Somatmika: November 2024

Tagore's Gitanjali – A Musical Pilgrimage by Mr. Santhosh Kana

(Launched at Tagore’s Santiniketan)

Santosh Kana, a postgraduate teacher of English at Kendriya Vidyalaya, has presented an innovative adaptation of Tagore's Gitanjali in English by combining selected 18 poems with sitar music.

Mr. Kana along with his team worked on this project for the last four to five years. He researched the appropriate ragas to be used for each poem, and captured its spirit and essence. His team includes the famous sitar player from Kerala, Mr. Paulson and Mr. Anandu Pai to look after the studio production.

Shri Kana has narrated the poems in a meditative manner which takes us into the depth of Tagore's poetry and philosophy. Appropriate views have also been included. Mr. Kana worked in Bengal many years ago and has also traveled and worked throughout the country and abroad. His genuine love and passion for Bengali literature, music, films and Tagore is incredibly special.

Kana, honoured with the Best Teacher Regional Incentive Award, says,

"Tagore's graceful presence has always been there in my creative and personal journey. I have named this project a musical pilgrimage because for me it is an inner journey of self-discovery. I believe that a good reader makes a book come alive. Reading is also a creative activity. Literature and music can change lives. This is my humble tribute to Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore and my token of love for Bengal."

He has published three books (two in Malayalam and one in English) and acted in two South Indian films. His YouTube channel has been popular as it has qualitative content on culture, education and music. He has been a resource person for many teacher training courses.

“This project of Sri Kana is a therapy”, commented Sri Amartya Mukherjee, Assistant Professor at Santiniketan. The launch event of the project was organized on 21st August at Arthshila, Santiniketan, West Bengal.

Later, Shri Kana was invited to many departments of the university to talk about his dream project on Gitanjali.

Responding to everyone's tremendous welcome and appreciation, Shri Kana said,

“This is a divine plan, and Gurudev's blessings”.

This project was released on 7th of September on Santhosh Kana's YouTube channel.

Here is the link to the launch event at Santiniketan:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sVjvaRDxThE

Here is the link to the Musical Project:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WjaVxjHrdLE

Media News

Payyanur Network Channel News Report and Interview

Interview by Varsha

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qGRfjpTNvIg