Indira Gandhi’s Deep Connection to Tagore and ‘Ekla Chalo Re,’ Ramesh Highlights on Birth Anniversary

Congress leader Jairam Ramesh Wednesday commemorated the 108th birth anniversary of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, by shining a light on her profound and personal relationship with Nobel Laureate Rabindranath Tagore and his work.

Taking to platform X, Ramesh recalled Indira Gandhi’s early academic exposure to Tagore’s philosophy, stating, “She had a special relationship with Rabindranath Tagore, having spent some nine months at Shantiniketan during July 1934-April 1935. She was an annual visitor to Visva-Bharati.”

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The post emphasized a poignant connection that lasted throughout her life, specifically referencing her affinity for Tagore’s iconic song, “Ekla Chalo Re” (If they answer not to thy call, walk alone).

Ramesh highlighted a significant, late-life exchange, noting, “In the last month of her extraordinary life, she engaged in a wonderful exchange with one of her closest aides H Y Sharada Prasad on Tagore’s iconic poem Ekla Chalo Re which was her favourite.”

This exchange, according to Ramesh, underscores Indira Gandhi’s deeper, less-publicized “literary sensibilities.”

“This article written two years ago using archival material brings out her literary sensibilities. It is available here and worth reading,” Ramesh wrote on the social media platform, providing a link to his detailed piece.

Indira Gandhi’s time at Visva-Bharati University in Shantiniketan, founded by Tagore, was a formative period. Though brief, this association cemented a cultural and intellectual bond that she maintained, continuing to visit the university annually even as Prime Minister.

The poem Ekla Chalo Re is often viewed as a testament to solitary determination and courage—qualities frequently associated with Indira Gandhi’s own political career, particularly during challenging periods of her tenure.

Ramesh’s sharing of this detail provides a rare glimpse into the personal motivation and intellectual life of one of India’s most consequential leaders.