The King of the Dark Chamber

Rabindranath Tagore was a poet, philosopher, and writer from the Indian subcontinent. His poems predominantly dealt with themes of duality in human life and were deeply influenced by his interaction with Hinduism and Buddhism. He explored the world of the supernatural, where flowers and trees, birds and animals speak to him; the world of human beings, with their joys and sorrows, passions and despairs; the world of nature, where mountains and rivers reflect man's innermost thoughts. For example, the title poem in this collection may be one of his most famous pieces, but it is also one of his most personal. The King of the Dark Chamber is dedicated to his wife Kadambari Devi who died before he was able to complete it. The poem's title references her room which he was not allowed to enter.