Lecture Notes on Rabindranath Tagore's Poem Abhisara (The Tryst)

Introduction to Rabindranath Tagore

• Renowned Indian Bengali poet, short story writer, song composer, playwright, essayist, and painter.
• Recognized as a Bengali polymath: a man of great learning and wisdom.
• Although Tagore excelled in all literary genres, he is primarily celebrated as a poet.

Overview of the Poem

• Title: Abhisara translates to "The Tryst."
• Written in Bengali in 1899 and published in the collection Kotha Okahini.
• Translated into English for the collection Fruit Gathering (86 translated poems).
• Theme of the Poem: Values of love and compassion found in unexpected persons under unusual circumstances.

Key Characters

• Upagupta:

  • A Buddhist monk, disciple of Buddha, living in 300 BCE.
  • Represents spiritual pursuit.
  • Lives a life of meditation and renunciation.

• Vasavadatta:

  • A dancing girl adorned with jewels and represents materialistic values.
  • Encounters Upagupta under unusual circumstances.

Main Themes

1. Love and Compassion:

   • Exhibited during the meetings between Upagupta and Vasavadatta.

2. Transitoriness of Youth, Beauty, and Wealth:

   • Emphasizes the impermanence of materialistic things.

Setting

• The poem is set in Mathura, with contrasting settings in two parts:
  • Part 1: Dark, rainy season of August.
  • Part 2: Bright, spring season of April, symbolizing joy and hope.

Summary of Events

• First Meeting:

  • Vasavadatta stumbles over Upagupta during the dark night.
  • Upagupta responds with compassion despite her wealth and beauty.

• Second Meeting:

  • A year later, Vasavadatta lies abandoned due to illness (smallpox).
  • Upagupta cares for her, highlighting the theme of compassion.

Symbolism

• Light and Darkness:
  • Initial darkness symbolizes ignorance of true beauty (Vasavadatta).
  • Bright sun in the second part contrasts with Vasavadatta’s despair.
• Dust:
  • Represents simplicity and humility of Upagupta.

Literary Devices

• Alliteration:
  • Examples include "tinkling with anklets," "light from a woman's lamp."
• Imagery:
  • Visual imagery depicting the contrasting conditions of the characters.
• Personification:
  • The night and storm are personified to illustrate emotional turmoil.

Conclusion

• Tagore's poem captures deep philosophical insights about life, love, and the inevitability of change.
• Justification of the title:
  • Reflects the rendezvous between Upagupta and Vasavadatta, despite their differing life paths.

Study Questions

1. Justification of the title.
2. Character analysis of Upagupta.
3. Character sketch of Vasavadatta.
4. The two different ways of living as depicted in the poem.

Preparation:

• Students should read the poem thoroughly for understanding and prepare subjective answers.