The Consulate General of India in Shanghai organised celebration of the 164th birth anniversary of Rabindranath Tagore, at Vivekananda Culture Centre at CGI, Shanghai, on June 1.
The event was attended by over hundred guests, including Indian diaspora, friends of India and Chinese students and followers of Tagore art and literature.
At the beginning of the event, Consul General Pratik Mathur led the gathering in paying homage to the victims of the Pahalgam terror attacks in India and reiterating the country’s resolve to fight terrorism with zero-tolerance approach. In his opening remarks, he underlined the abiding impact of Gurudev Tagore’s rich cultural legacy in India and abroad. Speaking about his influence in China, Mathur noted that Tagore’s short stories are still taught in Chinese schools and his novels and Rabindra Sangeet form a part of the Chinese college and university curriculum.
Mathur highlighted that Gurudev had special affection for the city of Shanghai, a city he visited twice after becoming the first Asian to win the Nobel Prize for Literature. His unique place in Shanghai’s cultural landscape is attested by his two statues in the city.
The CG’s remarks were followed by an enlightening talk on the rich legacy of Gurudev in East Asia, delivered by noted Tagore expert and scholar Tina Kanagratnam. On the occasion, Indian community in Shanghai, under the aegis of Shanghai Adda, presented a Rabindra Sangeet programme and a dance performances. The celebration included Rabindra Sangeet classical recitals on sitar and table. The celebrations concluded with a specially curated yoga performance based on Rabindra Sangeet.