A literary journey in an English town unites two voices across continents and centuries

Trying to take a step backwards into history, on a cool September autumn afternoon I stood looking at the birthplace of Shakespeare and wondered what it was that had drawn me here at this time of the year.

It is just another English house, but for its resident who made it extraordinary — this was home to one of the greatest English writers who hold a universal appeal. His plays and poems continue, till times today, to entice readers and audiences, transcending borders of countries

and languages. Undoubtedly, this celebrated author is remembered even after 450 years, for his literary works have proudly, since ages, been imbibed in most school and university syllabuses. So, I went visiting the English town of Stratford-upon-Avon where the historic and skilfully restored house of William Shakespeare is located.

Shakespeare’s Birthplace Museum

The Shakespeare Birthplace Trust was founded in 1847, almost three centuries after his birth, and has been able to preserve his legacy and the five Tudor houses associated with Shakespeare’s lifetime. By the 19th century, the house had decayed and was falling apart, but the timely restoration attempts by the famous writer — Charles Dickens, helped to save it. He organised performances in towns of England to raise funds to renovate the memorial house! We gathered this information and a lot more at the vivid, engrossing Shakespeare Museum, through which is the entry to Shakespeare’s birthplace!

Shakespeare’s Birthplace

Subsequently, we reached Shakespeare’s birthplace, which is quite lively with radiant colours welcoming all who enter it, echoing the lifestyle of the 16th century. Shakespeare lived here with his parents and many more brothers and sisters. The parlour, hall, workshop, bedrooms and the furnishings have been reinstated too.

Also noteworthy is Shakespeare’s bedchamber and birthing room from the year 1564, recreated to perfection! We were informed that he sometimes wrote the description of his personal domestic items, furniture etc. in his plays, which has helped the restoration work to a great extent!

Discovery in the Gardens

In the 16th century, the garden of the house was used for various purposes by Shakespeare’s father — like wool-dealing activities, glove-making, growing vegetables, herbs and medicinal plants, a barn for pigs, hens and more and also as a storage area. Wandering through one of the five gardens attached to Shakespeare’s house, we made a discovery that added excitement to our visit and it was an icon of a true tribute to the ‘Voice of India’.

Tagore at Shakespeare’s Birthplace

On the occasion of the upcoming birth anniversary of Nobel Laureate Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore on 7th May, I recall my visit to Shakespeare’s Birthplace House fondly. After the Shakespeare house tour, we stepped out through one of the back exit doors, wandered through its five gardens attached to the main house, and spotted the bust of Rabindranath Tagore — the great Indian poet and writer — it stood there majestically, as a true homage to him. We were at a quiet garden corner of the house and there it was — a fine sculpture on a stone plinth carved with Tagore’s poem to Shakespeare, which he wrote on the tercentenary of Shakespeare’s death — completion of 300 years in 1916 — titled ‘In Honour of William Shakespeare’. In the poem, he praises Shakespeare as an English poet as well as a world poet — an accolade to Shakespeare’s work that inspired Tagore’s literary work too! Little did he envision that less than 50 years later, the poem would be back in the limelight when the Calcutta Art Society presented an ivory tablet of the poem at the newly opened Shakespeare Centre in 1964!

Au Revoir

It’s amazing how such a humble space gave rise to one of the greatest writers ever. Quiet but meaningful. The setting adds to the magic — it’s like the whole street tells a story. We drove back with memories of two great poets and writers — William Shakespeare and Rabindranath Tagore, born centuries and continents apart, yet brought together by little effort and fate at Shakespeare’s Birthplace! No wonder that Rabindranath Tagore is referred to as the Shakespeare of India! Rabindranath Tagore’s birth anniversary — 7th May  is celebrated annually at Shakespeare’s Birthplace by the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust.

— The author is a travel writer and researcher