This brief biography draws on the history of Visva-Bharati to sketch the relatively lesser known aspects of Rabindranath's life, namely, his work as an educator and rural reformer. It also deals, though less prominently with the poet and the writer within him. Its primary focus is the issues that concerned Rabindranath all his life and featured regularly in his writings, such as Indian history, nationalism and internationalism, racial humiliation and the search for self-esteem, education, religion, humanism and a Jiban-Debata or "Lord of Life." This biography includes an appendix of selected letters by Rabindranath Tagore and will be of enduring interest to students as well as readers with an abiding interest in his life.