UNB, Dhaka :The 155th birth anniversary of the most celebrated Bangla poet and polymath, Rabindranath Tagore, was celebrated on Sunday.What this literary and musical genius had offered to the world during his lifetime is still felt by millions of Bangla-speaking people. Kobi Guru Rabindranath who is accredited as one among the shapers of modern vernacular of Bangla issomething omnipresent through language. The government and different socio-cultural organisations observed the day with elaborate programmes. A colourful event was held at the Osmani Memorial Auditorium in the capital where President Abdul Hamid was present as the chief guest while Cultural Affairs Minister Assaduzzaman Noor presided over it. In his speech, the President urged all to get united being imbued with the spirit and ideal of great poet Rabindranath Tagore against militancy and communalism.”I’m calling upon all the citizens to engage themselves in establishing a happy and prosperous Bangladesh standing together against all types of exploitation, deprivation, injustice, conflict, militancy and communalism being imbued with the spirit and ideal of Rabindranath,” he said. This year, the theme of Tagore’s birth anniversary was ‘Aspects of Rabindranath in 21st century ‘. Tagore researcher Professor Sanat Kumar Saha delivered a memorial speech on the theme at the event. A cultural programme was also held after discussion on the life and works of the Nobel Laureate poet. Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy (BSA) organised a programme focusing on the folk related works of Tagore and an exhibition of his paintings was also arranged.Various programmes were also held at Shilaidah in Kushtia, Patisar in Naogaon and South Dighi in Khulna, the three districts that harbour the memories of Rabindranath Tagore. The district administration of Kushtia celebrated the first day of the three-day programme, marking the birth anniversary of the magical poet, with much enthusiasm. Local administrations across the country arranged various programmes on the occasion.The Cultural Affairs Ministry and Bangla Academy published a commemorative booklet and posters marking Tagore’s 155th birth anniversary. Dhaka University also observed the day with due respect to the great poet of Bengali literature, while Bangla Academy held a discussion meeting and cultural programme on its premises.Tagore, also known as Bhanusimha Thakur, was a poet, visual artist, playwright, novelist, as well as a composer whose works reshaped Bengali literature and music in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Born on May 7 in 1861 at Jorasanko mansion in Kolkata, he was the youngest of 13 surviving children of Debendranath Tagore and Sarada Devi. He became Asia’s first Nobel laureate after winning the Nobel Prize in literature for his mesmerised book Gitanjali in 1913. Two songs from his canon are now the national anthems of Bangladesh and India-Amar Sonar Bangla (My Golden Bengal) and Jana Gana Mana — respectively.Tagore wrote novels, short stories, songs, dance-dramas, and essays on political and personal topics. Gitanjali, Gora, and Ghare-Baire (The Home and the World), Chokher Bali are among his best-known works.
