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Kadambari Devi

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A photograph of Kadambari Devi

Kadambari Devi (5 July 1859 – 21 April 1884) was the wife of Jyotirindranath Tagore and daughter-in-law of Debendranath Tagore. She was ten years younger than her husband, whom she married on 5 July 1868 (২৫শে আষাঢ়, ১২৭৫ বঙ্গাব্দ), at the age of nine. Her husband arranged for her to be educated.[1] She was nearly the same age as her brother-in-law Rabindranath Tagore, being only two years older than him.[2]

She inspired young Rabindranath in composing many of his poems with her creative feedback and comments. She was also a good friend and playmate. She was one of the women who played a very important part in his life. Her relationship with Tagore was controversial and had elements of tragedy.

Jnanadanandini Devi, Satyendranath Tagore, Kadambari Devi and Jyotirindranath Tagore (1867)
Face of a woman, inspired by Kadambari Devi,[3] by Rabindranath Tagore. Ink on paper. National Gallery of Modern Art, New Delhi

For reasons that are not known, she committed suicide on 21 April 1884,[4] four months after Rabindranath Tagore married. The Tagore family always remained silent about her suicide. Rumours of family problems having led to her suicide have circulated. Allegedly, she wrote a letter before her death revealing her husband's affair but again, there was no one to prove. After Kadambari Devi's death, Rabindranath was completely broken. For a long time after her death, he wrote many songs and poems in her memory.

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References

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  1. ^ Ahmed, Wakil (2012). "Tagore, Jyotirindranath". In Islam, Sirajul; Jamal, Ahmed A. (eds.). Banglapedia: National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh (Second ed.). Asiatic Society of Bangladesh.
  2. ^ Mallika Sengupta, Kobir Bouthan & Tamal Ghosh, Kadambari, 432 pp., (A novel), Ujjwal Sahitya Mandir, College St. Kolkata
  3. ^ Som, Reba (2010). Rabindranath Tagore: The Singer and His Song. Viking. pp. 144–145. ISBN 978-0-670-08248-3. OL 23720201M.
  4. ^ Tamal Ghosh. Kadambari. Ujjwal Sahitya Mandir. p. 432.
  5. ^ http://epaper.prajavani.net
  6. ^ "Chhelebela will capture the poet's childhood". rediff.com. Retrieved 25 February 2020.
  7. ^ "Tagore or touch-him-not". The Times of India. Retrieved 1 March 2020.
  8. ^ "Celebrating Tagore". The Hindu. 7 August 2013. Retrieved 1 March 2020.
  9. ^ Banerjee, Kathakali (12 January 2017). "Kadambari explores Tagore and his sis-in-law's relationship responsibly". Times of India. Retrieved 15 October 2018.
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