Rabindranath Tagore's Abode In Shillong

(The above picture is of the house in Shillong where Rabindranath Tagore lived in the year 1923 )

At the time when country is celebrating Nobel Laureate Kabiguru Rabindranath Tagore's 150th Birth Anniversary ,the news of demolition of Sidhli house(click here) shocked many.It was his abode during his last visit to Shillong in 1927 where he penned two of his most important work(novel Yogayug and the poems Susamay and Debrdau). It was surprising and very upsetting that our Govt had failed to identify and preserve the site of this historical importance.This was the only house which i had not seen in my past visits to Shillong.This time i made it a point to revisit the other two houses where he stayed and penned many dramas,songs and poems.I would like to share few pictures and few facts about Kabiguru's stay in Shillong.Shillong was a place very close to Guruji's hear-it showed in his master peace novel Shesher Kobita.He visited this beautiful hill station thrice in his life time.

Kabiguru visited Shillong first in the year 1919.He stayed in Brookside Complex a house near Rilbong area. He began writing his famous novel Shesher Kobita here. The poet had written a few short write-ups — Ekti Chauni and Ekti Din — and made a few English translations. during this period.The poet came here with eldest son Rathindranath Tagore, daughter-in-law Pratima Devi, singer Debendranath Tagore, his wife Kamala Devi, the poet’s biographer Provat Kumar Mukhopadhya and the poet’s personal assistant Sadhu Charan..This house has been declared as Rabinranath Art Gallery .The landscape surrounding the structure will be protected with technical assistance from Victoria Memorial Hall, Kolkata. .Jeet Bhoomi was his next abode during his second visit to Shillong in 1923.This house is a private property and is very well maintained.We had a brief chat with the landlady and with her kind permission i clicked the first two pictures you see in this post.He stayed here for a month and penned his famous drama Raktakorobi(Red Oleander) and the poem Shillonger-Chithi (The Letter From Shillong). The natural beauty of this pristine hill station finds an expression in this poem.(The placard below is about Kabiguru's stay in Brookside Complex in 1919 ).

The Sidhil House was Kabiguruji's third abode in Shillong during his last visit in 1927.It was demolished by the owner recently.A delegate visited and interacted with the owner of the house .The stone plaque at the demolished will be preserved by the owner. 'Here lived Rabindranath Tagore in May and June 1927.His novel Yogayug and the poems Susamay and Debdaru were written here'....the plaque read.I will try to visit this site hopefully in my next visit to Shillong.