C T Online Desk: May 7, 2023 – Tomorrow is the 162nd birth anniversary of Biswakabi Rabindranath Tagore, who reshaped Bengali literature and music as
well as arts of Indian subcontinent with contextual modernism.
On the occasion of the birth anniversary of Rabindranath, President Mohammed Shahabuddin and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina issued separate messages today, paying rich tributes to the great poet.
The government has taken up elaborate programmes to celebrate the 162nd birth
anniversary of Rabindranath Tagore at national level on May 8 in a befitting
manner.
On the 25th of Baishakh in 1268 Bengali calendar, Rabindranath, the
fountainhead of Bengali wisdom, was born at Jorasanko in Kolkata.
Nobody had influenced the minds of so many Bengali-speaking people before or
after him. His influence has been compared, by many, to William Shakespeare
in the English-speaking world.
This year, the main programme will be arranged at Rabindranath’s Patisar in
Naogaon district, where the Kabiguru had many memories.
Apart from Patisar, in line with the national events, local administrations
will arrange different programmes at Shelaidah in Kushtia, Shahjadpur in
Sirajganj and Dakkhindihi and Pithavog in Khulna, the places where
Rabindranath had memories.
To mark the birth anniversary of the great poet, Rabindra fair, discussions
and cultural events will be organized.
Besides, Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy has taken a three-day programme,
including cultural functions and exhibition on artworks of Rabindranath.
Bangla Academy will also organize a discussion, marking the 162nd birth
anniversary of Rabindranath Tagore.
The youngest of 13 surviving children, Tagore, nicknamed ‘Rabi’, was born to
a Brahma family of Debendranath Tagore and Sarada Devi at Jorasanko in
Kolkata.
Rabindranath’s novels, short stories, songs, dance-dramas and essays always
speak about political and personal life of people.
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.
Sometimes referred to as “the Bard of Bengal”, Tagore’s poetic songs were
viewed as spiritual and mercurial.
His compositions were chosen by two nations as national anthems: Bangladesh’s
Amar Sonar Bangla and India’s Jana Gana Mana. The Sri Lankan national anthem
was inspired by his work.
The legendary poet breathed his last at his paternal residence in Kolkata on
Sraban 22 of Bangla year 1348 (August 7, 1941).
