Any new literary light on such translated novels can best be supplied in critical literary analysis or commentary, rather than another full version of translation. The forces that were operating in Bengal at that time were one of the intense nationalism and revival of ancient spiritual values and also that of liberal western thought. Rabindranath Tagore is a bird of Bengali literature and his work of poetry will remain forever. However, translation of a bulky prose novel is another matter and renderings in other languages should not be widespread as it is unlikely to provide new literary insight by such process, especially if it is already done in full, (and not in an abbreviated manner), by the author himself. lives in the shadow of his best friend Gora. I myself have translated many of Tagore's poems and songs and have published them in the UK which have received wide acclaim in Bangladesh, India, the US and many other countries. The former can have many new moods and nuances to convey to the readers.

Translation of poetry or songs is quite different from that of a prose novel. I am surprised that no reviewer or commentator has thought it worthwhile to mention this authoritative translation by the Master himself, and eulogising only the present prose translation of the novel has belittled the Master's own work. Of Course the UK statutory libraries have copies of it and no doubt the library in Shantiniketon will have copies also. I have a copy of the book which has 408 pages and is a complete English version of the full novel in Bengali. I would like to mention here that Gora was translated by Rabindranath Tagore himself, with no other name accredited or acknowledged for such translation, and was published by Macmillan and Co.

This translation was also widely acclaimed in the Bangladesh media when the book was published and launched last year.

The recent translation of Gora of Rabindranath Tagore by Radha Chakraborty ( wife of the present Indian High Commissioner in Bangladesh), published from New Delhi was reviewed by Mohsena Reza is in your paper (15 Nov).

Gora novel in bengali