Rabindranath Tagore (1861-1941) was a famous Bengali writer who was also known for his contributions to art and music. He experimented with new prose and verse forms. In 1913, he became the first Asian to be awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature for a collection of poems called Gitanjali.
Fer below flowed the Jumna, swift and clear, above frowned the jutting bank.
Hills dark with the woods and scarred with the torrents were gathered around.
Govinda, the great Sikh teacher, sat on the rock reading scriptures, when Raghunath, his disciple, proud of his wealth, came and bowed to him and said, "I have brought my poor present, unworthy of your acceptance."
Thus saying, he displayed before the teacher a pair of gold bangles, wrought with costly stones.
The master took up one of them, twirling it round his finger, and the diamonds darted shafts of light.
Suddenly it slipped from his hand and rolled down the bank into the water.
"Alas," screamed Raghunath, and jumped into the stream.
The teacher set his eyes upon his book, and the water held and hid what it stole and went its way.
The daylight faded when Raghunath came back to the teacher, tired and dripping.
He panted and said, "I can still get it back if you show me where it fell."
The teacher took up the remaining bangle and throwing it into the water, said, "It is there."
Where was Govinda sitting? What was he doing?
Why did Raghunath go to him?
What did Raghunath offer his teacher?
What was Raghunath's reaction when one bangle rolled away into the river?
When did Raghunath return and what did he say?
How did Govinda teach Raghunath a lesson?