Tagore Celebrations

	Tagore Celebrations 2012
	Tagore Celebrations 2011

Tagore Celebrations 2012

Reception-cum-Viewing of Exhibitionof Original Paintings of Tagore

The High Commission of India, Kuala Lumpur hosted a Reception – cum –Viewing of the Exhibition of the original paintings of Rabindranath Tagore at National Visual Arts Gallery of Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur on 4th May 2012. The exhibition titled ‘The Last Harvest’ is being organized in commemoration of 150th birth anniversary of Asia’s first Nobel Laureate.


The reception was attended by many Head of Diplomatic Missions; Malaysian as well as Indian dignitaries; members of Cultural organizations and Media.


During the event, there was a performance by The Temple of Fine Arts Fusion Band led by Mr. Prakash Kandasamy.




An Exhibition of Original Paintings of Tagore in Kuala Lumpur
The High Commission of India, Kuala Lumpur have organized  an exhibition of the original paintings of Rabindranath Tagore at National Visual Arts Gallery of Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur from 3rd April to 15th July 2012 in commemoration of 150th birth anniversary of Asia’s first Nobel Laureate.  The paintings have been drawn from collections of the National Gallery of Modern Art in New Delhi and the Viswabharati University in Shanti Niketan of which he is the founder.  His paintings are considered to be a part of India’s National Cultural Treasure.

The Exhibition is titled ‘The Last Harvest’. 

The Exhibition was inaugurated by Dato’ Thanarajasingam, India-AEAN EPG and former Ambassador to France on behalf of Dato’ Sri Kamaruddin bin Siaraf, Secretary General, Ministry of Information, Communication and Culture, Malaysia on 02nd April, 2012. The inauguration ceremony was attended by H.E. Mr. Vijay Gokhale, High Commissioner of India in Malaysia; Dato’ Rozali Isohak, Chairman, National Visual Arts Development Board. Professor Rajeev Lochan, Director, National Gallery of Modert Art, New Delhi and Ambassador Dato’ Mohd. Yusof Ahmad, Director-General, National Visual Arts Gallery of Malaysia, spoke about the Exhibition during the ceremony. 

During the inauguration ceremony, there was a Group Dance performance on “Esho Shyamolo Sundero”, a song written by Rabindranath Tagore by Kshetra Academy, Malaysia.


A Group Dance performance on “Esho Shyamolo Sundero”, a song written by Rabindranath Tagore
by Kshetra Academy, Malaysia.


Launch of Exhibition by Dato’ Thanarajasingam, India-AEAN EPG and former Ambassador to France. He is accompanied by H.E. Mr. Vijay Gokhale, High Commissioner of India in Malaysia; Dato’ Rozali Isohak, Chairman, National Visual Arts Development Board; Professor Rajeev Lochan, Director, National Gallery of Modert Art, New Delhi and Ambassador Dato’ Mohd. Yusof Ahmad, Director-General, National Visual Arts Gallery of Malaysia


Professor R. Siva Kumar, Curator of the Exhibition alongwith Dato’ Thanarajasingam, India-AEAN EPG
and former Ambassador to France

Tagore Celebrations in Penang 12-14 May 2011


Inauguration of the 'Tagore Corner' and unveiling of a portrait of Rabindranath Tagore by the High Commissioner of India, Mr. Vijay K. Gokhale at Chung Ling High School, Penang, 13th May 2011.


High Commissioner of India, Principal of Chung Ling High School, Mr Chuah Yau Chou and grand-nephew of Rabindranath Tagore, Dr.Saranindranath Tagore with the winners of the Tagore Essay Writing Competition held at Chung Ling High School, 13th May 2011.


The Tagore commemorative celebration at Hu Yu Seah Society on 13th May 2011.


The foundation stone of the Hu Yew Seah Society that had been laid by
Rabindranath Tagore on 14th August 1927.


Exhibition entitled 'Tagore & the Romance of Travel' curated by Mrs. Supriya Roy
inaugurated at Hu Yew Seah on 13th May 2011.


Chief Minister of Penang, YAB Tuan Lim Guan Eng addressing the gathering at the Tagore cultural evening and reception hosted by the High Commission of India, at Khoo Kongsi on 13th May 2011.


Ms. Pramita Mallick and troupe performing a Rabindra Sangeet Recital at Khoo Kongsi
on 13th May 2011.


High Commissioner of India, felicitating Professor Mohamad Haji Salleh, Poet Laureate of Malaysia,
while Dr. Saranindranath Tagore looks on.


Tagore Evening hosted by the High Commission of India at the Khoo Kongsi, Penang
on 13th May 2011.


High Commissioner of India, with Chief Minister of Penang, YAB Tuan Lim Guan Eng
at the Tagore evening at Khoo Kongsi.


High Commissioner of India, speaking at the Penang Story Lecture on Tagore, 14th May 2011.


Professor Tan Sri Dzulkifli Abdul Razak, Vice Chancellor of Universiti Sains Malaysia and
Dr. Saranindranath Tagore, Professor at National University of Singapore speaking at the Penang
Story Lecture on ‘Rabindranath Tagore and the Cosmopolitan Vision’ on 14th May 2011.


Professor Dato’ Dr. Anwar Fazal, Chairman, Think City, Professor Wong Tat Meng, Vice Chancellor,
Wawasan Open University, Dr. Saranindranath Tagore and High Commissioner, Mr. Vijay K. Gokhale
at the Penang Story Lecture held at Wawasan Open University on 14th May 2011.


High Commissioner of India, launching the book entitled 'Portraits of Penang: Little India' by Dr. Ooi Cheng Ghee at Little India in George Town on the 12th May 2011.


The High Commissioner leading the procession through the streets of Little India.
The procession is seen here outside the office of the Penang Heritage Trust.

Celebrations of Rabindranath Tagore's 150th Birth Anniversary in Penang
12th – 14th May 2011

The High Commission of India, Kuala Lumpur in partnership with Think City, a subsidiary of Khazana Nasional, organized a three-day 'Tagore in Penang' weekend in George Town, Penang from 12-14 May 2011 to mark the 150th birth anniversary of Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore. The events in Penang attempted to re-live Tagore's visit to this Straits Settlement from 13-16 August, 1927.

The celebrations commenced with the launch of a book entitled 'Portraits of Penang: Little India' by Dr. Ooi Cheng Ghee, in the streets of the Indian area of George Town called 'Little India'. The event was attended by over a hundred people including both invitees and by-standers. The High Commissioner of India, His Excellency Vijay K. Gokhale launched this book of stunning black and white portraits of the people of Little India. The event was organized by the Penang Heritage Trust and Ms. Salma Khoo, its President, paid a glowing tribute to Tagore by discussing how his vision and ideas were still relevant to the Penang of today. The High Commissioner of India, Mr. Vijay K Gokhale thereafter led a procession through the streets of Little India to Gallery Seri Mutiara where an exhibition of digital reprints of Tagore's paintings curated by the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) was on display, along with an exhibition on Little India. Both exhibitions were received very well.

On 13th May, the Chung Ling High School, Penang's premier boy's school where Tagore had addressed students on 15 August 1927, hosted a Tagore commemorative event. The High Commission in partnership with Think City had sponsored an Essay Writing Competition at Chung Ling High School in April 2011 for which more than 45 essays were submitted by students. In addition, daily broadcasts about Rabindranath Tagore's visit to Chung Ling High School and his works were carried out in the school. The event on 13th May featured prize distribution to the winners of the competition. The High Commissioner also presented a portrait of Tagore to the School and inaugurated a 'Tagore Corner' in the School Library.

This was followed by an event at the Hu Yew Seah Society, a Chinese community hall, of which Tagore had laid the foundation stone on 14 August 1927. At the event, the foundation stone laid by Tagore was unveiled again in a refurbished hall by the High Commissioner of India, Mr. Vijay K Gokhale and Dr. Saranindranath Tagore, grand-nephew of Rabindranath Tagore. The hall was refurbished by Hu Yew Seah Society for the event at its own cost. The High Commissioner of India also inaugurated an exhibition entitled 'Tagore & the Romance of Travel' provided by ICCR. The event was well attended by members of the local Chinese community including the local State Assembly representative.

In the evening of 13 May, the High Commission hosted a cultural evening and reception at Khoo Kongsi, a spectacular Chinese clan house in Central George Town. The venue provided a stunning backdrop for a beautiful performance of Tagore's compositions sung by the renowned artiste Ms. Pramita Mallick and her troupe, whose visit was sponsored by ICCR. This was followed by a poetry recital led by Professor Mohamad Haji Salleh, Poet Laureate of Malaysia. Poets from Universiti Sains Malaysia, Penang's leading university, presented Tagore's poems in Bahasa Malaysia, Chinese, Persian, English and Bengali. This was followed by a brief medley of excerpts from Tagore's plays and songs presented by Dr. Munmum Datta, a local artiste. The Chief Minister of Penang, YAB Tuan Lim Guan Eng was the Guest of Honour for the evening. In his address he not only called Tagore his favourite poet but also suggested that the Tagore celebrations become an annual event in Penang. The evening was attended by around 150 invitees including business leaders, cultural personalities, senior government officials and other local dignitaries.

On 14th May 2011, Think City sponsored the 'Penang Story Lecture' by Professor Saranindranath Tagore, grand-nephew of Rabindranath Tagore on the theme 'Tagore and His Cosmopolitan Vision'. The lecture was moderated by Professor Tan Sri Dzulkifli Abdul Razak, Vice Chancellor of Universiti Sains Malaysia, and took place at the Wawasan Open University. The lecture was well attended and followed by an enthusiastic Q & A on Tagore's ideas and their relevance in the contemporary world.

The Tagore celebrations in Penang were an eclectic and innovative mix of events which reached out to a wide audience. The events were carried out with the support of local partners such as Think City, Penang Heritage Trust, Hu Yew Seah Society and Chung Ling High School and were supported by local associations and organizations such as the Indian Chambers of Commerce, Bengali Association and Universiti Sains Malaysia.