Tagore masterpiece under spotlight

Discussants at the programme. Photo: Prabir Das

Media house Ghashful arranged a seminar with a cultural programme on the Bengali and English editions of Gitanjali, Tagore's Nobel-winning masterpiece, marking the bard's 153rd birth anniversary. The event was held at the AS Mahmud Seminar Hall of The Daily Star Centre on May 18.

Priyanka Gope performs. Photo: Prabir Das

Tagore exponent Professor Hayat Mamud presented the keynote paper titled “Prosango: Gitanjali” at the seminar, while litterateur and translator Ali Ahmad; Chairperson, Department of English, BRAC University Professor Ferdous Azim; Professor Harunuzzaman, Department of English, Independent University; Syed Badrul Ahsan, Executive Editor, The Daily Star and Syed Zakir Hossain, proprietor of Adorn Publications attended the seminar as discussants. Professor Emeritus Anisuzzaman presided over the seminar.
In his presentation, Professor Hayat Mamud elaborated on the pros and cons of Gitanjali: details of its Bengali and English versions, the literary piece's immense popularity in Europe and several insightful quotes on it by English poets including WB Yeats. Hayat Mamud quoted Yeats as saying, “I know of no man in my time who has done anything in the English Language to equal these lyrics.”
Prior to the seminar, a cultural programme was held where Priyanka Gope rendered several Tagore songs and elocutionist Bhashwar Bandopadhyay recited a Tagore poem “Kripan”, both in Bengali and in English.
Priyanka set off the event with the song “Amar Milon Lagi”. Her next offering was “Jogote Ananda-joggey Amar Nimontron”. Priyanka, a lecturer at the Department of Music of DU, superbly sang “Tumi Kemon Korey Gaan Koro Hey Guni” among other numbers. She wrapped up her part with a baitalik song “Megh-er Porey Megh Jomechhey”.