Where You Walk in Company . . .

Rabindranath Tagore’s 156th birth anniversary was observed on Tuesday (May 9, 2017). We remember him and offer our sincere homage to his abiding memory on this occasion by reproducing the following poem, and publishing an article (on pages 27 to 35) in this issue. —Editor

where you walk in company
with the world of men,
I am united with you.

Not in the forest retreat,
nor in isolation,
not even in the solitude of
my inmost thoughts,
but where the people have you
for their own,
I, too, have you for my own,
my beloved.

Where you greet every one
with outstretched arms,
my heart awakens in love for you.

Love is not to be secreted away
within the four walls,
like sun, it spreads out everywhere.

That you bring joy
to one and all,
is also that which brings me joy,
my beloved!

Rabindranath Tagore

[Translated by Kshitis Roy from the original Bengali song, Viswa sathey yogey yethaye viharo]