Dear Editor,
Several Guyanese, including this writer, and other Indian Caribbean scholars are attending an international conference on the great Indian poet laureate Shri Rabindranauth Tagore, after who universities have been named in India and schools and institutions internationally. Dr Tagore, an iconic figure in Indian literature and a revolutionary against colonial rule, has had global influence. A secondary school is named after him is in Skeldon as are colleges and schools in Trinidad and Suriname.
The Nobel Laureate Rabindranauth Tagore is an iconic name that has inspired generations not only in India but in the Indian and girmit diaspora as well – in Fiji, Mauritius, Guyana and the Caribbean, Africa, among other places. He was against indentureship and worked with Mahatma Gandhi to end the exploitative oppressive system of indentureship.
The Nobel Laureate’s name is well known in girmitya countries like Guyana, Trinidad, Suriname, Jamaica, Fiji, Mauritius, Uganda, Kenya, Ghana, South Africa. Schools or study centers or educational institutes were or have been named after him in various countries including Guyana. His works are in the syllabus of several countries. Tagore has been such a revered name that people still quote his poetry till this day. And because of his poetry and writings, cultural and educational attachment with India have been strengthened.
This prestigious conference and festival is organized in his honour in Bhopal, capital of Madya Pradesh over three days. It is the 7th edition of the festival. The title is Tagore International Literature and Arts Festival. It is organized by Rabindra Nath Tagore University located in Bhopal. Scholars have been invited globally. Participants from 60 countries are participating in the conference.
This writer, a special invitee, is speaking on Tagore’s influence in the Caribbean. Dr. Surujdeo Mangaroo from Trinidad is also presenting on Trinidad as are a number of other scholars from dozens of other countries. There is also a display of works and exhibition relating to indentureship.