Event organised in Egypt to mark Tagore's birth anniversary

The programme, organised by the Maulana Azad Centre for Indian Culture here, included recitation of Tagore's poems, rendering of Rabindra Sangeet and dance.

Suchitra Durai, Director of the Centre, said they would bring cultural groups from India to perform Rabindra Sangeet and dance.

Durai noted that Togore had a special relationship with Egypt as his grandfather, who was a well known social reformer, had visited Egypt in the mid 19th century.

Tagore visited Egypt in 1926-1927 and the then King of Egypt presented him with a set of books in Arabic. During the visit, Tagore also formed a very strong relationship with noted Egyptian poet Ahmad Shawky.

When Shawky passed away Tagore sent a eulogy. He was the exemplification of a totally free soul.

Rabindranath Tagore (1861-1941) was the first non-European to win the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1913.

He was a master of several literary forms – he was a poet, a novelist, a short-story writer and a playwright.

His contributions reshaped Bengali literature and music in the late 19th and early 20th century and also took to painting during the later stage of his life.

Tagore, who was also an educationist, a national leader and a peripatetic internationalist, visited many countries including Egypt.