Asim Bando's KOLKATA BLOG

An untitled Tagore painting of a “couple”, from the 1930s, was auctioned by Christie’s on September 22, with a price estimate of between $120,000 and $180,000 (Rs 88 lakh-Rs 1.3 crore). But, the said painting was sold out at the price of Rs. 4.7 Crore ($637,500). The name of the buyer although not disclosed.  The painting was acquired directly from Rabindranath Tagore by Edith Andreae, a literary executor and editor of the works of her brother, Walther Rathenau, and her banker husband in Berlin, Friedrich. It was passed on in the Rathenau family as an heirloom. Rathenau was a German industrialist, writer and liberal He considered the painting as “a national treasure”, the painting, mixed media on paper laid on card, measures 56.8cm x 45.7cm, “considerably larger than most of his works”. Christie’s tells prospective buyers that although Tagore “is still best known for his poetry and songs, his importance as an artist was recognised when he became one of nine painters designat...

Jivan Smriti 'Selective Memories' : a film on Rabindranath Tagore by the eminent filmmaker Rituparno Ghosh will telecast DD National on 8 August, 2013 at 10:30 p.m. Rituparno made the film well earlier of his untimely death. But it was not released due to some reasons. The Cultural Ministry of Govt. of India produced the film. And NFDC is the executive producer. The director has tried to depict the life, feelings, ups & downs of the poet from his young age to old age in this film. Samadarshi Dutta has played the role of 18-30 year's aged Rabindranath and Sanjay Nag has played the role of matured Tagore in the film. Raima Sen has played the role of Kadambari Debi. -- A. B.

"he padma, tomai amai dekha shata shatabar..." The great poet Rabindranath Tagore once expressed his emotions through 'Chaitali' - the collection of poems. He was then on the boat Padma on the river Padma. The poet used to spend several hours on this boat while stayed at Patisar, the zamindari estate in Kushthia of Bangladesh. He loved to be on this boat and had created so many famous poems on board of this boat. Yesterday, the cultural minister of Bangladesh, handed over the replica of this luxurious boat to the vice-chancellor of Rabindra Bharati University, Kolkata. -- A. B.

Rabindranath Tagore was felicitated at Town Hall for the win of his Nobel prize by Kolkata Corporation, and now they're celebrating the 152 birthday of Tagore at Town Hall. The 4-day long musical programme inaugurated this afternoon where various artists of Bengal will perform Rabindra Sangeet and will recite Tagore's poems. The cultural programmes will run 5-8 May at 3pm and the only venue is Town Hall of Kolkata.--- A. B.

The artists of Kolkata will sit at Dharmatala on 10 January 2012 at noon in protest of exhibitions of fake paintings of Rabindranath Tagore in the city of joy. -- A. B.

100 years ago, on this day, "Jana gana mana" - created by Rabindranath Tagore, was sung for the first time, at the convention of Indian National Congress in Kolkata. To commemorate this occasion, a programme organised at Town Hall of the city this evening by the Govt. of West Bengal. Eminent film director Rituporno Ghosh will conduct the function.-- A. B.

In the year 1883, on this day, Rabindranath Tagore wedded Mrinalini Debi in Kolkata. -- A. B.

Rabindranath Tagore at the Galerie Pigalle, Paris, 1930 -- A. B.

Romain Rolland and Rabindranath Tagore in Villeneuve, Switzerland in the year 1926. -- A. B.

Bid of a notebook with handwritings of Rabindranath Tagore full of songs and poems found in London will go for bid on 13 December in New York. Much enthusiasm expected amongst admirer of Tagore and so the bid may go upto 1.50 lakh US Dollar.-- A. B.

Rabindranath Tagore was also the director of his famous dance drama 'Notir Puja' and staged it several times. He directed it on the celluloid also. -- A. B.

The Nobel certificates and medallion of the poet Rabindranath Tagore which he got in the year 1913 for the collection of poems 'Gitanjali' (songs offering ).-- A. B.

On 150th birth anniversary of Rabindranath Tagore, The Indian Railways paying a pictorial tribute by the mobile museum on a train named 'Sanskriti Yatra' where the entire life of the great poet is depicted.-- A. B.

In the year 1913, on this day, Nobel prize committee announced the name of Rabindranath as the recipient of Nobel prize in literature. When Rabindranath went to England in the year 1912, eminent English artist Rothenstein loved 'Geetanjali' - the collection of poems by Tagore in English. He referred Tagore to the then poets W. B. Yeats, May Sinclaire, Ezra Pound etc to read the book 'Song Offerings' in English. And Tagore received the Nobel prize for the English translation of his immortal book of poems 'Geetanjali' which later translated in many other languages. -- A. B.

In the year 1939, on this day, Kobiguru Rabindranath Tagore laid the foundation stone of 'House of the Nation' Mahajati Sadan in Kolkata. The building was conceived by Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose. Rabindranath attended the function and within his speech, the poet recited his famous poem "banglar mati, banglar jal". The building is an auditorium with clay models of freedom fighters and an archive itself with facility of libraries. It is a heritage building of Kolkata and many organisations performing various cultural and social functions there. Famous magician P C Sircar performs here. Veteran singer Manna Dey performed here several times. The auditorium is air-conditioned. But the auditorium with its ancient history not getting due importance. Much more functions should be organised there, so that the nation may know the heritage value of this remarkable monument of Kolkata. It should also be included in the list of 'Places of Interest' by Wikiped...

City of joy Kolkata alongwith Bengal celebrating the auspicious occasion of 'Rakhi' today with joy and traditional enthusiasm. It is the occasion of Hindus, Jains and Sikhs that spreads brotherhood and love for all. A simple thread of emotion with a belief to protect from all the hazards and evils of life. Raksha Bandhan as its present concept initiated by poet Rabindranath Tagore in the year 1905 on this day to curb the division of Bengal.-- A. B.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee Tuesday uncovered a stadium named after the Nobel winning collection of poems Gitanjali by Rabindranath Tagore as a tribute on his death anniversary. She inaugurated Gitanjali stadium, a multi-disciplined… Click here to read the full story --

Water-logged road - but love for beloved poet - Rabindranath - in every heart. [the photo was taken by a press photographer in Howrah on Monday and published on yesterday's newspaper.] -- A. B.

Today, "Baishe Shraban" of Bangla month - 70th death anniversary of Rabindranath Tagore. The government of West Bengal declared the day as holiday to observe the day with reverence and love for the immortal poet. Tagore was a poet - the poet of all the poets. He felt and put his feelings in writing thus we can feel our imaginations and aspirations in every moment of life. He was the last word of feelings. When we feel sorrow - his creations are our solace, when we feel happy - we find with joy that he already guessed our happiness and written our feelings years ago. So, no new grief or happiness are there for us to write more - he already written for us. And that is the greatness of a poet's thought. Rabindranath our soul, Rabindranath our life. Today, in spite of rains, the city of joy Kolkata is observing the day with several rally and all the rally will meet at Metro station. In the evening, a cultural function will be held at Netaji Indoor Stadium in Kol...

The legendary Prof Kajuo Ajuma of Japan passed away last Thursday in Tokyo. He loved India and himself was a specialist on Rabindranath Tagore. Major part of his 80 years he passed to cultivate India. And lion's share of that major part was occupied Tagore. He was dedicated to spread Tagore culture in Japan. And it was rare in world history. Shantiniketan was his second land. To cultivate Japanese culture and literature, he established 'Nippon Bhavan' at Viswabharati and India-Japan cultural centre 'Rabindra-Okakura Bhavan' in Kolkata. Rabindranath was his north star till the end of his life. A few years ago, he told in Kolkata in clear Bengali that, he was admirer of Bangla and Bengalee. And this admiration was grew centering Rabindranath. In his opinion, Tagore was not only for Bengalees, but for the entire world. Japanese reverence for Tagore is like Goutam Buddha. These two noble person enriched the cultural and spiritual fields of Japan. Ajuma tr...