It is a moving blend of fiction, memoir, and poetic homage—a story of a seemingly perfect couple parting on the day of their divorce, which coincides with Rabindranath Tagore’s 50th death anniversary. As Shashi and Aditi journey through Kolkata one last time, their conversations unfold into a quiet reckoning of love, loss, and artistic devotion.

A Farewell Framed by Fate

Yet, Remember Me begins on a day that is both ordinary and monumental—the legal end of a marriage and the 50th death anniversary of Rabindranath Tagore. Shashi and Aditi, once seen as the ideal couple, traverse Kolkata one final time. But beneath their outward composure lies a quiet emotional storm: the unraveling of their love, and the rising devotion to a truth far more enduring.

Aditi’s Audacious Choice: Rabi’s Widow

In a bold and soul-stirring revelation, Aditi declares her intent to live as “Rabi’s widow”—a symbolic renunciation of worldly ties to devote herself fully to the spirit and legacy of Tagore. In doing so, she transcends the role of wife or ex-wife, claiming an identity forged through lifelong artistic love. It’s a rare, defiant act of agency, devotion, and personal myth-making.

The Poet and the Moon: A Character Study

Shashi, reflective and distant like his namesake “Shashi” (the moon), mirrors the sensitive, often detached artist. His quiet grief is palpable, his voice softened by regrets and existential reflection. Through his dialogue and silence, we meet a man caught between the legacy he tries to build and the one he has lost.

Fiction, Memoir, and Metaphor: A New Narrative Form

This novel defies traditional genre boundaries. Part fiction, part spiritual memoir, and part literary research, it weaves Tagore’s original writings—always cited—into the voices of its characters. The result is an imaginative, almost musical intertextuality, where the past and present harmonize on the page.

Tagore as Muse, Guide, and Ghost

Tagore, or “Rabi,” is not merely a historical figure in this novel—he is an ever-present muse, a guiding light, and even a third presence in the room. His thoughts, songs, and philosophical fragments shape Aditi’s world and Shashi’s inner conflict. His relevance is not merely referenced—it is resurrected.

Philosophy, Politics, and Quiet Revolutions

The novel does not shy away from Tagore’s political legacy: his opposition to nationalism, critique of violence, and lifelong focus on rural upliftment. These ideas echo through Shashi’s character, whose turn toward social reform reveals the moral undercurrents of the story. Here, politics is not a backdrop—it is part of the soul’s evolution.

The Ghost of Hecate and the Universality of Longing

In one of the book’s most poetic meditations, the author invokes ‘Hecate’—Tagore’s muse and sister-in-law—as a metaphor for the unseen, eternal companion in every life. It’s a beautiful reminder that even the most private devotions shape our emotional realities. The story becomes a mirror, asking readers to reflect on their own unspoken loyalties.

Kolkata as a Living, Breathing Character

The novel’s setting—Kolkata—is not passive scenery but a soul-bearing participant. From renamed roads to fading colonial mansions, the city mirrors the protagonists’ emotional states. The cab ride becomes a metaphor for life: moving forward through familiar spaces, haunted by change, memory, and hope.

Conclusion: A Literary Prayer, Not Just a Love Story

Yet, Remember Me is a literary act of devotion—both to Tagore and to the human condition. It’s about what remains when love fails to fit the frame of life, and what endures when we give ourselves to something higher. Philosophical, lyrical, and emotionally resonant, it leaves the reader with a lingering question: Will you remember me?

About the Author:

Pinaki Gangopadhyay

Pinaki Gangopadhyay is an author, poet, lyricist, composer and independent researcher, exploring the convergence of science and Sanatana Dharma with a focus on the unification and evolution of human thought. His critically acclaimed book, God, Science, and Reality, examines the intersection of quantum physics and Vedanta. A prolific poet with over 600 compositions in English, Bengali and Hindi, he writes across science, spirituality and historical fiction.

His novel, Yet, Remember Me, weaves Rabindranath Tagores legacy into a contemporary narrative. A speaker at Ramakrishna Mission and other forums, he champions Indology, Sanskrit and Vedic science. With a leadership career in technology and HR startups, Pinaki has lived and worked in twelve countries, enriching his storytelling with global insights. A native of Kolkata, he draws inspiration from its intellectual and cultural richness, crafting works that resonate across disciplines and generations.