Cultural programmes marking Tagore’s birth anniversary

The 165th birth anniversary of Nobel laureate and “Bishwakobi” Rabindranath Tagore is being celebrated across the country today through elaborate programmes organised by various socio-cultural organisations. 

The main celebration will be held at Rabindra Kuthibari in Shilaidaha under Kumarkhali upazila of Kushtia district. A three-day programme has been arranged jointly by the Ministry of Cultural Affairs and the Kushtia District Administration to mark the occasion.

Cultural Affairs Minister Nitai Roy Chowdhury will attend the programme as the chief guest, while the Prime Minister’s Adviser on Information and Broadcasting Zahed Ur Rahman will be present as a special guest.

In the capital, Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy, in collaboration with the Ministry of Cultural Affairs, has organised a four-day celebration titled “Rabindranath, the Poet of Peace and Humanity”.

The inaugural ceremony will begin at 5:30 pm today at the National Theatre Auditorium. Information and Broadcasting Minister Zahir Uddin Swapon will attend as the chief guest, while State Minister for Social Welfare Barrister Farzana Sharmin Putul will be present as the special guest.

Dhaka University Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr ABM Obaidul Islam will join the event as the keynote speaker with Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy Director General Rezauddin Ahmed Stalin in the chair. 

The cultural segment will feature Rabindra Sangeet, dance performances and poetry recitations based on Tagore’s works. Discussions and commemorative programmes highlighting the poet’s literary contributions and philosophy will also be held at district Shilpakala Academies across the country.

Renowned cultural organisation Chhayanaut has also organised a two-day Rabindra Festival at its auditorium in the capital. The first session will be held today at 6:30 pm, while the second session is scheduled for tomorrow at 7:00 pm.

Television channels have also arranged special programmes to celebrate the occasion as well.

Bangladesh Television (BTV) will air a special children’s programme at 9:00am, followed by the Rabindra Sangeet programme “Geetibitan” at 10:05am. A special poetry recitation programme will be broadcast at 6:00pm, while a discussion-based essay programme on various aspects of Tagore’s life, literature and creative philosophy will air at 7:00pm.

At 9:00 pm, BTV will broadcast the play “Sampatti Samarpan”, adapted from a story by Tagore. A special Rabindra Sangeet programme featuring nine popular songs by the poet will be aired at 10:00 pm. Later at 11:00 pm, Tagore’s celebrated poetic drama “Chitrangada” will be broadcast.

Channel i has also arranged a series of special programmes. A special edition of “Gaan Diye Shurute” will be aired in the morning. Special episodes of “Tritio Matra”, hosted by Faridur Reza Sagar, will be broadcast at 1:00 pm and 9:45 pm. The telefilm “Strir Chithi”, directed by Arun Chowdhury and based on a story by Tagore, will be aired at 3:05 pm. The cast includes Samia Athoi, Arefin Jilani, Nur Alam Nayan, Suchna Sikdar and Bimal Banerjee, among others.