Rabindranath Tagore's ancestral house to become museum

, May 1: To preserve Jorasanko Thakurbari, the ancestral house of

in north Kolkata, West Bengal government is planning to convert it to a museum.

While kicking off the bard's week-long 151st birth anniversary celebrations here, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said they were thinking how to convert the mansion where Tagore was born and spent most of his childhood into a museum.

Pointing out how Shakespeare's birthplace in England has been converted to a museum, she said the matter has been discussed with Education Minister and thespian Bratya Basu.

"This should be converted to a museum to preserve our cultural heritage for the coming generations," Banerjee said adding the state government was willing to extend any help in this regard.

During the programme, it was also announced that the name of Girish Park Metro station, close to Thakurbari, will be renamed as - 'Girish Park Jorasanko Thakurbari' as a mark of homage to the poet.

Vice-Chancellor of Rabindra Bharati University, Prof Chinmoy Guha, told PTI that the state government has decided to introduce light and sound shows at Thakurbari which will chronicle the life and times of Tagore.

"It will recreate the magic of nineteenth century here. Besides attracting Tagore lovers, it will also be a major tourist attraction," he said.

PTI