The first Music teacher of Ravindranath Tagore was:

Question

Accepted Answer

The correct option is 3:
Vishnu Chakrabarty (also referred to as Bishnu Chandra Chakrabarty) is recognized as the first music teacher who provided Rabindranath Tagore with his initial formal instruction in childhood. As the family's music teacher, he taught the younger generation common Bengali folk songs. This approach was intentional and developmentally appropriate, as the supervisor in charge of their studies understood that simple Bengali words and rhythms would be more easily absorbed by the Bengali children than highly structured classical forms like Hindi speech or the rigid accompaniment of the *tabla*. This foundational exposure to simple, natural melodies, practiced with the *tambura* on his shoulder, instilled in Tagore an early love and understanding of local music that profoundly influenced his later compositions and the unique style of *Rabindrasangit*.

The incorrect option is 1:
Jadu Bhatt (Jadunath Bhattacharya) was an eminent music teacher of Rabindranath Tagore, but he was not his first. Jadu Bhatt provided instruction to the poet in his young adulthood, representing a phase of more advanced and classical training. He was a distinguished master of the *Dhrupad* style, particularly known for his expertise in the 'Khanderbani' tradition. His stature was such that he was awarded the titles 'Ranganath' and 'Tanraj' by various royal patrons, signifying his prominence later in Tagore's life. His involvement marks a high point in the poet's musical training, not the beginning of his childhood lessons.

The incorrect option is 2:
Jagat Chandra Goswami is not listed among the documented and primary music teachers of Rabindranath Tagore. While Tagore's musical education was vast and included figures like Vishnu Chakrabarty, Jadunath Bhattacharya, and Srikanthya Singha, there is no significant historical record or biographical evidence to support the claim that Jagat Chandra Goswami held the position of his music instructor. Therefore, he is an inaccurate option in the context of Tagore's personal and family history of musical tutelage.

The incorrect option is 4:
Surendranath Bandopadhyay was not a music teacher of Rabindranath Tagore. This name corresponds to Sir Surendranath Banerjea, an extremely well-known and influential figure in Indian history. However, his role was primarily as a founding member of the Indian National Association and a major leader of the Indian nationalist movement, focusing entirely on journalism and politics. He had no professional association with music instruction, particularly not in the private, intimate family setting of the Tagore household where the poet's first lessons took place.