Q. What is the main idea behind the book, Rabindranath Tagore For The 21st Century Reader? Can you describe the process of selection?
A. The idea is to present a selection of Tagore’s works to the contemporary reader to bring out the modernity in his work. The translations keep in mind the sensibilities and expectations of the modern reader, in terms of both content and form. Making a selection from Tagore’s vast oeuvre is always heartbreaking. But the objective was not to present extracts but self-contained works. Translating Tagore is always a challenge because of his immense facility with language and the depth of his material. It is also immensely satisfying.