Today is the 160th birth anniversary of Rabindranath Tagore, the greatest name in Bangla literature and a profound inspiration in struggle for a better world.

Tagore - the poet, novelist, essayist, philosopher and musician - is part of the everyday life of an average Bengali. He is one of those great masters of literature whose works hardly left any human emotion untouched. 

Biswakabi Rabindranath Tagore has penned over 2000 songs, which are known as 'Rabindra Sangeet'. His works include hundreds of novels, short stories, dance-dramas, poems, essays and travelogues. Gora, Gitanjali, Rakta Karabi, Ghare Baire, Shesher Kobita, Raja O Rani, Tasher Desh, Dena Paona, Shanchayita are some of his best works, many of which have been translated into several languages.

His novels, short stories, songs, dance-dramas and essays always speak about the political and personal life of people.

Author of Gitanjali, profoundly sensitive, fresh and beautiful verse,

Rabindranath became the first non-European to win the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1913.

Sometimes referred to as “the Bard of Bengal”, Tagore’s poetic songs were viewed as spiritual and mercurial.

His compositions were chosen by two nations as national anthems:

Bangladesh’s Amar Sonar Bangla and India’s Jana GanaMana. The Sri Lankannational anthem was inspired by his work.

The youngest of thirteen surviving children, Tagore, nicknamed ‘Rabi’, was born on 25th of Bengali month of Baishakh in 1268 (May 7, 1861) in Jorasanko Mansion in Kolkata to Debendranath Tagore and Sarada Devi.

The legendary poet breathed his last at his paternal residence in Kolkata on Sraban 22 of Bangla year 1348 (August 7, 1941).

On the occasion of the birth anniversary of Rabindranath, President Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina issued separate messages today, paying rich tributes to the poet.

BDST: 1223 HRS, May 8, 2021
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