Tagore’s 162nd birth anniversary today

Staff Correspondent: Today is the 162nd birth anniversary of Biswakabi Rabindranath Tagore, who reshaped Bengali literature and music aswell 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 yesterday, paying rich tributes to the great poet.
The government has taken up elaborate programmes to celebrate the 162nd birthanniversary of Rabindranath Tagore at national level on May 8 in a befittingmanner.
On the 25th of Baishakh in 1268 Bengali calendar, Rabindranath, thefountainhead of Bengali wisdom, was born at Jorasanko in Kolkata.
Nobody had influenced the minds of so many Bengali-speaking people before orafter him. His influence has been compared, by many, to William Shakespearein the English-speaking world.
This year, the main programme will be arranged at Rabindranath’s Patisar inNaogaon district, where the Kabiguru had many memories.
Apart from Patisar, in line with the national events, local administrationswill arrange different programmes at Shelaidah in Kushtia, Shahjadpur inSirajganj and Dakkhindihi and Pithavog in Khulna, the places whereRabindranath had memories.
To mark the birth anniversary of the great poet, Rabindra fair, discussionsand 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 birthanniversary of Rabindranath Tagore.
The youngest of 13 surviving children, Tagore, nicknamed ‘Rabi’, was born toa Brahma family of Debendranath Tagore and Sarada Devi at Jorasanko inKolkata.
Rabindranath’s novels, short stories, songs, dance-dramas and essays alwaysspeak about political and personal life of people.
Gitanjali (Song Offerings), Gora (Fair-Faced) and Ghare-Baire (The Home andthe World) are his best-known works and his verse, short stories and novelswere acclaimed-or panned-for their lyricism, colloquialism, naturalism andunnatural contemplation.
Author of Gitanjali, profoundly sensitive, fresh and beautiful verse,Rabindranath became the first non-European to win the Nobel Prize inLiterature in 1913.
Sometimes referred to as “the Bard of Bengal”, Tagore’s poetic songs wereviewed as spiritual and mercurial.
His compositions were chosen by two nations as national anthems: Bangladesh’sAmar Sonar Bangla and India’s Jana Gana Mana. The Sri Lankan national anthemwas inspired by his work.
The legendary poet breathed his last at his paternal residence in Kolkata onSraban 22 of Bangla year 1348 (August 7, 1941).