Rabindranath Tagore’s 164th birth anniv today

Today marks the 164th birth anniversary of Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore, one of the most influential figures in Bengali literature and culture.

To commemorate the occasion, Bangladesh’s Ministry of Cultural Affairs is launching a three-day celebration at Shilaidaha in Kushtia, a place closely associated with Tagore’s life and works. Similar programmes will also be held in Patisar (Naogaon), Shahzadpur (Sirajganj), and Dakshindihi and Pithabhog (Khulna)—locations with deep Tagorean connections, according to BSS.

As part of the national celebration, the ministry and Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy will distribute 600 souvenirs and 20,000 posters. The academy is also organizing a three-day programme featuring cultural performances and an exhibition of Tagore’s artworks.

Bangla Academy will hold a discussion to honor Tagore's contributions, while cultural group Chhayanaut is hosting a two-day event at its Dhanmondi auditorium in Dhaka.

Born on 25 Baishakh, 1268 Bangla calendar (corresponding to May 7, 1861) at Jorasanko in Kolkata, Tagore was the first non-European to win the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1913 for Geetanjali, a collection of deeply spiritual and lyrical poems.

His vast body of work—spanning poems, novels, short stories, plays, songs, and essays—explores human emotion, social issues, and the pursuit of personal and national identity. Tagore also composed the national anthems of Bangladesh (Amar Sonar Bangla) and India (Jana Gana Mana), with Sri Lanka’s anthem inspired by his style.

Some of his most celebrated works include Geetanjali, Gora, Ghare-Baire, Raktakarabi, The Gardener, and The Fugitive. He also left behind a legacy of music, paintings, and philosophical thought.

Rabindranath Tagore passed away on Shraban 22, 1348 Bangla year (August 7, 1941), leaving behind a timeless legacy cherished across the world.