“Tagore’s ideas can restore peace in a troubled world” Ambassador Akramul Qader addresses a group of Tagore scholars at the Library of Congress

USA NEWS: The Asian Division of the Library of Congress celebrated 150th birth anniversary of Rabindranath Tagore on June 9 by organizing a discussion and cultural programme. Bangladesh Ambassador to the USA and State Minister  Akramul Qader addressed a group of eminent Tagore scholars as a distinguished guest at the programme.

In his speech Ambassador Akramul Qader focused on how the vision and scholarly works by the multi-dimensional genius of Tagore bears a strong relevance for intellectual pursuits in modern times and that his ideas can restore peace in a troubled world. “Tagore is an enlightened option for our global development discourse in a multi-disciplinary context”-noted Ambassador Qader, “his (Tagore’s) writings and unquestionably timeless ideas on peace and development can serve us simultaneously as an inspiration and a ready reference.” Held at the Asian Division Foyer, Jefferson Building of the Library of Congress, the programme was also attended by Dr. Virender Paul, Minister (Press Information and Culture) of the Indian Embassy in Washington DC. Dr. Anandarup Ray, a World Bank economist and alumnus of Visva-Bharati University and Dr. Anis Ahmed, an international radio broadcaster at the Voice of America were the panel discussants. Dr. Sudeshna Basu, a Professor of Mathematics at the George Washington University rendered Tagore songs. Iqbal Bahar Chowdhury, former editor in chief of VOA Bangla service, recited a Tagore poem at the programme.On this occasion, the Library of Congress also put on display a sampling of South Asian collection related to Rabindranath Tagore in its Asian Division Reading Room where Bengali collection contains over 10,000 volumes.