The Indian High Commission to Jamaica celebrated the 150th birth anniversary of the poet and philosopher Rabindranath Tagore with an evening of reflection and dance recently.
Rabindranath Tagore (1861-1941) or Gurudev was a creative genius who excelled in many areas of Indian life including literature, fine art, music and dance reorienting the nation's cultural landscape away from colonial dependence towards nationhood and political autonomy. In 1913, Tagore became the first non-European Nobel Laureate, he was knighted by King George the Vth of England in 1915 and when he died in August 1941 he was lauded not only for his artistic achievements but also his role as a goodwill ambassador throughout the world.
The anniversary programme honoured Tagore's life by taking a brief look at his poetry, drama, dance and fine art, with readings, a scene from one of his plays, a video podcast about his art, and a creative Manipuri dance ballet titled Chitra performed by Priti Patel and the Anjika group, currently touring the Caribbean.
Rabindranath Tagore's genius is still relatively little known outside of India. But the evening served to educate even as it entertained. Find out more about Tagore's art. Click here to watch the video.