President Pranab, PM Modi call Rabindranath Tagore an ‘inspiration to humanity’ on his birth anniversary

Pranab said that Rabindranath Tagore was the perfect ambassador of the country at a time when little was known about India in the outside world

By: ANI News Agency |
May 9, 2017 8:55 am

As the country observes Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore’s birth anniversary on Tuesday, President Pranab Mukherjee and Prime Minister Narendra Modi remembered the great soul for his contribution towards making India a stronger nation.

Taking to Twitter, President Mukherjee said that Tagore was an icon who not only illumined the time he lived in but continues to remain an inspiration for humanity. “In a world fettered by race, creed & colour, Gurudev Tagore promoted internationalism for a new world order,” the President said.

Paying his tribute, Mukherjee said Tagore was an intellectual giant and that he was fascinated by the idea of interaction between civilisations through the exchange of knowledge about their cultures and literatures. “Tagore was a great soul, who not only illumined the time he lived in, but continues to remain an inspiration for humanity. Let us use this occasion to draw inspiration from Tagore’s idea of oneness of humanity,” he said.

He said Tagore was the perfect ambassador of the country at a time when little was known about India in the outside world. “Gurudev Tagore set forth a vision of peace and fraternity that continues to have relevance and global appeal.

Gurudev was the perfect ambassador of our country at a time when little was known about India in the outside world #PresidentMukherjee

— President of India (@RashtrapatiBhvn) May 9, 2017

In a world fettered by race, creed & colour, Gurudev Tagore promoted internationalism for a new world order #PresidentMukherjee

— President of India (@RashtrapatiBhvn) May 9, 2017

Prime Minister Narendra Modi also paid his tributes to Tagore saying that he will always be remembered for his powerful thoughts and contribution to the freedom movement. “Gurudev Tagore will always be remembered for his powerful thoughts & contribution to the freedom movement. Tributes to him on his Jayanti,” Modi tweeted on Tuesday.

Gurudev Tagore will always be remembered for his powerful thoughts & contribution to the freedom movement. Tributes to him on his Jayanti.

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) May 9, 2017

Meanwhile, the process of paying tributes to the great poet has started since early morning throughout West Bengal.
The main function is being held at Rabindranath Tagore’s ancestral home in Jorasanko in north Kolkata. Songs written by the Nobel laureate poet are being sung and his poetry is being recited at different venues of celebrations.