Tagore’s 157th birth anniversary celebrated

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DHAKA, May 8, 2018 (BSS) – The nation today celebrated the 157th birth anniversary of Biswakabi Rabindranath Tagore, who reshaped Bengali literature and music as well as art of Indian subcontinent with contextual modernism.

On the 25th of Baishakh in 1268 Bengali year, Rabindranath, the fountainhead of Bengali wisdom was born at Jorasanko in Kolkata.

His influence has been compared, by many, to Shakespeare in the English-speaking world.

President Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina issued separate message on the occasion of the birth anniversary of Rabindranath Tagore.

Different government, non-government, social and cultural organisations and educational institutions celebrated the birth anniversary of the great poet through organizing various programmes, including discussions, dances, poem recitation and cultural functions.

Marking the birth anniversary of Rabindranath, Naogaon district administration organized a daylong programme titled ‘Rabindra Birth Festival’ at the poet’s Kacharibari at Patisar of the district.

Textiles and Jute Minister Md Emaz Uddin Pramanik inaugurated the programme while Deputy Speaker of Jatiya Sangsad (JS) Md Fazle Rabbi Miah, Whip Md Shahiduzzaman Sarker, local lawmaker Md Israfil Alam and Superintendent of Police of Naogaon Md Iqbal Hossain addressed it, among others.

Noted Rabindra researcher Ahmed Rafiq and Principal of Naogaon Government College Md Shariful Aslam Khan joined the function as discussants with Deputy Commissioner (DC) of Naogaon Md Mizanur Rahman in the chair.

Bangla Academy organized a discussion and a cultural function yesterday at the academy auditorium in the city.

Vice-Chancellor of Rabindra University Professor Biswajit Ghosh presented a keynote paper on Rabindranath with Professor Emeritus Anisuzzaman in the chair.

Director General of the academy Professor Shamsuzzaman Khan delivered the welcome speech in the programme.

In the function, ‘Rabindra Award-2018’ was conferred on Abul Momen for conducting research on the literature of Tagore and artiste Fahim Hossain Chowdhury for practicing Rabindra Sangeet (Tagore songs).

Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy also organized a discussion, recitation from Rabindranath’s poems and Rabindra Sangeet.

Director General of the Shilpakala Academy Liaquat Ali Lucky presided over the discussion.

The Chhayanaut has also taken a two-day programme, discussion, poem recitation, dance and performing Rabindra Sangeet, from May 9 that will end on May 10.

Besides, National Museum, Bangladesh Shishu Academy, Rabindra Sangeet Shilpi Sangstha and different cultural organisations also observed the day through various programmes.

Dhaka University (DU) authorities celebrated the birth anniversary of Rabindranath on the campus in a befitting manner.

Marking the day, a key note presentation programme on Rabindranath Tagore and a cultural function were held at DU Teacher Student Center (TSC) Auditorium this afternoon.

Prof Dr Atiur Rahman of DU Development Studies Department addressed the function as the key speaker with DU Vice-Chancellor Prof Aktaruzzaman in the chair.

Channel-i, a private TV channel, organised a daylong ‘Rabindra Fair’ on its premises in the city to mark the birth anniversary of the legendry poet. In the fair, noted economist of the country, popularly known as Rabindra researcher, Dr Atiur Rahman was conferred with ‘Rabindra Award’.

The birth anniversary of the Nobel laureate poet was also celebrated at Shelaidaha in Kushtia and Shahajadpur in Sirajganj through various programmes.

Bangladesh Television and other private television channels and Bangladesh Betar broadcast different special programmes throughout the day and different dailies published special supplements and articles on Rabindranath, marking his birth anniversary.

The youngest of thirteen surviving children, Tagore, nicknamed “Rabi”, was born on 25th of Bengali month of Baishakh 1268 (May 7, 1861) in the Jorasanko mansion in Calcutta to Debendranath Tagore and Sarada Devi.

His novels, short stories, songs, dance-dramas, and essays spoke to topics political and personal.

Gitanjali (Song Offerings), Gora (Fair-Faced) and Ghare-Baire (The Home and the World) are his best-known works, and his verse, short stories, and novels were acclaimed-or panned-for their lyricism, colloquialism, naturalism, and unnatural contemplation. Author of Gitanjali, profoundly sensitive, fresh and beautiful verse, Rabindranath became the first non-European to win the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1913.

The legendary poet breathed his last at his paternal residence in Kolkata on Sraban 22 of Bangla year 1348 (August 7, 1941).