National Celebrations to Mark the 150th Birth Anniversary of Rabindranath Tagore Begin

The three National Akademies (Sangeet Natak, Sahitya and Lalit Kala) and the Ministry of Culture are launching the National Celebrations on the 150th year of Rabindranath Tagore, with a three-day event entitled ‘Rabindra Pranati’. This will take place from 7th to 9th May 2010 at Rabindra Bhavan, Copernicus Marg, New Delhi.

Rabindranath’s genius expressed itself in the entire array of the arts that are represented by the three National Akademies, established by the Government in the mid-1950s. It is also appropriate that this year-long commemoration of Rabindranath Tagore commences at Rabindra Bhavan in New Delhi, which itself was built on the occasion of the Tagore Centenary in 1961, to house the Akademies.

The Government of India has constituted a National Committee under the chairmanship of Hon’ble Prime Minister of India for commemorating the 150th anniversary of Rabindranath Tagore. A smaller National Implementation Committee, headed by Shri Pranab Mukherjee, Finance Minister has also been set up to work out the operational details, and it has held its first meeting on 5th May, 2010.

The Rabindra Pranati programme on 7 May features a book exhibition on Rabindranath Tagore – TAGORE’S TREASURES at 5.30 pm at Sahitya Akademi, Renderings of GITANJALI in different Indian languages by eminent poets at 6.30 pm at Meghdoot Theatre III, and RABINDRA SANGEET by eminent artistes from Kolkata and Delhi at 7.45 pm at Meghdoot Theatre I.

Panel Discussion: RE-EXPLORING TAGORE’S ART is scheduled on 8 May at 5 pm at Meghdoot Theatre III, followed, from 7 pm onwards, by VACIKANJALI – Renderings from Tagore’s literary works by leading actors and VADYANJALI – Instrumental ensemble by All India Radio Vadya Vrinda, Delhi at Meghdoot Theatre I.

On 9 May, KAVYANJALI – Poets’ Meet will be held at 10 am at Sahitya Akademi Auditorium, a Puppet play Raja O’ Rajdrohi based on a story by Tagore in Bengali at 5 pm, followed, from 7 pm onwards, by NRITYANJALI – dance excerpts based on Tagore’s works by leading choreographers and SWARANJALI – Songs of Rabindranath Tagore by Calcutta Choir, Kolkata.

Shri Pranab Mukherjee, Hon’ble Finance Minister and Chairman of the National Implementation Committee will be the Chief Guest on Sunday 9 May, 2010 at 7 pm at Meghdoot Theatre I (Open Air) in Rabindra Bhavan, New Delhi to pay tribute to Rabindranath Tagore. On this occasion, he will also release a commemorative coin to mark the inauguration of Government of India’s commemorative programmes to celebrate Rabindranath Tagore.

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