Jorasanko Thakur Bari (Bengali: House of the Thakurs; anglicised to Tagore) is a Haveli in Jorasanko, North Kolkata, West Bengal, India, is the ancestral home of the Tagore family. It is the birthplace of poet Rabindranath Tagore and the host of the Rabindra Bharati University campus. Build in Traditional Bengali Architecture of Dalan genre, it is considered to be a heritage, historic icon and centre of socio-cultural evolution of Kolkata.

History

The Jorasanko Thakur Bari was built in 1784 by Nilmoni Thakur in Jorasanko in the north of Kolkata. The land on which this ancestral home stands today was donated by the famous Sett family (not to be confused with Seth) of Burrabazar to Prince Dwarkanath Tagore, who was the grandfather of Rabindranath Tagore. Dwarkanath Tagore was the adopted son of Ramlochon Tagore and when he joined Brahmo Samaj, he was forced to leave his ancestral house at Pathuriaghata. Here comes the role of another influential family, the Sett. The Sett family had a marshy land where two small walking bridges ("Sanko" meaning bridges in Bengali) were present and they donated the land to Prince Dwarkanath Tagore. So from the small dual bridges came the name Jorasanko.

Nilmoni Tagore left his paternal house due to certain family disputes, and set up his new residence at Jorasanko, after having acquired a plot of land situated on the east side of Chitpore Road. It was Prince Dwarakanath Tagore, the illustrious businessman and Rabindranath's grandfather who expanded the residential complex. This is the Bhdrashan Bari (presently located at 6, Dwarakanath Tagore Lane) and it was here that Rabindranath was born in 1861.

Rabindra Bharati University

The Rabindra Bharati University was established by the government of West Bengal in 1961 to commemorate the birth centenary of Rabindranath Tagore. Photography is strictly prohibited inside the museum, but allowed outside. There is a light and sound show also, which happens in the evening.

Visits and programmes

thumb|Panchise Baisakh Celebration at Jorasanko Thakur Bari

The Rabindra Bharati University organizes regular cultural programmes on Tagore's birthday, Panchise Baisakh, when thousands flock to Jorasanko Thakur Bari, and on other occasions, such as his death anniversary, Baishe Shravan. It also organises a festival of arts, Aban Mela.

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File:Jorasanko Thakurbari.jpg|Jorasanko Thakurbari, Kolkata

File:Jorasanko Thakur Bari.jpg|Jorasanko Thakur Bari, Now Rabindra Bharati University

File:Kolkata Jorasanko Thakurbari.jpg|Jorasanko Thakur Bari Gate on Rabindra Sarani

File:Torana - Jorasanko Thakur Bari - Chittaranjan Avenue - Kolkata 2015-08-04 1653.JPG|Jorasanko Thakur Bari Gate on Chittaranjan Avenue

File:Jorasanko Mansion - Kolkata.jpg|Inner Verandah of Jorasanko Mansion

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See also

  • Tagore Memorial Museum, at Shilaidaha Kuthibadi, Shilaidaha, Bangladesh
  • Santiniketan
  • Celebrating Tagore
  • Phalguni Mookhopadhayay

References

  • Rabindra Bharati University Website

Jorasanko Thakurbari

Tagore family museum website

  • PIB Press Release on Film Awards - The award for the Best Direction for the Year 2001 was given to Buddhadeb Dasgupta for the film Jorasanko Thakurbari for artistically unfolding the history of the house of the Tagores.