Marking the 163rd birth anniversary of Nobel laureate poet Rabindranath Tagore today, an array of different programmes has been arranged to honour the legendary figure. Besides the government, various socio-cultural organisations have chalked out various programmes on the occasion across the country.
The Birth Anniversary will be celebrated under the auspices of the Ministry of Culture and local administration at Shilaidaha in Kushtia. On this occasion, the local administration will organise various programmes including Rabindra Mela, a discussion on Rabindranath, and cultural programmes.
Awami League Joint General Secretary Mahabubul Alam Hanif will inaugurate the programme, while Abdur Rauf, Member of Parliament of 78 Kushtia-4 will be present as a special guest. Apart from this, 59 Rabindra Sangeet troupes from the country and outside the country will perform in the cultural programme.
Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy (BSA) has arranged a three-day cultural programme at its National Theatre Hall. The programme will be inaugurated today. Presided over by State Minister for Cultural Affairs Nahid Izhar Khan, Speaker Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury will attend the opening ceremony as chief guest. Professor Dr Md Shah Azam, vice-chancellor of Rabindra University and Secretary to the Ministry of Cultural Affairs Khalil Ahmed will be present as special guest. The three-day programme will end on May 10.
Marking the occasion Chhayanaut is arranging a two-day ‘Rabindra Utsab’, which will be held on May 8 and 9 on the premises of Chhayanaut. The programme will feature solo and chorus renditions, dance, and recitation.
Besides, Channel i will air an array of programmes to mark the day.
According to the Bengali calendar, Rabindranath Tagore Jayanti is celebrated on the 25th day of Baishakh, and as per the English calendar; it is celebrated on May 7. This year the 163rd birth anniversary of Rabindranath Tagore is celebrated on May 8.
He became Asia’s first Nobel laureate after winning the Nobel Prize in literature for his mesmerising book Gitanjali in 1913.
Two of his songs are now the national anthems of Bangladesh and India — Amar Sonar Bangla and Jana Gana Mana — respectively.
Tagore wrote novels, short stories, songs, dance dramas, and essays on political and personal topics. Gitanjali, Gora, Ghare-Baire, and Chokher Bali are among his best-known works.
His compositions dedicated to the people of the region were chosen by two nations as their national anthem: Bangladesh’s Amar Sonar Bangla and India’s Jana Gana Mana. The Sri Lankan national anthem was also 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).
