Importance of Tagore's ideas in present day context discussed

From our Staff Correspondent

Dibrugarh, June 12: The two-day University Grant Commission (UGC) sponsored tiol semir on Kabiguru Rabindrath  Tagore and his importance in modern society and literature, held at Monohari Devi Kanoi Girls’ College (MDKG College) concluded successfully recently.

The iugural session of the semir started with a brief introduction of the topic of the semir given by Dr Rizia Begum Laskar which was followed by the felicitation of the guest.  The coorditor of the semir was Dr. Shekhar Chakraborty. The Principal, Dr. DK Bhuyan gave the welcome speech where he elucidated the glorious history of the college and how such semirs help in strengthening the academic atmosphere. The former president of the Axam Xahitya Xabha, Dr. gen Saikia, while addressing as chief guest, briefly spoke about the contributions of Rabindrath Tagore to the society and the ways in which such great literary figures paved the path for the foundation of a better society. Both the guests of honour, president, governing body, MDKG College Dr. R. Barbara, and president, NBBSS, Dibrugarh branch, Kshitish Roy, in their respective very brief speeches spoke about the greatness of Tagore and the fact that his contributions could never be overemphasized.

The keynote address of the semir was delivered by Dr. Bishwajit Ray of Vishva Bharati University, He talked in details about the importance of Tagore’s ideas in the present day context and how they could shape our future. He termed our present society as ‘plurilingual’ and said that Tagore himself was one of the major proponents of ‘plurilingalism’. He took up four texts of Tagore – Ghare Bhaire, Rokto Korobi, Gora, and Mukto Dhara to show how Tagore’s works had always given importance to the necessity of a functiol samaj (which he refused to equate with the English term society) and how such samaj could make better human beings. The session came to an end with the vote of thanks by Dr. Shekhar Chakraborty.