Sunday was a day of high-pitched Tagore fever in the City of Joy. People from different walks of life were out since dawn letting their sentiments flow on the streets of Kolkata as they came out in large groups to commemorate Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore’s 150th birth anniversary.
Kolkata was bedecked in red and white. From little girls to grannies, all wore sparkling white cottons with traditional red borders. Foreheads flaunted bright red bindis while chameli and bela garlands dressed chignons and braided hair. Men wore white kurtas and dhotis. Whether the Nobel laureate had decided this colour theme is not known, but that his birth anniversary tied all citizens in the same shades, spoke clearly of the binding power that he in spirit still exercises amongst all, cutting across sections of society.
Functions began all over the city as early as 5.30 am. Be it tiny para (local) clubs, party offices, schools and colleges or the poet’s birthplace, the day began with recitals of Tagore’s poems and songs. A ride to Jorasanko Thakur Bari from South Kolkata at that hour was interesting; one could witness several processions where Tagore’s fans recited poems, sang songs, enacted scenes out of his plays and even danced. Garlanded photograph of the loved ‘Guru’ headed most of these parades, while people held placards with lines taken from his great works. Some of these devotees even sang along his verses as they happily moved on the streets of Kolkata.
On his part, the great poet was watching from everywhere, large billboards, posters, figurines in stalls and garlanded busts at different crossroads. In fact, these chowrahas have never been as melodious before, each playing melodious songs of Tagore round the clock.
At Tagore’s birthplace, Jorasanko, people had gathered in thousands to pay homage to their favourite poet. And keeping to the romance of Tagore, all the activities were through songs and poems rendered by renowned artistes from all over the State. The stage like anywhere else was done up with tube-roses and belas, designs were drawn on the floors at different places with a mix of rice and water. Sandalwood paste was used to dress the Guru’s large portrait that was placed high on the stage.
Karuna Sindhi Das, the Vice-Chancellor of Rabindra Bharati University said, “Tagorean culture is not timed. It permeates all ages and creates a sensitivity much required in the 21st century where most of us are turning into robots. It is art and culture that ensures that we remain humane across all civilisations.”
Far down in Rabindra Sadan, it was a full-on festivity. While renowned exponents of Rabindra Sangeet rendered Tagore songs from the stage to a smitten audience sitting below on durries spread on the ground. Now and then several Tagore fans took a break at the various stalls set up in the premises. These stalls, too, did not deviate from Tagorana, so there was jewellery made out of terracotta and Dokra (both famous in Birbhum district), there were stalls selling replicas of Tagores Gitanjali and Gitobitan (collection of Tagore’s songs) kept alongside miniature harmoniums, sitars, pakhawaj, tablas and ektaras. Other stalls sold batik and kantha work kurtas and saris. All these makeshift shops had one common element — Tagore’s portrait placed on a tiny pulpit garlanded with fragrant flowers. In fact, there were some stalls which seemed to attract huge crowds; these stalls were selling copies of Tagore’s paintings, his photographs and quotes. Says Ishita Sengupta, a stall owner, “I have been doing great business since 2000, when I first opened my stall here. It feels great to see the buyers ready to pay whatever we ask for (we ask for reasonable rates). There is no haggling when it comes to buying anything related to the everlasting poet.”
Far from Kolkata, in Santiniketan the festivities will continue for two long years because the university here believes that the actual 150th birth anniversary is on May 9, 2011. While speaking to The Pioneer, the Vice-Chancellor (Upacharya) of Visva-Bharti, Prof Rajat Kanta Ray, said, “This is just the beginning of the festivities, and this shall continue till May 9th, 2012, as we believe that the actual birth anniversary will be on this date, a year later.”
Proud of the support lent by the Government of India, Prof Ray announced the four permanent Tagorean (two publications and two buildings) assets that were inaugurated on Sunday. These include, Rabindra Chitravali, a collection of the poet’s complete sketches and pictures that will be covered in four volumes, Kalanukrani which will be published in nearly 40 volumes as this text will include almost all of Tagore’s works, which will be arranged chronologically. “This text will be of great interest to researchers and even the common men who have always been eager to learn about Tagore’s mental evolution,” says the Vice-Chancellor.
The two buildings include Kala Bhavan and Rabinrda Bhavan and a large auditorium that will be built ‘on the lines of any international auditorium’ with the capacity to accommodate a thousand people. The former which was not opened to the public so far will now exhibit all of Tagore’s paintings and be open to visitors.
As far as Tagore’s great works and relics are concerned, the Indian Railways will run a unique museum. This was inaugurated on Sunday evening by Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee. The train — Sankriti Express — will showcase the Nobel laureate’s life and philosophy, and will touch important railway stations across the country before finally returning to Kolkata on May 8, 2011.
Be it in the streets of Kolkata, popular auditoriums, his birthplace, Santiniketan, or local FM and TV channels, on Sunday the unparalleled bard entered every home and heart through his unique, rich and diverse works. It can be safely said that shades from his oeuvre have been indelibly etched on every soul in the city.
By Sutapa Mukkerjee | Kolkata
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