By Stuti Bahnot (Special Mention3)

Rabindranath Tagore was a renowned Bengali poet, song composer, essayist and short story writer who is credited with the introduction of various new prose and verse forms of poetry in India and the rest of the world. His collection of poems, called Gitanjali, loosely translating to ‘an offering of songs’ earned him the honour of winning him a Nobel Prize in Literature in 1913, making him the first non-European person ever to receive the same. 
The collection of poems which form Gitanjali seem to be deceptively simple at first glance, but reveal the shocking depths of their meanings upon closer observation. The innumerable metaphorical resonances within these poems and their uncountable layers which are gradually revealed one by one all only serve to highlight the beauty of Tagore’s unique writing style. 
Gitanjali is a piece of art which can be interpreted in various different ways. It is timeless and it’s astounding to see that it has not lost, but has beautifully retained, its relevance over time. Tagore’s collection places emphasis on love, devotion and respect. Gitanjali intertwines physical intimacy, carnal desires, the intangible emotion of love, as well as respect for the Almighty or some Higher Power in a way such that all of these things attain a higher and respectable status, and are viewed as something deep and profound. 
While what the past generation took away from this book was the beauty of placing utmost trust in God, showing devotion to Him and having faith in Him, the takeaway for the current generation would revolve more around the beauty of love, the importance of loving one’s own self, and of accepting love in every form shape and form. 
Considering the sudden spread of terms such as ‘athiest’ and ‘agnostic’,  this new generation does not put much of its faith in the hands of The Almighty; instead they prefer to hold and keep the reins of the saddle that is their life safely in their own hands. 
Tagore’s work gives us a much needed reminder of the need to have faith in fate; whether or not we believe in it is a completely different matter. Personally, I would hate to leave things up to someone else. In that respect, and I feel like the majority of this current generation will agree with me, we probably can’t relate to Gitanjali at all. 
However, the nature of this book is such that it has something for everyone from every walk of life. Everyone can learn something from this inspiring book. The learning may not be what Rabindranath Tagore originally wanted to convey, but surprisingly, this book has not lost its meaning and relevance over time. Without changing so much as a comma, the book has adapted itself to the mindset of the current generation. The credit for that goes equally to the genius that was Rabindranath Tagore, as well as the power of imagination and interpretation that today’s youth possesses. 
To conclude, I would like to place emphasis on the fact that our real learnings from Tagore’s collection of books should be to learn to imbibe within ourselves the feelings of love and respect that he so beautifully expresses in his poems. After all, it is not words in solitary confinement that are memorable, but the essence that emerges when these words are put together to form a work of literature as meaningful as Gitanjali. 

By Anmol Raina (Special Mention 2)

“I have got my leave. Bid me farewell, my brothers! I bow to you all and take my
departure.” He may have passed on in 1941, but his words have stood the test of time.
Rabindranath Tagore has left us a legacy of wisdom and he is still remembered as one of
the greatest poets who ever lived.
It is its rich polyphony, its multiple possibilities that makes The Gitanjali so endearing to
people from all walks of life. For many, it is a collection of aphorisms of love, the
ultimate anesthetization of the erotic. For others it is the philosophy of the highest order,
echoing the cosmic truth of the Upanishads.
Tagore has left us with many learning, especially for the youth of India. Tagore placed in
great sharp focus the issues of nationalism, patriotism, communalism and the misuses of
religion and culture. Tagore’s entire life – his prolific writings in English and Bengali;
one can say he was particular about being bilingual – was in his search for unity, what he
referred to as Creative Unity. The seminal contribution of Tagore in dealing with culture,
not as dissonance and violence but as Unity is the innate connection he sees to nature.
Tagore’s genius was in not only keeping all these associations but also searching for the
unity in these associations.
He shares a key message on being grateful and hopeful, something that is lacking in
today’s divisive world. The kind of liberalism he practised must be read to understand the
process of rising above the ongoing regressive nationalism in the country. Most of
Rabindranath’s writings seek to instil a faith designed not by religious doctrine but
spiritual guidance that governs the flowering of the mind-destroying prejudiced beliefs
along with the malpractices of casteism, communal hatred, and misogyny.
A future that our children, their children and grandchildren can inherit, a future of peace
and inter-communal living, a future of co-existence with nature and other human beings,

a future of rich cultural diversity, acceptance of each other’s culture can be greatly helped
by going back to the genius and creativity of Rabindranath Tagore.

By Gaurangi Chopra (Special Mention 1)

GEETANJALI(A garland of flowers given as an offering)~ more essentially offers all the possible human and spiritual values a person needs, to be in harmony with him/herself, with the society, and with the universe at large. It’s so inestimably obscure that we ignore the aspect of life which is most important for sustenance, unconditional love and least expectation. Tagore’s emotions have been distorted into various verses wherein he acquaints the readers with the essence of acknowledging the essence of the Divine and Supreme as our guiding force and simultaneously enunciating that his life futile without having established an unearthly equation with the Almighty. All in all, a whole new civilization, immeasurably strange to us, seems to have been taken up into this imagination.

Geetanjali is a testimony to Tagore’s vast corpus of drama and novels, poetry and songs, criticism and philosophy and the ways in which these excerpts can be translated, received and experienced know no bounds. 

Where in life has bias not been operative, something lost in translation, the other reconceived in our own terms? The miracle is not the fact that simple things happen in a simple way; it is simple things arising in the midst of chaos and taken apart, taken apart but then put back together again. Geetanjali is, I think, a meeting point of East and West, Hindu and Christian, potent in an age of disenchantment but also beyond it.

 Geetanjali focuses on the all-pervading presence of God and brings its readers into direct contact with the Infinite. Gitanjali proclaims that God is neither an abstraction, nor an incarnation, but an ever-present force and an all-pervasive influence. He is to be seen in the various forms of nature including humans.

I’ll like to pull out and translate one of the excerpts which not only appealed to me the most but also helped me widen my horizons and look at life from an altered perspective:

“Ah, what a kingly jest was it to open Your palm to a beggar to beg! I was confused and stood undecided, and then from my wallet I slowly took out the least little grain of corn and gave it to You.

But how great my surprise when at the day’s end I emptied my bag on the floor to find a least little grain of gold among the poor heap.

I bitterly wept and wished that I had had the heart to give You my all.”

Tagore here, has highlighted the essence of altruism in an exceedingly beautiful way and puts forth how a small act of caring creates an endless ripple. All the good that we do only has a multiplier effect, to say the least and that God rewards fair intentions sooner or later. Belief and Hope is the crux of whatever we seek to aspire and dream. Although not explicitly expressed in the verse, it is inherent that Tagore wants to drive home the message that at the end of the day, Happiness is nothing large or looming on the horizon, but something already here: The smile of someone we love, a good breakfast, simple pleasures like stargazing and most essentially, the feeling of satisfaction we procure when our parents are beaming with pride because of it.

I’ll like to put it this way:

“Do not try to swallow the night sky, the stars are already in you. Didn’t you wonder how, even after all the chaos, you were left glowing?”

In Gitanjali, Tagore has managed to capture the entire essence of life and what is needed to sustain the same in an appreciable way. He uses ‘Nature’ as an effective tool to connect with the masses and has incorporated lessons from the natural world almost everywhere to let us know how much nature alone, has to offer to us. Just like the lofty skies and scorched earth never carry they flaws as reparations and the moon remains the fairest of them all, despite her scars, we humans are capable of so much magic with heart within and God overhead.

By Smriti Pahwa

Time passes. Old people die and young babies are born. Leaves turn green, yellow, shed off and then turn green again. The show always goes on.Humans’ lifestyle, their houses, transport, fashion, looks – everything changes with time. But our very essential nature, thoughts and the way our mind works always remains the same.The existence of a supernatural power ‘God’, with whom everyone is connected, is the biggest reality of human life.Our relationship with the all-powerful is very pure and precious. One can’t share it expressly with anyone else. That feeling of connect, support, faith, happiness and content is unique and special beyond anything else.But when it comes to today’s generation, it has become an altogether different story. It has become very rare to find a heart with such feelings and experience within. They think from their brains. Find logic in everything. Want a justification for every emotion. There is so much of stress, competition and struggle in life. The feelings of selfishness, jealousy, being money minded and even the ‘Why do I care’ attitude is as prevalent as air. So many masks a person wears everyday. They want one thing from their heart, and do an altogether different thing. This fills them with discontent. To come over this, they seek enjoyment in the form of shopping, movies and trips. There is no doubt that such things are needed to create a balance in life. But these are not the correct solutions to the problem at hand. Sometimes, just one simple thing needs to be done. Sit, relax and talk to yourself. Do what is right. Know what you want. This connect with one’s inner self soothes and guides the person. The true force behind this is the all-powerful. The lack of this realisation among the youth has led to the run for money and luxuries.It’s time they realize their true nature and source of happiness.Branded clothes, big bungalows, air conditioned private schools, name and fame – the new driving force of peoples’ lives. They study for it, they work for it and they make friends and establish connections for it. It needs to be known that all this is temporary and secondary. Many a times people engage themselves so much in a particular happening, a joy or a sorrow, that the rest of their life stops. It must be understood that life is unlimited. So much can be done. Why give so much impetus to just one thing? Life offers many opportunities. One must learn to move on and focus ahead. Today, with instances of suicides on account of stress, competition and depression on the rise, the youngsters should be motivated and taught to handle and manage their lives the right way.Many millennials argue that they don’t believe in the very concept of God, and everything associated with him, idolatry, prayers, hymns, Prasad and donations are false and senseless. This makes them averse to religious places too.And the ones that pray, do so because of the fear of God. They don’t want to upset him, or he will be angry and not fulfil their wishes ever. This is the bitter reality. Both are just extremes.If nothing else, God can be considered as a friend, a source of support. One will always get positivity from him. He is a good listener. Even if one just expresses his sadness and problems to him, one can feel loads better. The path becomes clear on its own. There may be a delay, but definitely a way.Whenever one asks for something from someone, the first thought which crosses their mind is, ‘What will I get in return?’. For one’s own interest, which is always ‘the priority’, one always tries that he has to give the minimum, to get the maximum. If one gets something, he will surely be happy. But the joy of seeing happiness and satisfaction on the face of the receiver when one gives him something, is transcendental. Everyone has experienced this, yet they wish to be at the receiving end only, maybe because this is where logic comes in and stops them from offering to others.It is common nowadays to be so engaged in one’s own routine tasks and problems, that many people fail to see the big picture of the world. Everyone has something to complain about. They were wronged or something was missing in their lives. But Tagore preaches that one should always feel grateful and blessed for whatever he has. This makes one feel more content and happy, as well as motivated to help others.Tagore says that there is priceless wealth in God. Still, today, some people value it in monetary terms. This is evident from donations, VIP darshan in temples, etc. People have actually started believing that the more they give to the temple, the happier God will be with them.People spend all their life making money. They wish to have all –  big houses, properties, businesses, jewellery, etc. To become rich, they are willing to compromise on their health, social and personal life. It is an increasing trend among the youth that they always think about job in a reputed company with a good package so that they can live comfortably in the future. There may be a few who resort to illegal or unethical acts for the same as well. While it’s not wrong to plan for the future, it’s crucial to appreciate that ultimately one takes nothing with him once he dies. So why not make life more worthwhile and wholesome by enjoying its colourful aspects? ‘ God could not be present everywhere. So he made a mother.’ I am sure every child is attached to his mother when he is young. Mother means the world to him. But as children grow up, become young adults and start the reins of their lives in their own hands, the role of mothers in their lives also starts disappearing. One starts fighting, arguing and even ignoring and sometimes does not even talk to one’s mother for long periods. It is essential that children extend to mothers their well deserved share of love and respect in every way possible. The things she does and even sacrifices to make her children successful are invaluable. But just staying and talking with her is the maximum she ever asks for and the least we can do for her.Tagore’s Gitanjali shares with the youth some universal attributes, which have been, are, and will always be true for every generation. He also makes known his relationship with God, which is special in its own way. It is not possible, and actually does not need to be, that everyone shares the same belief. One always makes his own relationships on his own terms, and something as pious and intimate as this, deserves a lot of self introspection, reflection, choice and faith by the millennials.

Book: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

Book review by: Stuti Bhanot

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button by F. Scott Fitzgerald is an interesting story with a bizarre twist on the concepts of age and time. It presents a unique perspective, different from the conventional way in which these two concepts are usually interpreted. In the story, Benjamin Button is born as an old man, and with time, he grows younger. The story describes how Benjamin lives his childhood as an old man, his youth as a middle-aged man, his middle age as a young man, and his old age as an infant. He lives his entire life in reverse, and hence faces a lot of problems throughout his life. Fitzgerald’s writing style makes it very easy to understand this complex concept, and makes the story an interesting and captivating read. All in all, this short story is a must read for anyone looking for a fresh insight into life.

Book: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

Book review by: Gaurangi Chopra

Gaurangi says,

” Time to break through the matrix, the pixie dust will now show its magic.” In this fantasy tale, F.Scott Fitzerald has successfully attempted to unfurl a riot of emotions in the readers by weaving anomaly, despair, anticipation, intrusiveness and magic with words, alongside delving into the world of alternate reality and enabling people to envision things from an exceedingly altered perspective. The author puts forth the story of Benjamin, who born under unusual circumstances, springs into being an elderly man and ages backwards, thereby making the readers introspect if this is what made his life worthwhile. In his life, the hollowness and physical lassitude which comes to pass with adulthood, precedes the innocence, agility, well-being and the emotional ebullience of childhood. Button’s nuanced character juggling melancholy and hope, sometimes all at once, is marked by a wistful realisation of an inevitable end dawning upon him. The story invariably talks about the exploration of life, death, the realms of human connectivity and the enduring power of love which overhang’s Button’s life.  From graduating at fifty in actuality, to living a life completely opposed to adherence of societal norms, and somehow managing to make things fall in place despite the regressive views and beliefs of the world overhanging his life, Button’s story has managed to have an indelible impact on every single person acquainted with his tale. It beautifully explains how life is all about embracing the uncertainty and it is completely okay to not fit in when you were born to Stand out.

Book: The Curious case of Benjamin button

Book review by: *Ishana Vats*

Fitzgerald Francis Scott draws the reader into the story of the life of
Benjamin Button , a seventy year old, new-born into the family of Mr.
and Mrs. Roger Buttons. It narrates Benjamin’s life which mysteriously
begins aging backwards. The irony highlighted is that, as he grows
older, his body gets younger and younger , becoming more efficient
but after a certain point, his skills start debilitating ending up in a crib.
Living his life fetched the protagonist certain advantages but at the
same time he was considered an outcast as he didn’t fit into the
societal norms. An interesting novel which is impossible to put down,
setting a high standard for the literary fiction of the new decade.

Book: The curious case of Benjamin Button

Book review by : *Tanya Jain*

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button by F. Scott Fitzgerald stands out in my imaginary library of books read in a lot of ways.
Having watched the movie adaptation before reading the book, I must admit, I enjoyed the movie more than the story itself and that is something I’ve never said about a book. Although, the book makes for a good read, and reading it was a pleasurable way to get through class, I still expected it to have more of “substance”. The plot was very gripping. But personally, I believe Mr. Fitzgerald could have been much more creative with the narrative. 
Nevertheless, the book gave me a lot to think about. Benjamin Button lives a unique life. Born looking and feeling like a seventy-year-old man, his “childhood” is a struggle in itself. With his father refusing to accept the reality that is his son’s backward life, Benjamin must obey his father’s orders to act his own age, even though it seems impossible for him to do so. It is amusing how Benjamin, in age a toddler, gets along better with his grandfather, than children his own age.
However, as he grows younger physically and mentally, but older in years, life seems to get easier for Benjamin, leading the reader to think that life may not be as unfair to Benjamin as it seems. Though ridiculed by people in a lot of instances, it is found that Benjamin is still able to experience just about everything that a normal person could, only backwards. He gets married to the woman he falls in love with, has children, is successful in growing his father’s business, and is also able to attend a prestigious university. He even experiences the stage of infancy, which is ultimately his last few days on earth.
In conclusion, Mr. Fitzgerald cleverly knits together the course of a rather unusual life. However, the reader still wishes for more insights and a deeper understanding into the astonishing life of Benjamin Button.

Book: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button.

Book review by: *Stuti Bhanot*

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button by F. Scott Fitzgerald is an interesting story with a bizarre twist on the concepts of age and time. It presents a unique perspective, different from the conventional way in which these two concepts are usually interpreted. In the story, Benjamin Button is born as an old man, and with time, he grows younger. The story describes how Benjamin lives his childhood as an old man, his youth as a middle-aged man, his middle age as a young man, and his old age as an infant. He lives his entire life in reverse, and hence faces a lot of problems throughout his life. Fitzgerald’s writing style makes it very easy to understand this complex concept, and makes the story an interesting and captivating read. All in all, this short story is a must read for anyone looking for a fresh insight into life.

Book: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button.

Book review by: *Kriti Joshi*

“For what it’s worth: it’s never too late or, in my case, too early to be whoever you want to be. There’s no time limit, stop whenever you want. You can change or stay the same, there are no rules to this thing. We can make the best or the worst of it. I hope you make the best of it. And I hope you see things that startle you. I hope you feel things you never felt before. I hope you meet people with a different point of view. I hope you live a life you’re proud of. If you find that you’re not, I hope you have the strength to start all over again.”
-Benjamin Button, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

The story of Benjamin Button is odd, quirky but still amazingly told.
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button has been a nice, entertaining story, turning the world upside down and showing how it is when you age the other way around.

Life is still a struggle, being put in a different perspective. Society is very willing to push you into norms because sticking out like a sore thumb is weird and unnatural. Being like everyone else is easy to understand and not worrying at all. But sometimes you don’t fit into a shape, no matter how hard other people are trying to make it happen.That’s what I think this short story is about if you look a bit upon the really curious case of an old man being born into the world.

I believe the only lack the story had was that I had wished it to be longer, because I enjoyed the reading of it, and upon reaching the end, I only wanted more.

I would recommend this short story to anyone who wants a quick, snapshot reminder of the value of life and its many quirks.