The nation observes the 154th birth anniversary of great poet Rabindranath Tagore today with elaborate programmes.
On 25th of Baishakh in 1268 Bengali year, Rabindranath Tagore, the fountainhead of Bengali wisdom was born at Jorashako 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 Shakespeare in the English-speaking world.
Tagore received Nobel Prize in literature in 1913.
For Bangladesh, Rabindranath holds special significance. His poems and his songs had inspired the nation in its most difficult years and the country had adopted one of his songs ‘Amar Sonar Bangla’ (My Golden Bengal) as its national anthem.
Bangladesh will observe his birth anniversary nationally with the government taking an extensive programme marking the day.
The main programme of Tagore’s birth anniversary this year will take place at Shahjadpur in Sirajganj.
The prime minister, Sheikh Hasina, would attend the inaugural function of the programme at Shahjadpur Pilot High School ground at 10:00am.
In the afternoon of the day and on next three days, cultural functions and Tagore’s art exhibition will be held at Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy.
The local district administrations of Shilaidah in Kushtia, Patisar in Naogaon and Dakshindihi of Khulna will observe the day in a befitting manner. Rabindra fair, discussions and cultural functions will be organized on this occasion.
The theme of Tagore’s birth anniversary this year is ‘Crisis of Civilization and Rabindranath’.
The cultural affairs ministry and Bangla Academy will publish a commemorative booklet and posters marking Tagore’s 154th birth anniversary.
The Dhaka University will observe the day with due respect. Bangla Academy will hold a discussion meeting on May 9.
Bangladesh missions abroad will undertake programmes marking the day.
The president, Abdul Hamid, and the prime minister, Sheikh Hasina, issued separate messages on the occasion paying tributes to the great poet.
Bangladesh Television, Bangladesh Betar and private television channels will air the inaugural function and other sessions of the state-level programme.
Although Tagore was born in Kolkata much of his creative works was done in Shilaidah, in what is now Kushtia. The local mystic Lalan Fakir about whom he had heard a lot from the local postman, Gagan Harkara, also influenced him, profoundly.
Born in the late 19th century, Tagore grew up at a time of great political and religious turmoil which is reflected in his works. He visualized a country: Into that heaven of freedom/my Father, let my country awake.
In his later years, Tagore tried his hand at painting. It was largely inspired by Irish woodwork and some of it was displayed in Paris, London and New York during his lifetime.
The first non-Westerner to get the Nobel Prize, Tagore had a great influence across the world.
By his contemporaries in India Tagore was considered as Gurudev.
Source: New Age
