Azeri Observer Editorial Staff
The Embassy of India in Baku organized a special literary event to commemorate the birth anniversary of Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore — the legendary poet, philosopher, and Nobel laureate. The event brought together distinguished guests, including a representative of the Azerbaijan Presidential Administration, students and faculty members of the Azerbaijan University of Languages, media representatives, members of the Indian diaspora, literature enthusiasts, and friends of India in Azerbaijan.
The program featured soulful recitations of selected poems by Tagore in both Azerbaijani and English by students of the Azerbaijan University of Languages. In a touching tribute to literary heritage, the students also recited verses from the world-famous epic Leyli and Majnun by the great Azerbaijani poet Nizami Ganjavi, honouring his enduring legacy.
In his remarks, Indian Ambassador to Azerbaijan, Abhay Kumar, paid rich tribute to Tagore, reflecting on his remarkable journey from a young literary talent to a globally celebrated cultural icon. The Ambassador highlighted Tagore’s travels around the world, including his visit to Azerbaijan, and recalled that the 150th birth anniversary of Tagore was celebrated on a grand scale by the Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences in Baku in 2011.
Ambassador Kumar further noted that Tagore’s works continue to be widely studied and translated across the world, adding that several of his renowned works — including Gitanjali, Nationalism, and My Golden Bengal — are available at the Azerbaijan National Library. While saluting Tagore’s timeless literary legacy, the Ambassador also praised the poetic genius of Nizami Ganjavi and the profound emotional depth of his works. One of the highlights of the event was the Ambassador’s soulful rendition of a Tagore poem.
Guests also watched an engaging audio-visual presentation on the life and legacy of Rabindranath Tagore. The presentation featured archival footage from Tagore’s travels around the world, along with a rare recording of India’s national anthem rendered in Tagore’s own voice.
At the conclusion of the event, Ambassador Abhay Kumar presented special gift hampers containing collections of books to the participating students of the Azerbaijan University of Languages. The evening ended with a selection of specially prepared Indian snacks, creating an atmosphere of warm cultural exchange and camaraderie among the guests.
