A unique exhibition that left an indelible impression

  Special Correspondent

  Silchar, April 4: It was a unique exhibition on Rabindrath Tagore to bring out his various facets as a visiory, artist and poet. Held for the first time in Barak Valley in the premises of Women’s College here in collaboration with Indira Gandhi tiol Centre for the Arts (IGNCA), New Delhi, for a week and which concluded recently left an indelible impression on the minds of viewers. It was an exhibition that depicted the long 8 decades of chequered career with photographs of all the important events from his childhood to the day he breathed his last.

  In fact, the accompanying photographs were more telling as if reliving Rabindrath Tagore. The very objective of the exhibition, as Samar Kanti Roychoudhury, G B president said, is to bring to the fore the language, culture and creativity of the great poet. Not only this Barak and Surma Valley have connection with Tagore family, north east as a whole has links. Geetanjali has been translated in Bodo and Noukabubi in Manipuri.

  Describing the holding of exhibition as ‘historic’, Dr. Manoj Kumar Paul, principal, said Rabindrath Tagore is the classic example of ‘unity in diversity’ and his thoughts, ideas and philosophy have to be understood by the present generation. IGNCA, pointed out Dr. Prakriti Ranjan Goswami, director, Kalanidhi, is to promote Indian art and culture and this exhibition is a part of it. It should remain as an eye opener to youngsters. Virendra Bangroo, assistant professor, IGNCA, was quite appreciative of the head and teaching staff of Women’s College for organizing the memorable exhibition. Quite significantly, unknown to many, Tagore started his career of painting from the age of 60.

  While such informative and educative exhibition on a versatile genius is relevant, this is not the end of everything. One has to explore the unexplored are to know more about the great man of literature, art and culture who, in reality, belongs to all ages, all times and all lands, observed Dr. Amalendu Bhattacharjee, research scholar. Rabindrath, according to him, is the living symbol of unity in this multilingual, multireligious and multicultural north east India.

  The exhibition also had some sombre note when Prof. Tapodhir Bhattacharjee recalled in the midst of all the inspiring words the unfortute incident of how his Nobel Prize was stolen from Shantiniketan and remains untraced. Our pride and glory that is Rabindrath is a source of strength amidst the dark clouds hovering around us. But, he has not given us any weapon, but inspired us to be courageous to face the challenges.

  The works of Rabindrath Tagore consist of poems, novels, short stories, dramas, paintings, drawings, and music that Bengali poet and Brahmo philosopher Rabindrath Tagore created over his lifetime. Tagore's literary reputation is disproportiotely influenced very much by regard for his poetry. However, he also wrote novels, essays, short stories, travelogues, dramas, drawing and painting, and thousands of songs. Of Tagore's prose, his short stories are perhaps most highly regarded.

 Indeed, he is credited with origiting the Bengali language version of the genre. His works are frequently noted for their rhythmic, optimistic, and lyrical ture. However, such stories mostly borrow from deceptively simple subject matter — the lives of ordiry people. The lovers, readers, admirers of Tagore and all those who have gone through the exhibition have highly lauded the initiative taken by Women’s College, Silchar, for offering them the rare opportunity to view this ‘wonderful and unforgettable glimpses of the myriad and towering literary persolity’.