Indian Cultural Centre publishes Tagore's speeches

Ministry of National Heritage, will bring out a compilation of Nobel Laureate Rabindranath Tagore's speeches delivered in Sri Lanka

Dr. Jagath Balasuriya, Minister for National Heritage, told the Valedictory session of the one-day seminar on "Tagore and Sri Lanka" organised recently that the National Archives of Sri Lanka is bringing out a compilation of Nobel Laureate Rabindranath Tagore's speeches delivered during his five visits to Sri Lanka.

The event was organised by the Indian Cultural Centre, Colombo, in association with the Lakshman Kadirgamar Institute for International Relations and Strategic Studies and the Centre for Contemporary Indian Studies, University of Colombo.

Dr. Sarath Amunugama, Senior Minister for International Monetary Cooperation, the chief guest at the inaugural session of the seminar, said that India and Sri Lanka are inseparable friends and the ties between the two countries can never be estranged.

He recalled India's help to Sri Lanka on many occasions, with special reference to the support provided at the time of negotiations with the IMF during the critical balance of payments situation faced by Sri Lanka in 2009. He also highlighted the support and encouragement provided by Gurudev Tagore to Angarika Dharmapala, when he was engaged in a revival of Buddhist symbols under the umbrella of the Mahabodhi Society in India.

Minister Amunugama also underlined that the strong foundation of India-Sri Lanka relations was based on geographical proximity, history, common cultural space and people-to-people contacts.

Ashok K. Kantha, High Commissioner of India, recalled that the idea of the Seminar originated on May 7 last year when Government released a special postal stamp to pay homage to Tagore on his 150th birth anniversary and the University of Colombo had brought out a special volume "Remembering Rabindranth Tagore" with a message from President Mahinda Rajapaksa. At that time, some Sri Lankan friends had suggested that we explore the special association that Tagore had with Sri Lanka by organising a seminar.

The High Commissioner said the deliberations of the seminar and the illustrations, letters, newspaper reports, photographs and paintings associated with Tagore's visits to Sri Lanka would be published in the form of a commemorative volume, which would serve as a treasure trove for students and researchers on Tagore.

He said Tagore's visits and his extensive interactions with artistes and literary personalities of Sri Lanka had significantly contributed to the country's cultural resurgence, inspiring artists, dancers and singers to develop their genres to classic forms.

Tagore, in turn, was also deeply impressed by Sri Lanka's beauty and is cultural and spiritual traditions, especially the Buddhist heritage and adapted elements of Kandyan dance and mask dance in his later choreographic productions.

The High Commissioner recalled a quote from Tagore during his visit to Sri Lanka in 1934 "I have come as a messenger from the Land of Ram Chandra to build to the best of my ability a bridge, not with stones and rocks, but with expressions of beauty in poems, songs and dancing, which are the best materials for the path of communication that may span the differences between two peoples.

The spirit of India once visited Lanka. The best moral ideals, the deepest spiritual philosophy that has been produced in that land travelled across the barriers of mountains and seas, consecrating this beautiful island. But centuries passed by and Sri Lanka became alienated from India, and today, India's noble gifts lie disassociated from her sacred source.

"As a poet, it is my mission to restore that ancient association of mind through my efforts that speak through a direct language of art".

He underlined that this ancient association of mind that Tagore refers to is the civilisation bedrock of the multi-faceted and vibrant relationship between India and Sri Lanka.

The seminar, which was coordinated by the well-known Indian author and literary critic, Prof. Radha Chakravarty, focused on the travels of Tagore to Sri Lanka and the cultural linkages they served to enhance.

It was divided into five sessions, including three academic sessions and the inaugural and valedictory sessions.

Asanga Abeyagoonasekera, Executive Director of Lakshman Kadirgamar Institute for International Relations and Strategic Studies, delivered the welcome address.