Berne
PRESS RELEASE
Rabindra Jayanti celebrations in Berne, Switzerland
To celebrate the 161st birth anniversary of Rabindranath Tagore, Embassy of India, Berne organized an event “Tribute to Tagore” in Berne on 07 May, 2022. The event was inaugurated by H.E. Mr. Sanjay Bhattacharyya, Ambassador of India to Switzerland. In his remarks, Ambassador Sanjay Bhattacharyya referred to Tagore’s three visits to Switzerland, his dialogues with Romain Rolland and other intellectuals and his impressions of the influence of Germanic culture and traditions in Europe. Ambassador also highlighted the timeless appeal of Tagore and how his creative genius continued to provide sustenance to generations of Indians and even foreigners.
Rabindranath Tagore made significant contributions in the fields of literature, poetry, philosophy and art. A multifaceted personality, a true intellectual and one of the greatest and best - known ambassadors of Indian culture, Tagore’s name is synonymous with humanity and harmony across cultures and nations. He won the Nobel prize for literature in 1913 and was the first Indian artist to receive this honour.
Cultural performances including recitation, Rabindra sangeet, Rabindra nritya, Shrutinatok etc. were also held on the occasion, with artists from Swiss Puja, a Zurich based community organisation, which has contributed to the propagation of Tagore’s works in Switzerland.
An exhibition on paintings of Rabindranath Tagore was displayed on the sidelines of the event. The exhibition is a tribute to Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore, a great artist and a master of several literary forms. Tagore started painting relatively late in his life, but this did not prevent him from becoming one of India’s most revered modern artists. Rabindra Bhavana provided digital versions of the paintings.
The Bengali feature film “Ghare Baire” based on Rabindranath Tagore’s novel, written and directed by Satyajit Ray was also screened during the event. The movie “Ghare Baire”, released in 1985, had the freedom movement and the boycott of foreign-made goods as its backdrop. Interestingly, Herman Hesse, whose philosophical outlook was similar to Tagore’s, had written a review of the text, which introduced filmmakers to Tagore’s works.
The commemoration event was held at the famous Casino Bern and was attended by a large gathering of Swiss politicians and officials, foreign diplomats and Indian diaspora.
