"The Hungry Stones and Other Stories" is a collection of short stories written by the Indian author and Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore. The book contains short stories that explore a range of themes, including love, loss, spirituality, and the human condition. The story title, "The Hungry Stones," tells the haunting tale of a young man who becomes entranced by a mysterious palace and its ghostly inhabitants. Other stories in the collection include "The Cabuliwallah," a heart-warming story of a father-daughter relationship. Tagore's writing is marked by its lyrical beauty and its ability to capture the human emotion. His stories are deeply rooted in Indian culture and tradition, but also speak to universal themes and experiences. Moreover, "The Hungry Stones and Other Stories" is a timeless classic that continues to captivate readers with its powerful storytelling and profound insights into the human experience. It is a must-read for anyone interested in the rich literary traditions of India and the work of one of its greatest writers.
Rabindranath Tagore was born on May 7, 1861 in a Kolkata, India. He was the son of Debendranath Tagore (1817–1905) and Sarada Devi (1830–1875). Because of his mother’s early death and his father’s frequent travel, he spent most of his childhood with servants. He didn’t like classroom schooling and roamed around Bolpur and Panihati where his family frequently visited. He was married to Mrinalini Devi (1873–1902) when she was 10 years of age. His father also had a keen interest in music and invited several professional Dhrupad musicians to teach music to children. Rabindranath’s original surname was Kushari which was changed to Tagore. He belonged to Pirali Brahmin from the village of Kush in Burdwan district of West Bengal. He is known for reshaping Bengali literature, music and art with modernization. He became the first Non-European and first lyricist to win Nobel Prize in Literature. He was a polymath and wrote poems, short stories, songs, play writer, philosopher and painter. Tagore started writing poems from the age of eight and at the age of sixteen his first poem released under pseudonym Bhānusiṃha. In 1877, his short stories and dramas released under his real name. From 1878 to 1912 he traveled to more than 30 countries on five continents.
