Tribute to Tagore

Updated on: Thursday, May 13, 2010

Kolkata: St James organised an inter-school competition Rabi Smaran to commemorate Tagore’s 150th birth anniversary on May 12 at the school auditorium.

Moromi Roy, teacher, Bengali, St James School who organised the programme, was very happy with the proceedings: “Rabindra Jayanti is being celebrated for the first time here. I feel Rabindranath Tagore is everywhere and hence his presence should be acknowledged. That is why we thought of this programme and invited other schools to participate.”

Inaugurating the ceremony were renowned singer Shivaji Chattapadhyay, orator and radio announcer Debashish Basu, ATN channel chief Tapan Ray and T H Ireland, Principal, St James School.

Speaking on the occasion Shivaji Chattopadhyay said, “It is our duty to know about Rabindranath Tagore. I feel every school should teach at least one song of Tagore to the students.” He concluded his speech with a melodious rendition of the bard’s Aaguner paroshmoni.

Basu recited a few lines from the Nobel laureate’s Gitanjali since the Nobel-winning work turned 100 this year. Besides being impressed with the effort of the school, he urged students to inculcate a sense of values along with modernism.

An inaugural dance put up by the teachers of the school was followed by various competitions based on the Nobel laureate. Besides St James, the event witnessed participation from reputed city schools-Don Bosco Park Circus, Pratt Memorial School, Loreto House and Frank Anthony Public School.

While the recitation competition saw the auditorium resounding with some well-known poems of Tagore like Shamanno Khot, Obhishaar, the debate competition witnessed a heated exchange of ideas and words.

Speakers, both for and against, had lots to say about the motion – modern instruments are bound to be used in Rabindrasangeet.

Students speaking for the motion harped on the fact that Tagore welcomed new ideas and thoughts so there was nothing wrong in modernising them, whereas those speaking against it felt that there was no need of modernisation since the songs have been heard and appreciated in their original forms for generations.

The panel of judges comprising Ujjwal Bhattacharya, Akash Vaani Bhavan, Swati Sengupta, La Martiniere for Girls and Sumanta Roy Chowdhury, Assembly of God Church, was all praise for both the recitation and debate participants.

To break away from the serious discussions, music and dance competitions followed.

Both the solo and group rounds of the music competition saw students rendering Rabindrasangeets like praan chaye chokkhu na chaye, tomar khola haowaye, to name a few.

The dance competition saw students dancing to the tunes of hey nutan, bhanusingher padaboli, taasher desh with perfect coordination.

Gauri Ireland, Shoulaja Tagore, Meghna Lahiri and Arpita Maity judged the music and dance segments and had a tough time deciding the winners.

Host school St James emerged the over-all champion. But as per tradition, the Jacobeans handed over the trophy to the next in line - Loreto House and Pratt Memorial secured the third position.

To give the eventful day a fitting conclusion, ex-Jacobean Pramanta Tagore gave a delightful sarod performance along with Jacobean Roshan Bose on the tabla.

Tribute to Tagore

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