Tagore's Brookside will be declared Rabindranath Art Gallery

Shillong, May 13 (UNI) Brookside, the house in Meghalaya where Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore began writing his 'Shesher Kobita' in 1919 will be declared as the Rabindranath Art Gallery.

''We shall preserve the place in all its glory and establish a Rabindranath Art Gallery here,'' Chief Minister D D Lapang announced at a function to commemorate the birth anniversary of the bard at the historic Brookeside complex here today.

Addressing a gathering at a cultural function organised by the Doordarshan Kendra (DDK), Kolkata, featuring Tagore's works depicting Shillong at Brookeside, Mr Lapang said, the landscape surrounding the structure will be protected with technical assistance from Victoria Memorial Hall, Kolkata.

''The scenic environment and landscape of the place will be preserved,'' the Chief Minister assured.

Brookside is a sprawling country mansion located in a woody groove in a secluded area of the city, encircled on three sides by the deep gorges of the Umshyrpi stream. The mansion was host to the 'Kabi-Guru' during one of his visits to Shillong in the early years of the last century.

DDK, Kolkata, had organised a day-long cultural programme based on songs, poems and other literary works of Tagore, including the famous drama 'Roktokorobi', novel 'Yogajog' written in Shillong and his celebrated Shillong-based novel love story 'Shesher Kobita', which were telecast live across the nation.

The programme was part of Doordarshan's endeavour to highlight places in the North East intricately associated with the life and works of the poet laureate.

Noted actors Shrila Majumdar and Indrani Haldar, Rabindrasangeet exponents Manabi Ghosh and Santanu Roy Chowdhury were among the host of luminaries from Kolkata who rendered their artistic skills at the historic event.

Rendition of Tagore's 'Geetanjali' in Khasi by John Gilbert Soanes rendered the occasion truly festive.

Madhumanti Maitra, DDK, Kolkata anchor, took the audience through a mental voyage of ''Tagore's pristine Shillong'' by conducting the entire programme interspersed with chaste Bangla and the Queen's English. ''Let us all take home the greenery of life that Tagore highlighted in his immortal works while in Hill Queen Shillong.'' Tagore visited Shillong thrice in his lifetime and apart from Brookeside also stayed in 'Jit Bhoomi' at Rilbong and 'Sidli House' in Laitumkhrah, where he composed some of his greatest literary works.

The hill resort, which he visited thrice in his lifetime, was a great favourite of Tagore who wrote many a story, poem and songs while relaxing at cosy bungalows in various locations here. A table used by the poet is preserved at the Tripura Castle, a major attraction for tourists.

The natural beauty all around the pristine hill station also finds ex-pression in the universal poet's ''Shillonger Chithi'' (The letter from Shillong).

UNI