The nation is celebrating the 158th birth anniversary of Biswakabi Rabindranath Tagore, who reshaped Bengali literature and music as well as arts of Indian subcontinent with contextual modernism, in a befitting manner across the country today.

On the 25th of Baishakh in 1268 Bengali year, Rabindranath, the fountainhead of Bengali wisdom, was born at Jorasanko in Kolkata, the BSS reported.

Nobody had influenced the minds of so many Bengali-speaking people before or after him. His influence has been compared, by many, to Shakespeare in the English-speaking world.

On the occasion of the birth anniversary of Rabindranath, President Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina issued separate messages, paying rich tributes to the poet.

In observance of the day, different government, non-government, social and cultural organisations and educational institutions have taken various programmes to celebrate the birth anniversary of Kabiguru.

Marking the birth anniversary of Rabindranath, the main programme will be held at the Jatiya Natyashala of the Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy in the city.

Education Minister Dr Dipu Moni is expected to address the inaugural function as the chief guest at 3 pm tomorrow while State Minister for Cultural affairs K M Khalid will be present as the special guest.

Besides, Bangla Academy will organize solo lecture and cultural function and distribute the Rabindra Award at Abdul Karim Sahityabisharad auditorium of the academy at 11:00am on Wednesday mark the day.

Dhaka University (DU) has also taken various programmes to celebrate the birth anniversary of Rabindranath on the campus. A keynote presentation titled ‘ Rabindranath in Building Human World’ and a cultural function will be held at DU Teacher Student Centre (TSC) Auditorium at 11:00am on Wednesday.

DU Bangla Department Professor Dr Begum Akter Kamal will address the function as the key speaker with DU Vice-Chancellor Professor Aktaruzzaman in the chair.

Bangladesh Television and other private television channels and Bangladesh Betar will air special programmes highlighting the life and works of Rabindranath.

Law enforce agencies will provide stringent security vigilance during the celebration of the birthday across the country.

The youngest of thirteen surviving children, Tagore, nicknamed ‘Rabi’, was born on 25th of Bengali month of Baishakh in 1268 (May 7, 1861) in Jorasanko Mansion in Kolkata to Debendranath Tagore and Sarada Devi.

His novels, short stories, songs, dance-dramas and essays always speak about political and personal life of people.

Gitanjali (Song Offerings), Gora (Fair-Faced) and Ghare-Baire (The Home and the World) are his best-known works and his verse, short stories and novels were acclaimed-or panned-for their lyricism, colloquialism, naturalism and unnatural contemplation.

Author of Gitanjali, profoundly sensitive, fresh and beautiful verse, Rabindranath became the first non-European to win the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1913.

Sometimes referred to as ‘the Bard of Bengal’, Tagore’s poetic songs were viewed as spiritual and mercurial.

His compositions were chosen by two nations as national anthems: Bangladesh’s Amar Sonar Bangla and India’s Jana Gana Mana. The Sri Lankan national anthem was inspired by his work.

The legendary poet breathed his last at his paternal residence in Kolkata on Sraban 22 of Bangla year 1348 (August 7, 1941).