The 155th birthday of Rabindranath Tagore is being celebrated across the country today with several programmes being organised to pay respects to him.
Several lawmakers, including Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) veteran Lal Krishna Advani and Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Derek'O Brien paid their tributes to Tagore today.
"#Tagore birthday tribute in Parliament this morning. 4 MPs present. LK Advani, GN Azad and 2 of us from @AITCofficial," tweeted Derek'O Brien.
Several programmes have been organized in Kolkata. The day began with 'probhat' ferries (early morning musical soiree), garlanding statues and portraits of Tagore. The locals also gathered in large numbers at Jorasanko Thakurbari, the birth place of Tagorre, in Kolkata.
The Mamata Banerjee-led TMC Government in West Bengal has organized a fortnight long programme.
According to reports, the programme will kick-off this afternoon in the presence of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and renowned Rabindra Sangeet exponents.
Tagore, who was born on May 7, 1861, in Kolkata, was one of the primary crusaders during the pre-independence era. He was also a philosopher and an artist. He wrote many stories, novels and dramas,
as well as composing music and many songs. His writings greatly influenced Bengali culture during the late 19th century and early 20th century.
In 1913, he won the Nobel Prize in Literature, the first Asian to win this prize. He was popularly known as Gurudev. Tagore's major works included Gitanjali, Gora and Ghare-Baire; and
many other literary and art works.
