Shahzadpur Kacharibari organises Rabindra festival

After two years of pandemic, Shahzadpur Rabindra Kacharibari has arranged a three-day festival marking the 161st birth anniversary of Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore.

 "Due to Covid, we couldn't organise Tagore's birth festival in Shahzadpur Kacharibari in the last two years. This year poet's birth festival will be celebrated with grandeur," informed Abu Sayed Enam Tanvirul, custodian of Shahzadpur Rabindra Kacharibari.

The relics of poet Rabindranath Tagore at the Shahzadpur Rabindra Kacharibari. Photo: Ahmed Humayun Kabir Topu

Funded by the Ministry of Cultural Affairs, the Sirajganj district administration's event will conclude on May 10, he adds.

Discussions on the life and works of Tagore will be held. Popular and promising local artistes will also perform Tagore songs at the programme. The event is underway at the Sirajganj Government College. 

The people of Shahzadpur and Sirajganj celebrate the Rabindra festival every year on this day commemorating the lovely relationship between Rabindranath Tagore and Abu Sayed Enam Tanvirul's family. 

Tagore's grandfather Prince Dwarkanath had bought the estate in Shahzadpur from Zaminder Rani Bhabani of Natore in 1840, long before the poet's birth. The poet got the responsibility to maintain the estate, and thus had to visit Shahzadpur regularly. He last visited Shahzadpur in 1901.

Three hundred and thirty one archeological relics are currently on display at the Shahzadpur Kachari bari museum. The items include the poet's couch, chairs, tables, a mirror, a piano, and a palanquin, among others. 

Tagore loved Shahzadpur's natural beauty, and the lifestyle, and cultural beauty of this region fully.

Beyond the typical landlord family, Tagor had a spontaneous relationship with nature and the people of Shahzadpur which influenced his literature. He even mentioned this in a letter he had written to his niece Indira Debi in the early 19th century.

"Tagore spent time with the farmers and locals of  Shahzadpur," shared Professor Dr Abdul Alim, the senior teacher in the Department of Bangla, Pabna University of Science and Technology.

"Postmaster", one of his best literary works, is based on a real figure in this region, the professor adds.

Tagore wrote part of his play "Bishorjon", "Sonar Tori", "Chitra", "Chaitali", "Golapguchchho", "Chhinnapatra", and "Panchabhooter Diary" in Shahzadpur. Tagore also wrote 38 letters from here.