Museum, book to honour Tagore's eldest son

Kolkata, June 30: Visva-Bharati University has published a book and dedicated a museum to Rathidnranath Tagore, Gurudev's eldest son, whose work remain overshadowed by his illustrious father.

'Guha Ghar', the studio-apartment where Rathindranath stayed and worked in Santiniketan, has now been thrown open for the first time to visitors in the form of a museum.

'Guha Ghar' was designed like a cave with a lake and garden nearby resembling an artist's grotto. University officials said the museum includes memorabilia like tools, wood-work and furniture designed by Rathindranath, whose first love was carpentry and making wood articles.

Besides being an agriculturist, a talented architect, designer, master-carpenter, painter and writer, Rathindranath (1888-1961) was also the first 'upacharya' (vice-chancellor) of Visva-Bharati university when it became a central university. The Tagore memorial and archives in Santiniketan is also a result of his active patronage.

The book 'Rathindranath Tagore: The Unsung Hero', edited by Rabindra Bhavana director Tapati Mukopadhyay and professor of English Amrit Sen, contains critical articles on Rathindranath as a scientist, translator, litterateur, craftsman and artist.

The book has a selection of Rathindranath's English and Bengali writings.

"It is important because it brings together as a collection for the first time his addresses and speeches as the first 'Upacharya' of Visva-Bharati including the one delivered in 1951 when it was transformed into a central university and also one where he welcomed Chiang Kai-shek, the Chinese premier," Sen said.

Few manuscripts, paintings as well with some photos related to Rathindranath's life are also included in the book published by Rabindra Bhavana, Visva Bharati.

"The intention is to honour a man who was largely overshadowed by his father but who dedicated his entire life to the institution," he said.

An exhibition of Rathindranath's paintings, mostly flower sketches and landscapes, was inaugurated by Governor M K Narayanan in Santiniketan on Friday.

PTI