President Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Tuesday paid rich tributes to Bishwakabi Rabindranath Tagore on the eve of his 158th birth anniversary on 25th of Bengali month Baishakh. President Abdul Hamid, in his message, said Rabindranath Tagore is the main symbol of spirit and conscience of Bangali nation. “He has a unique role in all branches of Bangla literatures. He is one of the best music creators of ours. He is also famous as a painter, social thinker and philosopher. Finally he is one of the main designers of the Bangali nationalism,” The President added.
Rabindranath drew attention of the world through winning the prestigious Nobel Prize in 1913 for his poetry ‘Gitanjali’, Hamid said, adding he (Rabindranath) was the first non-European, who won the highest recognition in the world of literature.
Rabindranath becomes more relevant in the current world as the world is now witnessing fundamentalism, narrowness of nationalism, class discrimination and conflict among nation to nation and religion to religion, he said.
The President hoped the young generation will practice ideology of Rabindranath deeply to realize the world.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, in her message, said Rabindranath is the brightest star in world literature. A diversified genius, this time-winning poet has observed the world very profoundly, which has been reflected in his poems, short stories, novels, dramas, essays, travel stories, songs and arts, she added.
The poet of peace and humanity-Rabindranath-was an appreciator of eternal beauty of nature and biodiversity, the Prime Minister said. She said the works of Rabindranath Tagore inspired all in the anti-British movement and all our democratic movements, including 24-year long independence movement and War of Liberation. His (Rabindranath’s) thought of nationalism is the infinite source of inspiration for the Bangalis, she said, adding that “His poems and songs encouraged the freedom loving Bangalis to fight against the enemies during the War of Liberation in 1971”.
Rabindranath’s works touch our spirit in every crisis, merriment, sadness, hopes and aspirations, Sheikh Hasina said.
