Darjeeling District celebrates 153rd Rabindra NathTagore Jayanti

Darjeeling : The district administration today marked a subdued 153rd birth anniversary of Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore in Mungpoo, some 32km from Darjeeling town. According to sources, the district administration received a communiqué from the state government asking it to scale down the celebration programme given the ongoing election model code of conduct. “We received orders from the state government asking us not to organise a grand programme to celebrate Tagore’s birth anniversary because of the election code of conduct. However, we may host a grand celebration in collaboration with the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration and other state government departments after the election is over,” said one of the sources. Artistes from Darjeeling and Siliguri performed Rabindra Sangeet and dances during the programme that lasted for some 90 minutes at the Rabindra Bhawan where the bard used to stay during his visits to the hills, which he did on four occasions. “We held a small scale programme to remember and honour the ‘Guru’ on his birth anniversary. 

We garlanded his bust and organised a recitation of his poems, while Rabindra Sangeet and dances were performed by artistes from Darjeeling and Siliguri,” informed Darjeeling SDO Soura Mondol. The Bhawan has been converted into a museum to preserve the heritage and sanctity of the bard’s stay in the hills. It houses furniture used by Tagore and also his paintings, attires and a number of letters and poems. Sisir Raut, the caretaker of the Bhawan, rued a grand celebration could not be held due to the election and also lamented the fact that the Bhawan and Tagore’s legacy were not being protected as desired. “The Bhawan needs massive repair and renovation work, but till date, we have only seen minor repair works and those are not enough. We must uphold Tagore’s value as he is our nation’s pride to showcase to the world,” he said. Raut added, “Making matters worse is the confusion about which department is supposed to look after the Bhawan. I have no idea even though officials from the state government or the district administration and the GTA come to visit the place occasionally. They leave by promising much, but nothing of note has been done.” Officials of the GTA and the police department along with the cinchona plantation were also present at the function initiated by the state information and cultural department.