Indian delegation to visit Bangladesh to discuss 'Joint Celebrations'

New Delhi, Dec 17 (ANI): A nine-member Indian delegation led by Jawhar Sircar, Secretary, Union Ministry of Culture, will visit Bangladesh from December 19 to 22 to finalise the 'Joint Indo-Bangladesh Celebrations' on literary icon Rabindranath Tagore's 150th birth anniversary in a manner befitting his vision and spirit.

The team, which comprises officials and cultural experts, will hold wide-ranging discussions with the with the Bangladeshi authorities in the Ministries of Culture and Foreign Affairs.

The discussions will cover various aspects of the celebrations such as exhibitions of Tagore's paintings, seminars, workshops, commemorative publications on Tagore, joint productions of dances and dramas based on the stories written by Tagore, Rabindra Sangeet, films inauguration of "Rabindra Tirtha", or Tagore - related Tourism Circuits, including Jorasankho, Shantiniketan and Shilaidaha in both countries, instituting a 'Tagore Chair' at Dhaka University, scholarships for Bangladeshi students, awards for noted Tagore Scholars in India and Bangladesh, presentation of Tagore memorabilia to Bangladesh, Indo-Bangladesh Maitri Car Rally, etc.

The opening ceremony of the celebrations will be held on May 7 and 8, 2011 in both the nations and will continue till 2012. Several dignitaries are expected to attend the celebrations.

The Indian delegation also plans to visit important places associated with Tagore in Bangladesh such as Kushtia, Shahzadpur and Shilaidaha during their stay there.

Earlier in January this year, during the visit of Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to India, the Prime Ministers of both the nations had agreed for joint celebration of Tagore's 150th Birth Anniversary in 2011-12.

A 'National Committee' under the chairmanship of the Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh and Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee have been constituted to celebrate the 150th Birth Anniversary of Rabindranath Tagore in an appropriate manner.

The National Committee in its meeting held on May 20, 2010, decided that special emphasis be given to the 'Joint Indo-Bangladesh Celebrations'. (ANI)