Rabindra University about to be established

Rabindra University and a Rabindra Academy will be established in Bangladesh for higher studies and research on poet Rabindranath Tagore, declared by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

She said the government is also contemplating to set up a Bangladesh Bhaban at Shanti Niketon in West Bengal to provide housing facilities to Bangladeshis who are studying there.

The premier made the disclosures while presiding over the first meeting of the National Committee for celebrating the 150th birth anniversary of Rabindranath Tagore on 25 Baishakh 1418 at the PM’s Office.

Hasina directed the authorities concerned to complete all necessary preparations to make the celebration programmes a success.

According to the Bangladesh-India joint communiqué issued during Hasina’s Delhi visit in January, the two countries will jointly celebrate the 150th birth anniversary of Tagore.

Addressing the meeting, the premier, also the chairman of the National Committee, proposed the name of the friendship train running between West Bengal and Dhaka as “Sonar Tori”, a famous poem by Tagore.

She paid rich tribute to the memories of the poet, saying that Tagore is the lexicon of Bengali nation’s flowing life.

“We will celebrate the Biswa Kabi’s birth anniversary unitedly and universally,” the premier said.

The entire Bangladesh will observe various programmes to celebrate the occasion, she added.

Briefing newsmen after the meeting, PM’s Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad said the national committee meeting also formed a working committee headed by Cultural Affairs Minister Abul Kalam Azad.

The working committee may consist of 15-20 members. The committee will hold regular meetings to complete all preparations ahead of the birth anniversary celebrations, the press secretary said.

The government in collaboration with various cultural organisations will observe the programmes marking the occasion, he said.

The cultural organisations will be helped financially by the government to arrange the programmes, Azad added.

A 32-point proposal paper was presented at the meeting.

The proposals include joint inaugural function of the celebration, involving some other countries like USA and UK to celebrate Tagore’s birth anniversary, awarding Rabindra researchers and writers, publishing supplementary in the newspapers of Dhaka, Kolkata and Delhi, setting up Rabindra Chairs at the renowned universities of the two countries, and introducing Rabindra Scholarships for researchers and students.

The proposals also included joint publication of various writings on Tagore by renowned artists and researchers of both countries, making documentaries on DVDs, providing 100 selected researchers, artists and organisers with Saarc sticker for easy travel, and arranging mobile train museum on the life and works of Tagore.

The meeting proposed to chalk out year-long programmes on the occasion of Tagore’s birth anniversary.

Music and dance programmes, dance drama, drama, poetry recitation, art exhibition, discussion meetings, seminar, theatre workshop, symposium and essay competition have been planned to mark the Tagore’s birth anniversary.

Various government ministries and departments, cultural organisations and educational institutions will be involved in celebrating the birth anniversary of the poet.

Teachers, poets, authors, educationists, artists and intellectuals attended the meeting.

The Indian government also formed a 36-member committee to work with Bangladesh to celebrate Tagore’s 150th birth anniversary.

Source: TDS

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