The 165th birth anniversary of Rabindranath Tagore was celebrated with literary and cultural enthusiasm by the Baat Chakra Literary Club in Gorakhpur on Wednesday. Writers, educationists, students, and literature enthusiasts participated in the programme and paid tributes to the Nobel laureate poet, philosopher, and educationist.
Event Highlights
The programme began with floral tributes being offered to Tagore's portrait. Speakers highlighted his unparalleled contribution to literature, philosophy, education, and Indian culture. Recitations of his celebrated poems, songs, and literary works were also presented during the event, creating a reflective and cultural atmosphere.
Keynote Address by Ashok Prasad
Club patron Ashok Prasad, grandson of India's first President Rajendra Prasad, said, "The polymathic genius whose 165th birth anniversary falls today was in many ways single-handedly responsible for rekindling the nation's aesthetic spirit that had remained nearly dormant for almost a century." He added that the country must pay heartfelt tribute to the visionary thinker and literary icon.
Clarifications on Nobel Prize
Ashok Prasad also addressed certain misconceptions surrounding Tagore's Nobel Prize. He pointed out that while Tagore was the first Indian to receive a Nobel Prize, he was not the first Indian-born Nobel laureate. According to him, that distinction belonged to Ronald Ross, born in Almora, who won the Nobel Prize in Medicine in 1902 for his work on malaria, followed by Bombay-born Rudyard Kipling in 1907. He further noted that Gitanjali was not specifically mentioned in Tagore's nomination letter submitted by Thomas Sturges Moore.
Other Speakers
Educationist Rajeev Pandey said Tagore was not only a great poet but also an eminent educationist, philosopher, and humanist whose writings continue to inspire society and guide generations.
Historical Context
Prasad further remarked that India received Nobel recognition in literature 17 years before the US entered the Nobel literary fold, with Sinclair Lewis receiving the award in 1930.
