The country will observe the 163rd birth anniversary of Rabindranath Tagore, one of the world’s most revered poets and litterateurs, and the first Nobel laureate of Asia.
Tagore won the Nobel Prize in literature for Gitanjali, a collection of poetry, in 1913.
Gitanjali was published in India in 1910. Tagore then translated it into prose poems in English, as “Gitanjali: Song Offerings”, and it was published in 1912 with an introduction by W B Yeats.
His timeless creations are still being celebrated across the world, and he is revered by both Bangladesh and India for his majestic literary works. Both countries’ national anthems are based on two of his songs.
Born on May 8, 1861, at Jorasanko mansion in Kolkata, Rabindranath was a poet, visual artist, playwright, novelist, as well as a composer whose works reshaped Bangla literature and music in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. He was the youngest of 13 surviving children of Debendranath Tagore and Sarada Devi.
Marking the occasion, different government and private cultural organisations are scheduled to host cultural programmes, discussions and awards ceremonies across the country today (Wednesday).
The Ministry of Education instructed the country’s educational institutions on Monday, May 6, to observe the 163rd birth anniversary of Rabindranath Tagore and the upcoming 125th birth anniversary of the national poet Kazi Nazrul Islam later this month.
Like the previous years, Tagore’s birth anniversary will be commemorated as part of the national event at the Shilaidah of Kushtia, Shahjadpur of Sirajganj, and in many other areas in the country.
Chhayanaut, the country’s leading cultural institution, will commemorate the occasion with a two-day cultural festivity. The event, titled ‘Chhayanaut Rabindra Uthsab’, will showcase diversified cultural presentations including song, poetry and dance recitals.
Besides, different cultural organisations including Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy, Bangla Academy and others will celebrate the birth anniversary with various events.
President Mohammed Shahabuddin and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Tuesday paid rich tributes to Bishwakabi Rabindranath Tagore in separate messages on the eve of 163rd birth anniversary of the great poet.
President Mohammed Shahabuddin, in his message, said: “On the 163rd birth anniversary of the world poet Rabindranath Tagore, I pay my deepest respect to his memory.”
Rabindranath Tagore, the bright star of Bengali literature, is a wonderful talent in the literary arena, he said, adding that he brought Bengali literature to the world with its glory.
Rabindranath, who was simultaneously a poet, novelist, storywriter, lyricist and essayist, has no branch of literature in which he did not roam, the head of the state added.
Through literature, Tagore sang the victory of humanity, he said, adding that the development of humanity, human liberation and human love were the main paths of his sense of life.
Togore’s songs, literatures and work-ethic have constantly inspired the people of Bangladesh, Shahabuddin said.
“Rabindra literature was our main resort against Pakistani culture. His songs were the driving force of the struggle in the Great Liberation War. Rabindranath in his late life essay titled ‘Sabhyatar Sangkat’ anticipated the arrival of a great man from the East, who would be the helmsman of all crises,” he mentioned.
“He is none other than Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman himself,’ Shahabuddin added.
Rabindranath’s thought was integrated with the great ideology that made Bangladesh independent, he said.
“That is why Bangabandhu chose Rabindranath’s song as the national anthem. He will be our inspiration in the development of the national culture of Bangladesh and in the overall liberation consciousness as a nation,” the President said.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, in her message, said Rabindranath Tagore is a wonderful talent in Bengali literature.
Tagore is a poet, essayist, dramatist, musician, painter, educationist, philosopher and social reformer, she said, adding that Bengali poetry, songs, short stories, novels, essays, dramas, Giti nattyo and Nrittyo Nattyo have found completeness in his magical hands.
With these creations, Bengali literature has taken place in the world assembly, she said, adding that Tagore was the first Bengali poet, also the first Asian, who won the prestigious Nobel Prize in Literature.
Being inspired by Tagore’s ‘Sonar Bangla’ spirit, Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman took the pledge to make Sonar Bangla independent and subsequently, presented Bengali people an independent and sovereign Bangladesh, she said.
Rabindranath was an essential part of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib’s stream of consciousness throughout the Pakistan period and even later, in the thinking and consciousness of nation-building, Sheikh Hasina mentioned.
Noting that Rabindranath’s poets and songs became special sources of inspiration during the Great War of Liberation in 1971, she said that all the feelings including the sufferings, joys and pains of the people of universal Bangla have truly come out in his literature.
Both the President and the Prime Minister wished all the programmes taken on the occasion of the 163rd birth anniversary of Rabindranath Tagore a success.
