Gurudev in Canada

It was occasion for many to learn that Tagore wrote more than 1,000 poems, eight novels, 24 plays as well as the lyrics and music of over 2,000 songs and that two of his works are the national anthems of India and Bangladesh. In Mississauga Dipak Mazumdar, well-known economist who translated Tagore8217;s Bengali poems into English for a recent anthology, read out some of Gurudev8217;s poems to an audience of Caucasian and Indian descent.

Dr Kathleen O8217;Connell, a Tagore scholar and lecturer at the University of Toronto, introduced the anthology at the Central Library in Mississauga to a number of dignitaries, artists and poetry lovers, including Indian Consul General Satish Mehta, Linda Thomas, executive director of the Mississauga Arts Council, artist Miro Korsic and Canadian poet Peter Jailall.

A slide show on the paintings of India8217;s William Shakespeare8212;as Tagore is referred to by many in Canada8212;was presented along with the poetry reading. An exhibition on Tagore8212;reportedly the world8217;s biggest on the poet8217;s life and work outside India8212;has been put up at the University of Toronto8217;s Robarts Library until December 30 and features some original manuscripts and 14 huge panels depicting Gurudev at work.