Programme marking 151st birth anniversary of Tagore
Nobel laureate poet Rabindranath Tagore’s idyllic ‘Shilaidah Kuthibari’ (mansion) inspired some of the bard’s most famous literary works, including poetry, prose, novels and music.
Rabindranath Tagore first came to Shilaidah along with his elder brother Jyotirindranath, in 1876, when he was 15-years-old. Though the brothers came to settle matters related to their zamindari (family estate), the mighty river Padma and natural beauty of Shilaidah made a deep impact on the young poet.
Tagore made a boat named ‘Padma’ in which he wrote many poems. Tagore’s historical Padma boat was destroyed over a passage of time. However, the government built a replica of Tagore’s original boat at a cost of Taka 18 lakh.
“Based on the model of Tagore’s original boat we built this Padma boat. The boat, at the pond beside the Kuthibari museum was opened for visitors on December, 2011,” Md. Mohidul Islam, custodian of Shilaidah Kuthibari, said.
The Kuthibari houses 162 items including Tagore’s furniture, photographs and other memorabilia, which visitors can view, Mohidul added.
In the priceless collection are an iron cabinet, iron water filter, a lawn mower, table used for revenue collection of the family estate, Tagore’s bed, chair, sofa, file cabinet, dining table, reading table, book shelf, two big almirah, an easy chair, and a speed boat in the Kuthibari museum.
“Rabindranath created a new era of romantic aristocracy that blended Bengali culture, Indian modernism and gradual development of occidental philosophy,” Bangla Professor Md. Nurunnabi said.
Valuable and historical pictures are also kept in the museum. Of the rare photographs, one of poet and scientist Satyen Sen, Rabindranath along with Sharat Chandra and many other elites of nineteen century hang in the museum.
According to historians, Tagore’s “Ponchobhuter Diary” was published in 1891 under the name “Ponchobhut”. Most probably this was the first of Tagore’s books written in Shilaidah.
Of his famous books, “Shonar Tari”, “Chitra”, “Chokher Bali”, “Pujarini”, “Obhisar”, “Bisharjan” and short stories like “Uddhar”, “Durbudhhi”, “Shubho-Drishti” and “Sadar-Andar” were written in Shilaidah.
Tagore also wrote hundreds of famous songs in Shilaidah: among them are “Modhur Modhur Dhoni”, “Bishwa Bina Rob-e”, “Esheche Natun Jibon” and “Tomar Gopon Kotha”.
As in previous years, a five-day programme to observe the 151st birth anniversary of the Nobel Laureate has been organised.
The five-day programme will begin on May 8. The cultural programme will be held on May 8-10. Artistes from across the country will perform at the cultural programme marking the 151st anniversary of the poet.
A five-day Rabindra Mela wil begin from May 8, beside the Kuthibari field.
-With The Daily Star input
