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Indira Devi Chaudhurani | |
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 Rabindranath Tagore and Indira Devi inValmiki-Pratibha, 1881 | |
| Born | (1873-12-29)29 December 1873 |
| Died | 12 August 1960(1960-08-12) (aged 86) Calcutta, West Bengal, India |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Occupation(s) | Musician,writer,translator |
| Spouse | Pramatha Chaudhuri |
Indira Devi Chaudhurani (29 December 1873 – 12 August 1960) was an Indian literary figure, author and musician. Born to theTagore family, Indira was the younger child ofSatyendranath Tagore andJnanadanandini Devi and younger sister ofSurendranath Tagore. She is noted for her work in scoring the music for a number of songs by her uncleRabindranath, with whom she was particularly close. Indira Devi Chaudhurani died in 1960.[1]
Indira Devi was born on 29 December 1873 toSatyendranath Tagore and Jnanadanandini Devi in 1873, atBijapur. She spent her childhood in England, inBrighton where her family owned theMedina Villas. At this time she and her brotherSurendranath came to be very close to her uncle Rabindranath who joined them a year later, and the brother and sister were said to have been the favourite of among the poet's nephews and nieces, and the author's letters to Indira were later published asChinnapatra. Her early education was in India, atAuckland House inSimla and theLoreto Convent inCalcutta. In 1892, Indira graduated fromCalcutta University with aFirst Class Honours in French. Indira translated into Bengali the works ofJohn Ruskin, as well as French literature, and translated published translations of Rabindranath's works in English. Indira was a strong proponent of women's issues, and authored a number of works on the position of women in India.
Indira took an early interest in music, achieving proficiency in piano, violin and thesitar and training in bothIndian classical music as well asWestern classical music, later earning a diploma fromTrinity College of Music. She is noted to have scored the music for almost two hundred of Tagore's songs. She was a composer ofBrahmosangeet, and also authored a number of essays on music. In later life, Indira Devi was instrumental in the establishment ofSangit Bhavana atVisva-Bharati University, and served as the chancellor of the University for a brief period of time.
Indira was awarded Bhuvanmohini Gold Medal from Calcutta University in 1944, and receivedDesikottam (D.Litt.) from Visva Bharati University in 1957, she was also the inaugural awardee ofRabindra Award in 1959. Indira wedPramatha Chaudhury in 1899.
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