9-Member Indian Delegation to Visit Bangladesh from 19th December 2010 to Discuss Indo-Bangla Joint Commemorations of 150th Birth Anniversary of Rabindranath Tagore

INVC,,

Delhi,,

During the visit of Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to India in January 2010, both the Prime Ministers had agreed for joint celebration of Tagore’s 150th Birth Anniversary in 2011-12 in a manner befitting his vision and spirit.

A National Committee under the Chairmanship of Prime Minister of India Dr. Manmohan Singh and a National Implementation Committee under the Chairmanship of Finance Minister of India Shri Pranab Mukherjee have been constituted to celebrate the 150th Birth Anniversary of Rabindranath Tagore in an appropriate manner. The National Committee in its meeting held on 20th May 2010 decided that special emphasis be given to the Joint Indo-Bangladesh Celebrations.

Shri Jawhar Sircar, Secretary, Ministry of Culture and Shri Rajeet Mitter, Indian High Commissioner, Dhaka have been in constant touch in order to work out a detailed programme in the spirit of the Joint Communiqué.

DG, ICCR has, during the recent Festival of India, in Bangladesh, held preliminary discussions with the Bangladesh authorities in this regard, too.

A 9-Member Indian Delegation led by Shri Jawhar Sircar, Secretary, Union Ministry of Culture, will visit Bangladesh from 19-22 December 2010 to finalise the Joint Celebrations. The team comprises officials and Cultural Experts. There will be wide ranging discussions with the Bangladeshi authorities in the Ministries of Culture & Foreign Affairs. The discussions will cover various aspects of the celebrations such as exhibitions of Tagore’s Paintings, Seminars, Workshops, Commemorative publications on Tagore, joint Productions of dances/dramas based on the stories written by Tagore, Rabindra Sangeet, films inauguration of “Rabindra Tirtha”, or Tagore – related Tourism Circuits, including Jorasankho, Shantiniketan and Shilaidaha in both countries, instituting a Tagore Chair at Dhaka University, Scholarships for Bangladeshi students, Awards for noted Tagore Scholars in India and Bangladesh, presentation of Tagore memorabilia to Bangladesh, Indo-Bangladesh Maitri Car Rally, etc.

The opening ceremony of the Celebrations will be held on May 7/8, 2011 in both the countries with participation of the VVIPs and will continue till 2012.

The Indian delegation also plans to visit important places associated with Tagore in Bangladesh i.e. Kushtia, Shahzadpur and Shilaidaha during their stay there.