Difficulty: Easy
Correct Answer: Gitanjali
Explanation:
Introduction / Context:
Rabindranath Tagore is one of the most celebrated figures in Indian and world literature. He became the first Asian Nobel laureate when he received the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1913. Competitive exams frequently ask which particular work of his earned this honour, because it connects Indian cultural pride with international recognition. Understanding which text impressed the Nobel Committee helps candidates remember key milestones in Indian literary history.
Given Data / Assumptions:
Concept / Approach:
The Nobel Prize in Literature is often awarded based on a body of work, but the citation usually highlights a particular book or collection. In Tagore’s case, the Swedish Academy honoured him largely for his collection of poems titled Gitanjali, which means Song Offerings. Gora is a well known novel by Tagore, but it is not the work cited for the Nobel award. Morning Songs and Evening Songs in the options are distractors that resemble poetic titles but do not correspond to the actual text associated with the prize. Therefore, identifying Gitanjali as the central work is the key to solving this problem correctly.
Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that Rabindranath Tagore received the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1913.
Step 2: Remember that the Nobel citation refers to his deeply sensitive, fresh, and beautiful verse in the collection titled Gitanjali.
Step 3: Note that Gora is a famous novel dealing with social and political themes, but it is not the primary text mentioned for the Nobel Prize.
Step 4: Recognise that Morning Songs and Evening Songs are not standard Tagore titles linked to the Nobel award and are placed only as misleading options.
Step 5: Conclude that Gitanjali is the correct answer, as it is directly associated with Tagore’s Nobel recognition.
Verification / Alternative check:
Verification can be done by consulting the official Nobel Prize website and authentic biographies of Tagore. All such sources clearly state that he was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature for Gitanjali and other related works. The collection, originally written in Bengali and translated into English, captured the attention of European readers through its spiritual depth and lyrical quality. Cross checking from multiple reliable references firmly confirms that Gitanjali is the correct and widely accepted answer.
Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Gora: Although a significant novel by Tagore dealing with nationalism and identity, it is not the work highlighted in the Nobel citation and therefore is not the correct answer here.
Morning Songs: This is a generic sounding title and not the recognised collection that earned Tagore his Nobel Prize, so it serves only as a distractor.
Evening Songs: Similar to Morning Songs, this option imitates the idea of lyrical compositions but does not correspond to the actual Nobel winning work, so it is incorrect.
Common Pitfalls:
A common pitfall is confusing Tagore’s many works because he wrote extensively in multiple genres. Some students remember the novel Gora more vividly and mistakenly associate it with the Nobel award. Another issue is being misled by poetic sounding but incorrect options such as Morning Songs and Evening Songs. To avoid such errors, it is useful to firmly memorise that Gitanjali, translated as Song Offerings, is the specific collection for which Tagore received worldwide recognition and the Nobel Prize.
Final Answer:
Rabindranath Tagore received the Nobel Prize in Literature for his celebrated collection of poems Gitanjali (Song Offerings).
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