Different government and private cultural organizations organized cultural programs, discussions and awards ceremonies across the country on Sunday to celebrate the 161st birth anniversary of Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore.
These events marked the glorious return of in-person celebrations of Rabindranath’s birth anniversary, after being virtually shelved for the last two years due to the global pandemic of Covid-19.
The Ministry of Cultural Affairs, in collaboration with the Kushtia district administration, organized a program at Rabindra Kuthibari in Shilaidaha, Kushtia on Sunday afternoon, which was joined by Jatiya Sangsad Speaker Dr Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury as chief guest.
Chairperson of the parliamentary standing committee on the Ministry of Cultural Affairs Simin Hossain Rimi was present as the special guest at the program, which was presided over by State Minister for Cultural Affairs KM Khalid.
The artists of Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy (BSA), led by eminent Rabindra exponent Rezwana Chowdhury Bannya, performed the national anthem at the event.
"Every criterion of Bengali emotions - happiness and sorrow, love and separation, joy and pain, all of these are impacted by the majestic creations of Rabindranath Tagore. He was deeply fascinated by the scenic beauty of Bangladesh, thus he composed Amar Sonar Bangla which was later selected as our National Anthem by Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman," Dr Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury said at the event.
State Minister for Culture KM Khalid said: "Rabindranath Tagore stayed in this historic Kuthibari in Shilaidaha in between 1891 to 1901, and crafted many of his iconic literary works - including the beginning of his Nobel Prize-winning literature ‘Gitanjali’. He has climbed the golden peak of success in all branches of poetry, stories, novels, essays, articles, plays, children's literature, biographies, music and more, which made him significantly unique and everlasting. Becoming the first Bengali Nobel Prize winner in literature, he has glorified Bengali language, Bengali literature and Bangladesh as well.”
Marking the occasion, BSA organized a discussion session and arranged a painting exhibition and art camp on Sunday afternoon at the National Art Gallery in Segunbagicha, Dhaka.
The exhibition, which will continue till May 22, is showcasing reproductions of Tagore’s paintings and paintings portraying him, displaying 124 artworks in total. Among the displayed artworks, 45 are reproductions of Tagore’s paintings while 79 paintings are made by him.
Besides, a special art camp titled "Rong Tulite Bishwa kabi" was also inaugurated by BSA Director General Liaquat Ali Lucky alongside BSA Fine Arts Director Syeda Mahbuba Karim Mini prior to the exhibition, featuring eminent painters Farida Zaman, Biren Shome, Abdul Mannan and more.
A discussion and cultural program was held at the National Theatre Hall of the BSA at 7pm. The discussion was chaired by BSA Director General Liaquat Ali Lucky and joined by Prof Dr Anwarul Karim and “Mancha-Sarathi” famed thespian Ataur Rahman as discussants.
Chhayanaut, the country’s leading cultural institution, lifted the curtain on a two-day cultural festival titled “Rabindra Utshab” on Sunday evening.
One of the regular calendar events of Chhayanaut, the program is featuring solo songs, group songs, recitations and dance recitals at Chhayanaut Sangskriti Bhaban in Dhanmondi.
This marked the in-person return of this festivity since 2019 after being arranged online in 2020 and 2021 due to Covid-19.
Celebrating the diversified musical creations of Rabindranath Tagore, the first day of the festival featured enthralling musical performances by renowned artists including Mohua Monjuri Sunanda, Rokaiya Hasina Nily, Semonti Monjuri, Farhin Khan Joyeeta, Salma Akbar, Sutapa Saha, Chanchal Baral, Abdul Wadud, Suma Roy, Partha Pratim Roy and more. Besides, Jayanta Roy and Liaquat Ali Khan recited poems.
Concluding on Monday, the festival is also being broadcast live on Chhayanaut's Facebook page and official YouTube channel.
Bangla Academy is organizing a special discussion and the “Rabindra Award 2022” ceremony at its Abdul Karim Sahitya Bisharad Auditorium at 11 on Monday. The event is being chaired by Bangla Academy President and eminent novelist Selina Hossain.
Dhaka University organized a discussion and cultural program on Sunday at the Teacher-Student Centre Auditorium. Bangla department Prof Bhishmadeb Choudhury delivered the keynote speech at the program, which was presided over by DU Vice-Chancellor Md Akhtaruzzaman.
Kabi Nazrul Institute organized a colourful cultural program featuring songs, dance recitals and recitation at Dhanmondi Lake’s Rabindra Sarabar in the evening featuring renowned Tagore artists including Anima Roy, Shimu Dey, Bulbul Islam, Suparna Hossain, Suma Roy and more.
Prominent recitation artists Sahadat Hossain Nipu and Rupa Chakrabarty recited poems at the program, while dancers Warda Rihab and Kabirul Islam Ratan staged dance recitals with their troupes.
Several other cultural institutions and organizations also held multiple commemorative events, celebrating the 161st birth anniversary of Rabindranath Tagore in both Bangladesh and West Bengal in India.