David: - What is so special about ‘Pochisey Baisakh’ in Bengali culture? Everyone is saying that Mamata Banerjee, the Railways Minister is going to announce a special train on that day.
Mir: - Yes, you are right, Mr. David. Baisakh is the first month of Bengali Calendar. On the 25th day of Baisakh, a legend took birth in Bengal. His name is Rabindranath Tagore.
David: - Oh! Rabindranath Tagore! He is very famous in our continent also.
Sandip: - Not only in your continent, he is famous all over the world. After all, he is the Nobel Prize winner for his ‘Gitanjali’. He started writing as a child and never stopped doing it till his last breathe.
Arindam: - Hmm…From ‘Jal porey pata norey’ to ‘Amar bela jey jaaye saajh belatey’, he won the hearts of millions, especially of the Bengalis worldwide.
Paran: - Not only he is famous in Epar Bangla (West Bengal), but also equally respected and worshipped in Opar Bangla (Bangladesh). Who wrote the National Anthem of India? Has Bangladesh forgotten ‘Kabiguru’? He he he…A legend can never be forgotten, but only be remembered by preserving him within your heart and soul.
David: - Please don’t mind. I don’t have much knowledge about the Bengali culture, but, one thing I have heard that the tune of ‘Rabindrasangeet’ is the perfect song of Bengali soil. I know one artist, who told me that whenever there is a rainfall in Bengal, you can breathe in a peculiar sweet smell of the wet Bengali soil. ‘Rabindrasangeet’ is like that smell only. Without breathing in that smell, your Bengali soul can never get peace and mental satisfaction.
Kabir: - Yeah, that is true. Let me tell you one thing that Bengali people are romantic by birth and they love to shed tears with emotions. That is, the Bengali culture loves ‘Biraho-Bedona’ within their heart. And Rabindranath Tagore has touched almost all aspects of your internal feelings in the form of Rabindrasangeet. So, naturally, you cannot ignore this form of song.
David: - Were there no other Bengali poets to compete with Rabindranath Tagore at that time? I have heard a lot about Kazi Nazrul Islam. Who is he?
Sandip: - Nazrul Islam was a rebel poet (Bidrohi Kavi). His song is popularly known as ‘Nazrul Geeti’. The song of ‘Jodi tor daak sune keu naa aaasey, tobey ekla chalo re’ is his creation only. Then the poetry of ‘Chal Chal Chal’ is also written by him. He was also a great poet, but his creation was limited to only patriotism. Rabindranath Tagore is the only person who has been able to bind the Bengali Sanskriti of West Bengal and Bangladesh, despite having communal and political differences.
David: - Sanskriti? What is the meaning of ‘Sanskriti’?
Arindam: - ‘Sanskriti’ means culture, which is not there in any one of your European countries? Even in USA, the Indians, who are living there, are teaching the concept of culture to those uncivilized USA people.
David: - Oho, that’s why, Mamata Banerjee has given the name of the train as ‘Sanskriti Express’. Is it going to run in India and Bangladesh?
Arindam:- I don’t know about the pros and cons of Mamata’s Sanskriti Express. I don’t know whether this train is only a political eye-washer or not. But, one thing I must admit that the 150 year old legend, “RABINDRANATH TAGORE’S SANSKRITI EXPRESS” is still running with its maximum speed in the tracks of Bengali hearts worldwide and that indirectly preaches peace and humanity, which is a necessity in this selfish and competitive world.
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