Tagore's deep connection with Scotland is well known. He had a special liking for Robert Burns, the Scottish poet. He took inspiration from some of Burns' songs. Tagore's connection with Scotland is now the central point of discussion between the two countries and has helped in strengthening the cultural ties. With the passage of time there is a growing interest among the literature students of Scotland to know more about Tagore, his works and his philosophy of life. To facilitate research on Tagore, Scottish government has set up Centre for Tagore Studies in the Napier University of Edinburgh. The centre envisages to address all research queries on Tagore and build up full fledged capacity to start department of under graduate and postgraduate studies.
picture source: Kevin Dayhoff (picasa)
Tagore without the West Bengal connection is so incomplete! Scottish Government acknowledged the fact and has decided to extend the Centre to Kolkata's Scottish Church College. The Department of English, Bengali and Philosophy will be in direct contact with the Centre at Edinburgh in a bid to execute mutually fulfilling research projects on Tagore. The centre is presently in the process of collecting large number of Tagore's writing and research that have been performed by Tagore scholars across the globe. The centre is also mulling collaboration with Visva Bharati University and Rabindra Bharati University to augment its collection with the latest volumes.
Dr. Basabi Fraser, a Bengali settled in Scotland and a reputed Tagore scholar has been appointed as the coordinator of the centre in Scotland. She will work in tandem with the centre in Scottish Church College in Kolkata. In Scotland she is assisted by Prof. Linda Dryden in this endeavor. Fraser specializes in Post colonial Literature and Theory and is one of the most accomplished persons for this job. To have a positive start to this venture there is an exhibition of rare pictures, manuscripts and letters of Tagore slated to be held in January next year.
Initiatives like this will help in cultural exchange between the two countries and will also help in widening the knowledge base on different facets of Tagore. Possibilities are abound for the future.
