Today marks the 82nd death anniversary of Rabindranath Tagore, the first non-European and Bengali poet to win the Nobel Prize for literature, and widely revered as the "World's Poet", reports UNB.
According to the Gregorian calendar, Tagore died at the age of 80 on August 7 in 1941; however, his death anniversary is traditionally observed on 22nd Srabon according to the Bangla calendar.
The day has always been observed with extensive programs in a befitting manner as a tradition in both Bangladesh and India's West Bengal.
To observe the day, cultural organizations and government, non-government institutions are paying their respective tributes with virtual events, featuring several noted artists, Tagore enthusiasts, and scholars.
Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy (BSA) will organise a programme titled 'Rabindranath o Bangabandhu' at its National Music and Dance Centre Auditorium at 6:30 pm on Sunday.
Chhayanaut, the country's esteemed cultural institution, will arrange an event titled "Aghaat Kore Niley Jiney" at Chhayanaut Sanskriti Bhaban in Dhaka's Dhanmondi at 7 pm.
Besides, television channels will air special programmes.
Bangladesh Udichi Shilpigoshthi will stream a Facebook live program at 7:30 pm. The online event will feature songs, dance, recitation, and discussions, and it will be joined by Professor Syed Manzoorul Islam, Azizul Huq, Bangladesh Udichi Shilpigoshthi General Secretary Jamshed Anwar Tapan, and Assistant General Secretary Iqbalul Haque Khan, among others.
Youngest of thirteen surviving children of Debendranath Tagore and Sarada Devi, Rabindranath was born on 25th Baishakh, 1268 according to the Bangla calendar (May 7, 1861, according to the Gregorian calendar) in the Jorasanko mansion at Calcutta, British India.
Also referred to as the "Bard of Bengal”, Tagore composed over 2,000 songs which created a separate genre known as "Rabindra Sangeet". Besides, he wrote a total of eight novels, 84 short stories, and volumes of poems in his prolific literary career spanning almost seven decades.
He envisioned and founded the Visva Bharati University at Santiniketan in 1921 in order to strengthen the practice of culture and literature in the broader sphere and create future artists and writers for all ages.
Of lyrical ballads, "Gitanjali" (Song Offerings), Rabindranath Tagore received the Noble Prize in Literature in 1913 as the first Bengali and non-European poet.
Bangladesh's national anthem "Amar Shonar Bangla" and India's national anthem "Jana Gana Mana" are both Rabindranath Tagore's creations.
Bd-pratidin English/Tanvir Raihan
