Kolkata: CM Mamata Banerjee chose Rakhi Purnima on Saturday — a day after Tagore's death anniversary — to post a poem by Kazi Nazrul Islam mourning Gurudev's passing in 1941.
Political experts said the timing of the post was important, coming at a time when Bengal's migrant workers are being harassed in various BJP-governed states and NRC notices are being issued to people residing in Bengal. The post is an attempt to showcase how Bengal can rise above divisions and unite for its icons and its people through mutual respect, they said.
"I wrote on social media that Rabindranath Tagore is our constant companion. We remember and celebrate him throughout the year, day and night. A little while ago, I was listening to Nazrul's poem, mourning Rabindranath's passing in 1941. It was broadcast on radio and is titled ‘Rabihara'. It is a later version adorned with various images," Banerjee wrote on X.
"This poem is not just a message of mourning; it is an extraordinary testament to the mutual respect, love, and deep emotions that linked the two legendary poets. Rabindranath Tagore and Kazi Nazrul Islam — the remarkable relationship between these two extraordinary figures of Bengal. I felt like sharing this invaluable memory with all of you," she added.
This post, in Bengali, came a few minutes after Banerjee posted Tagore's words to usher in the rakhi festival. She also quoted Tagore's song ‘Banglar Mati, Banglar Jol'.
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