Contents: Preface. 1. Early influences: the Bengal of Rabindranath Tagore's times and his family background. 2. Ancient Indian influences on Tagore: the Veda the Upanishads etc. 3. The influence of Kabir on Tagore. 4. Other Indian influences on Tagore: Vaishnava poets. 5. Persian influence: Hafiz. 6. Western influences: romantic poets. 7. Summing up. Bibliography. Index.

The present study is an attempt to scrutinize closely the creative and expository writings of Tagore and also the various studies made on him with a view to establishing the major influences which shaped the mind and art of this most celebrated Indian creative artist of the modern age. The truth is that numerous Indian and foreign influences work in his actively and prominently contributed to the making of his art and ideas. He was fully conversant with and equally at home among the thinkers and writers of the East and the West.