Recently Rabidranath Tagore's songs Gitanjali & Gitabitan's 75th anniversary and glorious Buddhist dramas are beautifully performed on the auspicious occasion of the Poush Purnima;unquestionably, Bengal's most enchanting Nabanna (new rice) festival at the Santiniketan stage, University of Rabindranath Tagore, West Bengal, India on the December 5, 2006. Bathed in soft glow of the full moon of the Poush -9th Bengali month, the majestic lines and proportions of the Abode of Peace, achievements of the 19th century were magnificently accentuated by the light of dances and songs.
The main ideal of Santiniketan -the University of Rabindranath Tagore is to make a total-man arousing in him or human development of wisdom, love and sacrifice. The voice of Santiniketan is the eternal voice of India where she accepts all as friends and relatives. Rabindranath Tagore's Buddhist songs, dramas and dance - dramas like Natir Puja and Chandalika were acclaimed at home and abroad. In this way the poet made the Buddhist ideals of all-embracing compassion and boundless tolerance triumph over the hatred and reactionary forces of the Brahmanical society throughout his essays and poems. The heart of the Santiniketan, University of Rabindranath Tagore shows "Truth alone is victorious," in wisdom and compassion.
Mr. Sona Kanti Barua is a freelance columnist and writer on world peace.