simultaneously classical, traditional as well as contemporary – creating a new unique genre of music that holds its own place among the rich and varied Indian musical diaspora. Rabindranath not only imbibed deep metaphysical and spiritual messages of Hindu philosophy as expressed in the Vedas and Upanishad, but also incorporated simple folklores and metaphors that touched the hearts and minds of rural Bengal and India.

Rabindranath was at one stroke a philosopher, a poet, an artist, a foresighted genius who transcended time and place and all boundaries of humankind. His international outlook on life and quest for free expression and spiritual liberation throughout his life was the main ingredient for his creativity. Time and again he said – “I belong to the humankind, religion of human spirit is my only religion”. Although Rabindranath wrote principally in Bengali, but he never wrote only for Bengal. Within the Bengali framework he upheld Indian philosophies and nationalism to the core, and deep within that his message was clearly universal and eternal.

‘A Humble Offering’, is our humble tribute to this myriad minded genius – Rabindranath Tagore.

The Acts

Upcoming Spring/Summer performances in Houston, Dallas, Raleigh, Chicago, and more. Dates and venues to be announced. 

Tickets are available through our booking office at 773.701.5437, Monday thru Friday 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM CST.