ড. রাজশ্রী ভট্টাচার্য Abstract This paper examines the dialectical interplay of tradition and modernity in Rabindranath Tagore’s late poetic vision, with special reference to the poem “Cheleta” from the collection Punashcha (1932). Written during the mature phase of his creative life, the poems of Punashcha reveal a significant shift in diction, form, and thematic orientation. Breaking away from classical metrical rigidity, Tagore adopts a flexible prose-rhythm that accommodates the raw textures of lived reality. The nameless boy in “Cheleta” emerges as a symbolic representative of marginalized existence—rooted in nature, resilient amidst deprivation, and instinctively free from social pretension. Through this character, Tagore redefines poetic aesthetics by foregrounding the ordinary, the neglected, and the socially peripheral. The study further situates this poem within Tagore’s broader philosophical and educational ideals, particularly his emphasis on freedom, creativity, and organic communion with nature. By drawing parallels with poems from Janmadine and songs from Gitabitan, Read More …