The literature, music and art enthusiasts in Bangladesh, India, specially in Kolkata, where the legedary poet was born and also around the world will celebrate 161th birth anniversary of Rabindranath Tagore on Sunday.
Rabindranath is one of the legendary figures who reshaped Bengali literature and music as well as arts of the Indian subcontinent with contextual modernism
President Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina issued separate messages on Saturday, paying rich tributes to the great poet to mark his birth anniversary.
To celebrate the 161st birth anniversary of Rabindranath Tagore, the government has taken up elaborate programmes at the national level on May 8.
The programmes were finalised at a meeting of the National Committee at Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy (BSA) on April 18 with State Minister for Cultural Affairs KM Khalid in the chair.
On the Baishakh 25th, 1268 (Bengali calendar), Rabindranath was born at Jorasanko Thakurbari in Kolkata.
Rarely anyone before him had influenced the minds of so many Bengali-speaking people. His influence often has been compared to William Shakespeare.
This year, the main programme will be arranged at Shilaidaha Kuthibari in Kumarkhali Upazila of Kushtia district with the theme 'Crisis of Humanity and Rabindranath'.
Jatiya Sangsad (JS) Speaker Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury will address the inaugural function as the chief guest at 2:30pm while the Parliamentary Standing Committee Chairman on the Cultural Affairs Ministry Simeen Hussain (Rimi) will join as the special guest with State Minister for Cultural Affairs KM Khalid in the chair.
Cultural Affairs Ministry’s Secretary Abul Monsur will deliver the welcome speech while Professor Sanath Kumar Saha will join the function as the commemorative speaker.
Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy will present a 30-minute cultural event.
Besides, Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy has organised a three-day programme, including cultural functions and an exhibition on the artworks of Rabindranath, while a documentary on the poet will be screened throughout the month.
Apart from Shilaidaha Kuthibari and the capital Dhaka, local administrations will arrange different programmes at Shahjadpur in Sirajganj and Patisar in Naogaon and Dakkhindihi and Pithavog in Khulna, the places where Rabindranath had memories, to celebrate the 161st birth anniversary of the great poet.
Marking the day, Rabindramela, discussions and cultural functions will also be arranged.
Cultural Affairs Ministry and Bangla Academy will publish souvenirs and posters on the occasion of the birth anniversary of Kabiguru.
All the divisions, departments and institutions under the Cultural Affairs Ministry and Bangla Academy will arrange special discussions and cultural functions to mark the day.
Besides, a function will be held at the Rabindra Sarobar under the supervision of the executive director of Kabi Nazrul Institute.
All educational institutions across the country will arrange cultural functions, essay writing and poem recitation competitions to celebrate the anniversary.
Bangladesh missions abroad will also celebrate the day with different programmes in a befitting manner.
The inaugural function of the national level programmes and other events will be telecast live on Bangladesh Television and other private television channels as well as on radio channels. Bangladesh Betar will also broadcast the programmes.
To avert any untoward incident, security measures will be beefed up in the areas where national and others programmes will be organised.
In 1912, famous Irish poet WB Yeats translated the Gitanjali from Bangla. However, the name of the translated work is different, in English, the Gitanjali is known as "An offering of songs". Following the translation, Rabindranath got the Nobel Prize for literature in 1913 for the Gitanjali and became the first non-European to win the Nobel Prize.
His compositions were chosen by two nations as national anthems: Bangladesh's Amar Sonar Bangla and India's Jana Gana Mana. Even, 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, 1348 (August 7, 1941).
