Kolkata: People from all walks of life on Tuesday remembered Rabindranath Tagore on his 162nd birth anniversary. A polymath who worked as poet, author, playwright, music composer, painter, philosopher and social reformer, Tagore was the first Asian to win a Nobel Prize in literature for his collection of poems - 'Gitanjali'.
West Bengal Governor Dr CV Ananda Bose and Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday paid tribute to the legend on his birth anniversary.
“Gurudev's timeless works continue to resonate with us, inspiring generations to embrace life's complexities with grace & dignity and celebrate the beauty of life," Raj Bhavan said in a tweet.
"I pay my humble tribute to Gurudeb Rabindranath Tagore on his birth anniversary. His great contribution to literature and art has shaped our rich cultural heritage and inspired many across the globe. May his teachings and philosophy continue to guide us all," Banerjee tweeted. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, while paying tributes to the Nobel laureate said that the poet has left an indelible mark on several areas.
"On the occasion of his Jayanti, my tributes to Gurudev Tagore. From art to music and from education to literature, he has left an indelible mark across several areas. We reiterate our commitment to fulfilling his vision for a prosperous, progressive and enlightened India," Modi said.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah, who is on a day-long visit to West Bengal to participate in the birth anniversary celebrations of Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore, visited the ancestral house of the bard in the metropolis and offered floral tributes.
Tagore was born on 7 May 1861 in the Jorasanko mansion in Calcutta now Kolkatha. He was the youngest of 13 surviving children of Debendranath Tagore and Sarada Devi. As per the Bengali calendar, Tagore was born in the year 1348 on the 25th day of Boisakh'.
(With inputs from PTI)