Today is a special day for India and Bangladesh as it marks the 80th death anniversary of Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore, the person, who holds the singular distinction of penning national anthems of these two countries, namely, “Jana Gana Mana” and “Amar Shonar Bangla”.
The first non-European and Indian to win the Nobel Prize in 1913, for his collection of poems “Geetanjali”, Tagore died when he was 80 on August 7, 1941, though his death anniversary is observed on 22nd Srabon, as per the Bengali calendar.
With the prevailing lockdown and restrictions due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, this important day is being observed through online events in Bangladesh. Thus, several organizations are holding virtual events bringing together noted Tagore lovers, artists and scholars, to commemorate the day.
According to a report in Dhaka Tribune, at 10 a.m. the Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy (BSA) streamed live on Facebook the event “Apon Majhe Shokti Dhoro, Nijeke Koro Joy”, which featured discussions and cultural performances.
Paying its tribute at 4 p.m., Bangla Academy will stream live on its Facebook page an event in which the State Minister for Cultural Affairs KM Khalid will be the Chief Guest while Selina Hossain, the noted novelist will deliver the keynote speech. Delivering the welcome speech will be the newly-elected Director General of the Bangla Academy, Mohammad Nurul Huda with the National Professor Dr. Rafiqul Islam presiding over the event.
The Bangladesh Udichi Shilpigoshthi present an online event which will include songs, dance, recitation among other performances at 7.30 p.m. while the Bangladesh Sangeet Sangathan Samannay Parishad will present an event, again online, which will feature Tagore songs and discussions. Singers Roquaiya Hasina, Khairuzzaman Kaiyum, and Soma Rani Ray will entertain viewers with Tagore songs.
Bangladesh’s leading cultural institution, Chhayanaut will broadcast an online programme, “Shraboner Amontrone” on its Facebook page and YouTube channel at 9 pm. This event will show recorded videos of Tagore songs, rendered by prominent Rabindra Sangeet exponents.
Gurudev was born on May 7, 1861, in Jorasanko mansion of Calcutta and is known as the “Bard of Bengal” as he composed more than 2,000 songs. As a well-known writer, he penned eight novels, 84 short stories, and many poems.
