Rabindra Academy celebrates Tagore’s birth anniv

Rabindra Academy celebrated Nobel laureate poet Rabindranath Tagore’s 158th birth anniversary organising a programme at the Main Auditorium of Bangladesh National Museum on Saturday.
The programme, titled ‘Barisha Dhara Majhe Shantira Bani’, featured songs, poem recitations, dances, discussions and others.
Artistes of the academy commenced the programme presenting the songs Mongolaloke anandaloke and Barisha dhara majhe shantiro bani.
Nrityalok Sangskritik Kendra artistes presented a chorus dance recital.
Following which, a discussion was held. Rabindra Academy president poet Azizur Rahman Aziz gave the welcome speech.
Poet Kamal Chowdhury and former Bangladesh Bank governor Atiur Rahman were present as special guests at the programme, presided over by national professor Anisuzzaman.
‘Though Rabindranath Togore was born in a rich family, he tried to portray the sufferings of the marginalised people through his works. He was a versatile writer, free thinker, artist, poet and philosopher. His poem Dui Bigha Jomi eloquently depicts the sufferings of the marginalised people in society,’ said Atiur Rahman.
‘Rabindranath Tagore was a man well ahead of his time. Not only did he make huge contributions to both Bangla literature and music scene but also pointed out the importance of spreading quality education 100 years ago,’ said Kamal Chowdhury.
‘Rabindranath Tagore was a polymath. His novel Chokher Bali is the first historical novel in Bengali literature. He also painted over 2,200 paintings in nine years,’ said Anisuzzaman.
Swadhin Bangla Betar Kendra artiste Ashraful Alam recited the poem Sejuti, Keya Chowdhury recited Dusomoy, Belayet Hossain recited Suprabhat and Mahmuda Akther recited Didi, Porichoy and Shangi, among others.
In solos, Happy Das rendered Antara mama bikashita karo, Mustafizur Rahman Turjo rendered Prochondo gorjone aashilo, Fahim Hossain Chowdhury sang Tumi kon kananer phul and Afsana Rahman Kakon rendered Aji Bangladesher hridoy hote