Lyric and background history of song rudrobeshe kemon khela

Parjaay: Puja (535)

Upa-parjaay: Sundar

Taal: Kaharwa

Raag: Khambaj

Written on: 1925 (26 Phalgun 1333)

Collection: Probahini

Swarabitan: 2

Notation by: Dinendranath Tagore

Notes: This song was written on 10th March, 1925 at Shantiniketan.

It was written in a full moon night of the spring. Rabindranath had returned to India on 17th February, 1925 after travelling across China, Japan, South America and Europe. On the occasion of Basanta-utsav on the next full-moon day a program was organized to stage an opera named ‘Sundar’. Amita Sen, in her book ‘Nritya-rachanay Rabindranath’ has provided a beautiful narration for the background of this song –

… It was the ultimate stage-day. Nanda-babu, Suren-babu and their students all are busy decorating the stage at Amro-kunjo. The grandeur appeared to be more than usual one. The entire courtyard was covered with floral motifs, in addition colourful drapes hung from the branches of trees. Japanese lanterns of various colours, shapes and sizes hung between the leafy shoots. Those lanterns would light up in the evening. The artists were decorating the venue at Amro-kunjo and we, the girls of the Ashram have spent the entire day under the trees not bothering for bathing or to dine – excitement all over like never before. We started preparing for the final celebration when a patch of dark black cloud appeared at the north-west corner of the horizon. Within minutes clouds engulfed the entire sky. The wind picked up smashing speed and the norwester started. …

… The storm receded gradually when it started pouring. It was not monsoon time, yet the entire campus was inundated before the shower stopped. The evening time has elapsed by then. The cloud cover disappeared slowly and the soaked Ashram smiled once again with the cool moonlight. The Poet’s concern had aroused once again. Amro-kunjo, gracefully decorated, was left in its devastated condition. On the first floor portico of the library our opera ‘Sundar’ was started with new vigour. The Poet amid the raging storm had written the song –

Rudro-beshe kemon khela

Kaalo megher bhrukuti. …

In part 3 of Rabindra-jiboni Probhatkumar Mukhopadhyay has depicted the stormy afternoon –

… Untimely storm and following rain within minutes had spoiled the arrangements made at the Amro-kunjo on the Phalguni Purnima (26th Phalgun). After a short time the full-moon had brightly shone as if to say nothing unusual had happened. The poet, confined in his private room, penned down –

Rudro-beshe kemon khela, kaalo megher bhrukuti

Sondhakasher bokkho je oi bajrobaane jay tuti.

The program was finally shifted from Amro-kunjo to Kala-bhavan. At that time it was at the first floor of the library building now. The poet had sung his fresh composition.

Pramathanath Bishi too has described the evening in his book ‘Ranindranath O Shantiniketan’, that reads –

… It was decided to add grandeur to the celebration of the spring ‘Basantotsav’ that year. New songs written and Rabindranath imparted them to the singers.the floor of the Amro-kunjo was decorated with floral motifs and lanterns hung from the branches. Everyone with yellow robes was waiting anxiously for the full-moon to emerge on the eastern horizon. Meanwhile, beyond our perception in the western side God was busy with something else. The wind behind the mango orchard in the west was breathlessly waiting for the nod. We were stunned when the nor’wester landed directly on the celebration courtyard ferociously. The storm acoompanied gusts after gusts. The storm was followed by squall of rain. The ground so meticulously crafted was drenched and destroyed within minutes. Rabindranath in one of his songs perhaps had tried to catch this heart-breaking experience. …