ISSUE
Friday, August 15, 2025
Volume 16 . Issue 72
The 150th birth anniversary of Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore was celebrated with great enthusiasm in Auckland under the aegis of New Zealand Indian Central Association (NZICA), hosted by Auckland Indian Association (AIA) at the Mahatma Gandhi Centre.
Guest Speaker Professor Sekhar Bandyopadhyay’s address was the day’s highlight. (A profile of Gurudev penned by Prof Bandyopadhyay appears in this issue). He is the Deputy Dean of Humanities and Social Science faculty at the Victoria University of Wellington. Prof Bandyopadhyay outlined the great contributions that the great poet made to the literary and artistic world. A DVD familiarised the audience with Gurudev’s life and work.
Prithipal Singh, Paul Singh Bains President NZICA, Member of Parliament Kanwaljit Singh Bakshi, and Harshad Patel Vice President NZICA, delivered welcome speeches.
Dr. Cam Calder representing the National Government, Dr. Rajen Prasad representing the Labour Party, Kunal Roy representing Indian High Commission and Ataur Rahman, Honorary Consul Bangladesh, also delivered speeches.
The ceremonial lamp in the presence of Chotubhai Sima, Sekhar Bandyopadhyay, Kanwaljit Bakshi, Paul Singh Bains, Harshad Patel and Prithipal Singh.
A three-hour cultural programme wholly based on Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore’s works and poems put together by Bangladesh Association and Probasee Bengali Association regaled the audience. Raj Thandi proposed a vote of thanks.
The Indian High Commission actively encouraged the event, which was planned and executed in association with several Indian organisations including NZICA, AIA, Bangladesh Association and Probasee Bengali Association.
Elder citizen Chotubhai Sima, life member of AIA donated a portrait of Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore on this occasion. Jerambhai Patel sketched and painted the beautiful portrait.
“Although we used to remember Rabindranath Tagore only while singing the National Anthems of India and Bangladesh we would not have dreamt of celebrating his 150th Birth Anniversary in New Zealand, I have to thank NZICA, it’s office bearers, executive members, affiliated branches & associations for taking up to organise this event and the memories of Gurudev will remain forever,” Mr Prakash Biradar, Festival secretary told Indian Weekender.
The 150th birth anniversary of Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore was celebrated with great enthusiasm in Auckland under the aegis of New Zealand Indian Central Association (NZICA), hosted by Auckland Indian Association (AIA) at the Mahatma Gandhi Centre.
Guest Speaker Professor Sekhar Bandyopadhyay’s...
The 150th birth anniversary of Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore was celebrated with great enthusiasm in Auckland under the aegis of New Zealand Indian Central Association (NZICA), hosted by Auckland Indian Association (AIA) at the Mahatma Gandhi Centre.
Guest Speaker Professor Sekhar Bandyopadhyay’s address was the day’s highlight. (A profile of Gurudev penned by Prof Bandyopadhyay appears in this issue). He is the Deputy Dean of Humanities and Social Science faculty at the Victoria University of Wellington. Prof Bandyopadhyay outlined the great contributions that the great poet made to the literary and artistic world. A DVD familiarised the audience with Gurudev’s life and work.
Prithipal Singh, Paul Singh Bains President NZICA, Member of Parliament Kanwaljit Singh Bakshi, and Harshad Patel Vice President NZICA, delivered welcome speeches.
Dr. Cam Calder representing the National Government, Dr. Rajen Prasad representing the Labour Party, Kunal Roy representing Indian High Commission and Ataur Rahman, Honorary Consul Bangladesh, also delivered speeches.
The ceremonial lamp in the presence of Chotubhai Sima, Sekhar Bandyopadhyay, Kanwaljit Bakshi, Paul Singh Bains, Harshad Patel and Prithipal Singh.
A three-hour cultural programme wholly based on Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore’s works and poems put together by Bangladesh Association and Probasee Bengali Association regaled the audience. Raj Thandi proposed a vote of thanks.
The Indian High Commission actively encouraged the event, which was planned and executed in association with several Indian organisations including NZICA, AIA, Bangladesh Association and Probasee Bengali Association.
Elder citizen Chotubhai Sima, life member of AIA donated a portrait of Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore on this occasion. Jerambhai Patel sketched and painted the beautiful portrait.
“Although we used to remember Rabindranath Tagore only while singing the National Anthems of India and Bangladesh we would not have dreamt of celebrating his 150th Birth Anniversary in New Zealand, I have to thank NZICA, it’s office bearers, executive members, affiliated branches & associations for taking up to organise this event and the memories of Gurudev will remain forever,” Mr Prakash Biradar, Festival secretary told Indian Weekender.
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