Visva Bharati University convocation: PM Narendra Modi, Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina, CM Mamat Banerjee and Governor Keshari Nath Tripathi on stage at the Visva Bharati University. (Express photo by Santanu Chowdhary)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Bangladeshi counterpart Sheikh Hasina along with Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee are attending the convocation ceremony of the Visva Bharati University in West Bengal on Friday.
This will be the first time a West Bengal chief minister is attending the varsity’s convocation since Siddhartha Shankar Ray in the 1970s. In a break from tradition, Banerjee would be on the dais; Ray was not invited to the dais at the time. University Rector and Governor Keshari Nath Tripathi are also present at the convocation.
Around 10,000 post-graduate and 1,000 PhD students of the Visva Bharati University — the only central University that has the Prime Minister as its Chancellor — will receive their certificates on Friday. Mamata and the two prime ministers inaugurated Bangladesh Bhavan, which has been set up on the university campus, soon after the convocation.
Asaduzzaman Nur, the Bangladesh Cultural Minister visit the newly made Bangladesh Bhavan at Santiniketan on Thursday. (Express Photo by Subham Dutta)
Sheikh Hasina said, "Rabindranath Tagore belongs to both the countries because he has written the national anthems of both the nations. He wrote most of his poems in Bangladesh and that is why we can claim a greater right over him."
PM Modi also said, "Last year, we started an air-conditioned train service between Kolkata and Khulna in Bangladesh which was named 'Bandhan'. India is continuously providing electricity to Bangladesh. Presently it is 600 MW which is expected to be increased to 1100MW."
"Like we have inaugurated the Bangladesh Bhavan in West bengal, we have also taken the responsibility to renovate the residence of Ravindra Nath Tagore "Kuthibaari" in Kushtiya district of Bangladesh," PM Modi said.
PM Modi said, "Coming generations of both India and Bangladesh should know about the great dignitaries of their country. Our government is working for it."
"Rohingyas have taken shelter in Bangladesh. We've given them a place on humanitarian grounds. We want them to return to their country as early as possible. I request you to help us to interact with Myanmar so that they take Rohingyas back," said Bangladeshi PM Sheikh Hasina.
The Bhavan will also have a centre for research on the Liberation War of Bangladesh, apart from the history, culture and art of Bangladesh. The museum will have four elements, namely, History of Bangladesh, Liberation War of Bangladesh with special focus on Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the Tagores and Bangladesh and modern Bangladesh. In the art gallery, there will be a special permanent gallery on the Liberation War of Bangladesh and the role of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in the creation of independent Bangladesh.
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Scholarships will be provided to under-graduate and post-graduate students from Bangladesh as part of the activities of Bangladesh Bhavan. Modern Bangladesh and its history will also be represented through a museum, art gallery, library and such other installations.
PM Narendra Modi, Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee at Bangladesh Bhavan in Shantiniketan.
The aim of the Bangladesh Bhavan is to contribute in the field of language, culture, art, economy, history with emphasis on cultural exchange between the two countries. It will be a centre of exchange of academicians, performers, students, and will facilitate people to people exchange between the two countries with research in inter-cultural exchange. The influence of Tagore in Bangladesh shall be a core area of study and exhibition. A special picture gallery on the theme “The Tagores and Bangladesh” will include the history of the interaction of the Tagore family with Bangladesh.
For the construction of Bangladesh Bhavan, Visva Bharati allocated 11,112 square meter land adjacent to the Indira Gandhi Centre at Santiniketan, and it is being funded by the Bangladesh Government.
Kazi Nazrul Islam, through his writings, fought against all odds and injustice. The same spirit was upheld by Bangabandhu throughout his political life. In fact, the name of Independent “Bangladesh” was taken from a poem of Nazrul, where he used it.
Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the Father of the Nation of independent Bangladesh, shared Tagore’s liberal and humanist view of life. His choice of “Amar sonar Bangla, ami tomay valobashi [My golden Bengal, I love you]” as the national anthem of Bangladesh reflects his profound love and respect for Kabiguru Tagore. Bangabandhu was equally inspired by the great poet, popularly known as the “rebel poet” or “bidrohi kabi”, Kazi Nazrul Islam, who is also the national poet of Bangladesh.
Tagore, indeed, stands as a bridge between India and Bangladesh. The Tagore family had a long association with Bangladesh and Tagore’s ideas and creations are part of the ethos of both countries. Tagore’s prolonged stay in Shelidah and Shahzadpur, in present-day Bangladesh, had exposed him to the majestic beauty of rural Bengal and its impact on the people, which in turn, shaped his views on the philosophy of life. On his return from East Bengal, Tagore had established Visva Bharati, which has been acting as a cultural link between our two countries.
Given the best of relations between the two countries, it is indeed most befitting that both countries are now trying to nurture the age-old connection of culture between them.
Hasina will be conferred an honorary Doctor of Literature degree by Kazi Nazrul University in Asansol, during its third convocation tomorrow. She is also expected to visit Jorasanko Thakur Bari, the ancestral home of Tagore, which has been turned into a museum dedicated to the life and works of the Nobel laureate, and also the Netaji Bhawan in Kolkata, the ancestral home of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, a great patriot of the freedom movement in India.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's two-day official visit to West Bengal, is expected to further cement the enduring cultural links between the two countries. She came here to attend the convocations of two renowned universities in West Bengal, the Visva-Bharati in Santiniketan and Kazi Nazrul University in Asansol. The two universities are named after, and greatly inspired by, the life and works of the two most celebrated poets in India and Bangladesh, Rabindranath Tagore and Kazi Nazrul Islam. While Nobel Laureate Tagore is the composer of the national anthem of both countries, a unique instance in the world, Nazrul, the rebel poet, is the national poet of Bangladesh.
Read | Bound together by poetry
The Bangladesh Bhavan will house a museum, auditorium, library and cafeteria. Modi and Hasina are scheduled to hold talks there after the inauguration. Sources said the two are likely to discuss issues like Teesta water-sharing, cross-border terrorism and the migration of Rohingya Muslims from Myanmar to Bangladesh. Read More
Visva Bharati is the only central university in the country which has the prime minister as its chancellor. Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had last attended the convocation in 2008. “Due to some reasons, the convocation ceremony could not be held in the last five years,” said the acting V-C.
On reaching Santiniketan Thursday, Mamata said, “I was unaware that I will be the first Bengal CM to be present on the dais.”
Sabujkali Sen, acting vice-chancellor of the Santiniketan-based university, said that usually, only the chancellor, vice-chancellor and rector stand on the dais during the convocation ceremony. “Late Siddhartha Shankar Ray was the last West Bengal chief minister to have attended the ceremony in 1975 or 1976. Mamata Banerjee will be on the dais along with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. University Rector and Governor Keshari Nath Tripathi will also be present,” Sen said Thursday.
Around 10,000 post-graduate and 1,000 PhD students will receive their certificates today.
Narendra Modi said, "Government is continuously working towards the needs of 'New India' along with Tagore's vision. Coming Budget, an amount of Rs 1 lakh will be spent for the improvement of the education system in India."
PM Modi also said, "125 crores Indian have taken the resolution to make a 'New India' by 2022. Education and a good educational institution play a very important role in this. Passouts of these universities contributes to the development of a country."
PM Modi said, "Tagore will always be remembered as a global citizen. When I went to Tajikistan, I got the opportunity to unveil Rabindra Nath Tagore's statue. Tagore used to believe that every person is born to do something in life. Educating students is very much important to give them the right path so that they can reach the right destination. He used to say that education is not given in school and colleges only, but in many ways."
"I want Visva Bharati to reach out to over 100 villages and help them evolve," said PM Modi
Your degrees reflect your talent: PM Modi to Visva Bharati students.
"Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is present with us. India and Bangladesh are two separate countries, but our interests are connected. Be it culture or public policy, we learn a lot from each other. One such example is Bangladesh Bhavan," PM Modi said.
PM Modi said, "While coming to the stage, I was remembering Rabindra Nath Tagore. He would have talked with Mahatma Gandhi and students here."
Prime Minister Narendra Modi apologised on behalf of the university authorities for the shortage in supply of water pouches to the students attending the convocation. "While coming down to the venue I saw that some students were complaining about the shortage in supply of water to them. As the chancellor of the university, I take full responsibility and apologise to you," Modi said after beginning his speech at the convocation.
PM Narendra Modi and Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina in Shantiniketan.
West Bengal BJP president Dilip Ghosh, BJP national secretary Rahul Sinha and party leader Mukul Roy also present at the event.
Students chanted 'Modi Modi' which is unprecedented in the convocation hall. Chaos broke out as students break barricades to get near to the stage.
PM Narendra Modi has entered the convocation ceremony venue along with Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina and Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.
Welcome to our LIVE blog. Prime MinisterNarendra Modi along with his Bangladeshi counterpart Sheikh Hasina is in West Bengal today for the convocation ceremony of the Vishva Bharati University. Modi and Hasina are scheduled to hold talks on various issues as well. Follow to get the latest updates.