The Indian government has created an international award in memory of Rabindranath Tagore with Rs. 10 million as prize money for the promotion of values for universal brotherhood.

For commemorating the 150th birth anniversary of Tagore in 2011, a National Committee (NC) was brougt together under the Prime Minister with 36 other eminent figures.

The idea of launching an award in Tagore’s name was raised in the first meeting of the NC held on May 20, 2010. The NC authorised the National Implementation Committee (NIC) constituted under the Chairmanship of the Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee to decide on its implementation.

The NIC met on September 14, 2010, and approved the proposal for creation of the awards and advised the Ministry of Culture to work out operational details including the selection process which would be transparent and involve an eminent jury.

Thereafter discussions were held with experts and various cultural organisations and it was decided that since Tagore had, through his writings and other artistic creations, contributed immensely to the promotion of universal brotherhood, the award too should be given to those that promote this ethos.

It was decided that the nominations would be drawn globally and these may be sifted by the selection committee for final consideration by the jury for the award.

The amount of the award (Rs. 10 million) should be the same as that for the Gandhi Peace Prize and Jawharlal Nehru Award for International Understanding.

It is hoped that this award would foster international brotherhood as Tagore was one of the most passionate believers in universal peace, brotherhood and unity.

The prize is to be given annually to individuals, associations, institutions or organisations for promoting values of universal brotherhood and nominations would be drawn globally and will be announced every year on 7 May.

Source: India Digest, November, 2011

Edinburgh Napier University in partnership with the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) has established a Visiting Chair in Tagore Studies at the University.

The ICCR will also fund two PhD fellowships dedicated to researching the works of the influential Indian author, poet and songwriter whose 150th birth anniversary was celebrated across the world in 2011.
The University said the signing was a “significant step” towards opening a Scottish Centre for Tagore Studies, which it hopes will also become an international hub for promoting Indian culture, education, philosophy, art and literature.

His connection with Scotland was primarily his lasting friendship with Sir Patrick Geddes, the pioneering Scottish town planer.

In addition, Tagore’s grandfather, the industrialist and entrepreneur Dwarkanath Tagore, was also honoured with the Freedom of the City of Edinburgh in 1845.

Professor Dame Joan Stringer, Principal & Vice-Chancellor of Edinburgh Napier University, said:
“The spirit of Rabindranath Tagore continues to inspire the entire world and it is with great honour that we sign this MoU with the Indian Council for Cultural Relations.
“It represents a significant step towards the opening of Scotland’s first centre for Tagore Studies at Edinburgh Napier, which we hope will attract research interest from both near and far and, in the spirit of the man himself, will be outward looking, inclusive and visionary.”

Mr. Suresh Goel, Director General of the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR), said:
“The ICCR considers this collaboration with the University to be of great importance since it will promote an academic exchange between India and Edinburgh Napier.
“It has been the philosophy of the ICCR that this kind of co-operation contributes to the civilisation of dialogue and understanding on a much more durable basis.”

_Normal 0 On 13 December 2011, Sotheby’s of New York - one of the largest auction houses in the world - will auction a rare notebook, which once belonged to Rabindranath Tagore, containing Tagore’s hand written draft manuscripts of many poems dated from the autumn of 1928. 

The notebook was given by Tagore himself to a patron for his generous financial support to the establishment of his university at Santiniketan. 

A descendant of the original patron has now offered to auction this item. The notebook is estimated to fetch between $150K-$250K

About Lot 94
© and courtesy Sothebys:

An unknown manuscript notebook of poems and songs some being heavily amended drafts of subsequently published works.

The present notebook constitutes a microcosm of the genius of India's Rabindranath Tagore, the first Asian Nobel Laureate and one of the modern world's most profound and prolific writers. Tagore's writing achievements span no less than ten genres: poetry, songs, prose, novels, short stories, plays, autobiographical works, travel writings, plays and humorous essays. Though Tagore found writing poetry to be "kind of secret and forbidden delight" (letter #92 in Chhinnapatra (Torn Leaves)), he predicted that he would be best remembered through his songs. Stunning examples of both are contained in Tagore's notebook from the autumn of 1928.

Each poem and song in the notebook is a draft manuscript of a work published in a variant form. Twelve of the manuscript poems were published in a collection entitled Mohua in 1929. Mohua is a tree with flowers of the same name containing intoxicating nectar, and Tagore's poems included in this collection celebrate nature, love and life.

Two of the song lyrics in the notebook were later included in the dance drama Chitranggada, first performed in 1892 and then modified and extended in 1936. Seven of the song lyrics in the notebook were later incorporated in the musical drama Tapati published in 1929. The remaining three song lyrics in the notebook in his three-volume song collection entitled Gitabitan (Garden of Songs), published in 1931.

Heavily emended and containing Tagore's inimitable artistic deletions, one of these songs, "Mon je bale chini chini," is of particular significance:

Click here for full details on the manuscript and how to bid

Sotheby's acknowledges the generous assistance of Dr. Asok Chaudhuri in the research and cataloguing of this lot.