Tagore, Dwarkanath, 1794-1846 (Merchant)
Parallel Names
- Ţhakur, Darokanath
Biography
The Bengali brahmin Dwarkanath Tagore was the grandfather of the great Bengali polymath Rabindranath Tagore, and was himself one of the most prominant citizens of Calcutta [modern Kolkata]. As a wealthy entrepreneur, industrialist, philanthropist, banker and trader who believed in the freedom of the press and women's education, he was unparalled. Several of his commercial ventures, such as coal mining, were conducted in partnership with British traders. In 1842 he travelled to Britain, where he met with Queen Victoria, and he was presented with the Freedom of the City of Edinburgh in August of that year. Gifts would have been exchanged during such encounters and it appears from the annotation on one of the ragamala paintings (Or Ms 437) that the full set was intended by the artist to be a gift to the Queen. However, his wish was frustrated and the set found its way first to the City of Edinburgh Council and subsequently to Edinburgh University Library.
Found in 2 Collections and/or Records:
Ragamala, 1842 C.E.
Ragamala paintings are highly symbolic visual interpretations of Indian music previously envisioned in divine form by musicians and poets. They generally depict romantic and devotional situations in an aristocratic setting. The word ‘raga’ derives from the Sanskrit root – ranj – which means to tinge or to colour and evokes love, passion and beauty.
Saṅgīta Rāga-kalpadruma, c 1842 C.E.
Compilation of North Indian music, with Bengali notes and listing of Ragas in English.