What Did Sharmila Tagore Reveal About Her Adult Literature Preferences?
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Sharmila Tagore shares her lifelong passion for literature.
- She reflects on her youthful experience with adult literature.
- Her humorous school incident highlights the significance of literary recognition.
- Tagore emphasizes the importance of classic authors in her reading journey.
- She is part of a culturally rich Bengali heritage.
Mumbai, Dec 8 (NationPress) Acclaimed actress Sharmila Tagore once shared her views on her fondness for adult literature.
She openly discussed how her passion for literature, encompassing both classic and mature themes, fueled her curiosity and intellectual development from a young age. In a past interview with Prasar Bharati, Sharmila reminisced about her affinity for reading, especially adult novels and classic literary works, since her childhood.
She humorously recounted a school episode where she was “caught” for plagiarism. The teacher had instructed students to create a modern poem, and she ended up copying one from a collection titled Adhunik Kavita Sankalan. When confronted, she confessed to the copying but argued that it was a widely recognized poem by Rabindranath Tagore, which she believed showcased her good taste.
Reflecting on her reading enthusiasm, Sharmila Tagore mentioned, “I was very fond of reading and I think I read a lot of adult books. I recall being reprimanded in school for cheating because we were assigned to write a piece of modern poetry. So, I went home and found this Adhunik Kovita Shankolon, meaning a collection of modern poems.”
“I copied something from there and when I presented it in class, the teacher asked, ‘Did you write this?’ I replied affirmatively. She provided me with numerous chances to admit my fault. I said, ‘Yes, but it was such a famous poem by Tagore. Everyone knows it, so I have good taste.’ I questioned why I was being punished for that.”
“At that age, I was exploring the works of Tagore, Bumke, Sarat Chandra, and other classic authors of Bengal. Later on, I ventured into different genres as well,” Tagore added.
For those unfamiliar, Sharmila Tagore comes from a notable Bengali lineage and is a distant relative of Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore. The veteran actress began her acting career in Bengali cinema with Satyajit Ray’s “Apur Sansar” in 1959. Although born in Hyderabad, her father hailed from an aristocratic Bengali family, reflecting Bengal’s rich artistic and intellectual legacy.