Rabindra Jayanti Celebration by Khola Hawa
Kolkata, 9th May 2023 – Khola Hawa organised a grand cultural evening at the Science City Auditorium, Kolkata to mark the 162nd birth anniversary of Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore. The celebration brought together reflection, art, and cultural pride, with the theme of paying tribute to the poet whose vision continues to guide India and the world.
The evening was enriched by the presence of several distinguished personalities. Chief among them was Shri Amit Shah, Honourable Union Minister of Home and Corporate Affairs, who delivered the keynote address. Other dignitaries included Dr. Swapan Dasgupta, President of Khola Hawa and Member of Parliament; Shri Suvendu Adhikari, Leader of the Opposition in the West Bengal Legislative Assembly; Shri Shantanu Thakur, Minister of State for Shipping; Dr. Subhas Sarkar, Minister of State for Education; Shri Nishit Pramanik, Minister of State for Home Affairs; Shri John Barla, Minister of State for Minority Affairs; Mrs. Locket Chatterjee, Member of Parliament; and Shri Tathagata Roy, former Governor of Tripura, among others. Their presence reflected the stature of the occasion and its significance for Bengal and India.
The programme began with the lighting of the ceremonial lamp, led by the chief guest and dignitaries. This was followed by a series of cultural performances dedicated to Rabindranath Tagore. Acclaimed artists including Rituparna Sengupta, Somlata Acharya, Tanushree Shankar, and Kohinoor Sen Barat performed soulful songs, dance recitals, and dramatic presentations based on Tagore’s creations. Emerging young talents also joined in, ensuring that the evening blended tradition with freshness. These artistic expressions captured the timeless essence of Tagore’s work — love, humanity, and the spirit of freedom.
In his welcome address, Dr. Swapan Dasgupta reflected on Tagore’s moral courage and intellectual fearlessness. Citing Tagore’s decision to renounce his knighthood after the Jallianwala Bagh massacre, he read from the poet’s historic letter: “The time has come when badges of honor make our shame glaring in the incongruous context of humiliation. I wish to stand shorn of all special distinctions by the side of my countrymen.” Dr. Dasgupta urged the audience to internalize Tagore’s ideals in contemporary Bengal, observing, “If we could truly absorb his values, perhaps we could do even more as Bengalis.”
Delivering the keynote speech, Shri Amit Shah described Rabindranath Tagore as a “global human being”, whose contributions to literature, art, and education transcend all borders. He remarked, “162nd Rabindra Jayanti is not only a big day for Bengal or India, but for the whole world that values free thought and art.” Shri Shah noted Tagore’s rare distinction of being the only person in history to compose the national anthems of two countries — India and Bangladesh.
He also spoke of Tagore’s visionary role in education through Shantiniketan, which he called a “revolutionary experiment blending Indian philosophy with modern learning.” Linking this to India’s current educational reforms, Shri Shah observed: “If a child cannot think in their mother tongue, their ability to reason and innovate is stifled. Gurudev’s vision guides us even today, and it is reflected in the New Education Policy.”
Shri Shah highlighted Tagore’s profound connections with Mahatma Gandhi, Subhas Chandra Bose, Jagadish Chandra Bose, and Albert Einstein, underlining how the poet’s influence extended across science, politics, and philosophy. He noted, “Even without direct political involvement, Tagore’s ideas inspired the freedom movement and generations of leaders.”
The cultural and intellectual flow of the evening ensured that the audience not only remembered Tagore’s legacy but also reflected on its relevance in the present day.
The celebration concluded with a note of gratitude to all dignitaries, artists, and attendees. The event ended on a solemn and patriotic note with the singing of India’s National song, “Vande Mataram,” with the version specially commissioned for this particular event.
