The 165th birth anniversary of Rabindranath Tagore was celebrated with great cultural enthusiasm across the Barak Valley on Saturday. The day was filled with a series of cultural events, processions, and tribute ceremonies organized by various literary organizations, schools, and socio-cultural groups to mark Rabindra Jayanti.
Morning Procession and Floral Tributes
The celebrations commenced with a vibrant ‘prabhat pheri’ organized by the Barak Upatyaka Banga Sahitya O Sanskriti Sammelan from Banga Bhavan. Artists, students, and literature enthusiasts participated in the procession, which added color to the early morning. Later, members paid floral tributes to Tagore’s statue at India Club Point in Tarapur, honoring the legacy of the Nobel laureate.
Evening Event ‘Kobi Pronam’
The Sammelan, through its Silchar city regional committee and Chatra-Yubo Shakha, Cachar district committee, hosted an event titled ‘Kobi Pronam’ at Banga Bhavan in the evening. The program featured a variety of performances, including dance recitals, Rabindra Sangeet, poetry recitations, and a Rabindra Sangeet Antakshari competition. Gautam Prasad Dutta, former general secretary of the Sammelan, emphasized that Tagore’s writings continue to inspire people with ideals of unity, fraternity, and brotherhood.
Celebrations by Socio-Cultural Organizations
Several socio-cultural organizations also participated in the celebrations organized by Sammilito Sanskritik Mancha at Gandhi Bhavan. Artists presented songs, dance recitals, and poetry dedicated to Tagore, showcasing his enduring influence. Sangeet Vidyalaya on Park Road organized a cultural program with ‘Hrituranga’ as the main attraction. Former Assam University vice-chancellor Tapodhir Bhattacharjee and former head of the Bengali department Biswatosh Chowdhury attended the event, which was conducted by Bhaskar Das.
Relevance of Tagore’s Works
Social worker Rupam Saha remarked that Tagore’s poems and stories remain relevant even today and will continue to inspire future generations. Cultural activist and singer Samarpita Bhattacharjee noted that Arya Sanskriti Bodhoni Samiti has been organizing Rabindra Jayanti celebrations for many years and praised Tagore’s immense contributions to literature, music, and the National Anthem.
The celebrations across Barak Valley reflected the deep respect and admiration for Rabindranath Tagore, whose works continue to resonate with people of all ages.
