RABINDRANATH TAGORE
Rabindranath Tagore's 150th birth anniversary in India and Bangladesh marked an exceptional move to honour the poet-philosopher. It also symbolised the deep admiration that exits in both countries for the man who enriched literature as much as he did humanity as a whole.
the versatile genius, who was much ahead of his time, wrote in his mother tongue of Bangla. But he did not limit his message to people who lived around him. His creative works introduced a powerful dose of love and internationalism. This Indian rose to international heights; he was the first non-European to receive the Nobel Prize for Literature ,in 1913.
Tagore was poet, novelist,short story writer, essayist,playwright, educationist, spiritualist,painter,lyricist, composer and singer- a rare set of distinctions, his works,which still influence billions of people of India and Bangladesh, He was born, grew up,worked and died here.
At critical moments he has been an inspiration for the people of what is now Bangladesh. Protagonists of the two-nation theory wanted to wipe out his influence. Pakistan's first military ruler, Ayub Khan, banned his songs. But the poet only became more relevant then before. A strong sense of linguistic nationalism grew around him. Finally, the people launched a strong cultural and political movement that culminated in formation of Bangladesh
Tagore made the Bengali middle class feel that he was an essential part of their national ethos. The emerging middle class, including students and intellectuals, regarded him as one of them. In no way could they think that Tagore was alien to them because of his religion..
Tagores songs and poems inspired Bengalis in their fight against Pakistan in the 1971 war of Liberation. His songs and poetry inspired them culturally and politically. India chose his Jana gana mana as the national anthem in 1947, Bangadesh has had one of his songs as the national anthem since its birth. Sri Lanka's national anthem was also penned by Tagore: Apa Sti Lanka,Nama Nama Nama Nama Mata, Sundar Sri Boroni was originally Nama Nama Sri KLanka Mata in Bangla, written and set to its tune by Tagore.
Rabindranath is not only the preeminent literary genius of Bengal but all of South Asia,perhaps the whole of Asia. The joint celebration of Tagore's birth anniversary began in Dhaka on May 6, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina inaugurated it . In India,it was opened by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in Delhi on May 7. With this joint celebration,the great poet, whi represents much of the common heritage and philosophy of the two countries, brought the two closer still.
Rabindranath Tagore remains a pre-eminent man of letters on both sides of the border.He is still the most influential writer in his language. He is south Asia's voice of love in a wider global perspective, a bridge of friendship.His songs should be sung forever, his works should be red for centuries to come.
Tagore was a committed anti-colonialist.He had a deep understanding of the world at large. He visited more than 30 countries.
Prof. John Kurakar
Rabindranath Tagore's 150th birth anniversary in India and Bangladesh marked an exceptional move to honour the poet-philosopher. It also symbolised the deep admiration that exits in both countries for the man who enriched literature as much as he did humanity as a whole.
the versatile genius, who was much ahead of his time, wrote in his mother tongue of Bangla. But he did not limit his message to people who lived around him. His creative works introduced a powerful dose of love and internationalism. This Indian rose to international heights; he was the first non-European to receive the Nobel Prize for Literature ,in 1913.
Tagore was poet, novelist,short story writer, essayist,playwright, educationist, spiritualist,painter,lyricist, composer and singer- a rare set of distinctions, his works,which still influence billions of people of India and Bangladesh, He was born, grew up,worked and died here.
At critical moments he has been an inspiration for the people of what is now Bangladesh. Protagonists of the two-nation theory wanted to wipe out his influence. Pakistan's first military ruler, Ayub Khan, banned his songs. But the poet only became more relevant then before. A strong sense of linguistic nationalism grew around him. Finally, the people launched a strong cultural and political movement that culminated in formation of BangladeshTagore made the Bengali middle class feel that he was an essential part of their national ethos. The emerging middle class, including students and intellectuals, regarded him as one of them. In no way could they think that Tagore was alien to them because of his religion..
Tagores songs and poems inspired Bengalis in their fight against Pakistan in the 1971 war of Liberation. His songs and poetry inspired them culturally and politically. India chose his Jana gana mana as the national anthem in 1947, Bangadesh has had one of his songs as the national anthem since its birth. Sri Lanka's national anthem was also penned by Tagore: Apa Sti Lanka,Nama Nama Nama Nama Mata, Sundar Sri Boroni was originally Nama Nama Sri KLanka Mata in Bangla, written and set to its tune by Tagore.
Rabindranath is not only the preeminent literary genius of Bengal but all of South Asia,perhaps the whole of Asia. The joint celebration of Tagore's birth anniversary began in Dhaka on May 6, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina inaugurated it . In India,it was opened by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in Delhi on May 7. With this joint celebration,the great poet, whi represents much of the common heritage and philosophy of the two countries, brought the two closer still.
Rabindranath Tagore remains a pre-eminent man of letters on both sides of the border.He is still the most influential writer in his language. He is south Asia's voice of love in a wider global perspective, a bridge of friendship.His songs should be sung forever, his works should be red for centuries to come.
Tagore was a committed anti-colonialist.He had a deep understanding of the world at large. He visited more than 30 countries.
Prof. John Kurakar
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