“You cannot cross the sea merely by standing and staring at the water.”
— Rabindranath Tagore
This was the mantra embraced by The Bhawanipur Education Society College on 9th May 2026, as the institution celebrated the 165th birth anniversary of the Bard of Bengal, Kabiguru Rabindranath Tagore. For the first time, the different departments of the college came together as one unified institution to celebrate Rabindra Jayanti at Jubilee Hall.
The hall was adorned with quintessential Bengali décor, while the fragrance of jasmine created an enchanting atmosphere. The event commenced at 3:30 PM.
The celebration began with Prof. Sampa Sinha Basu reciting a few lines in honour of Tagore, followed by an opening address. The Rector and Dean of Student Affairs, Prof. Dilip Shah, along with other faculty members, offered flowers before the framed portrait of Rabindranath Tagore.
In his address, Prof. Dilip Shah shared a beautiful metaphor: each performance would be like a flower, and together they would form a garland by the end of the evening. Carrying that spirit forward, Prof. Dilip Shah, along with Sourav Goswami, mentor of BESC’s music collective, and the students, filled the hall with soulful renditions of “Anondo Loke” and “Phule Phule.”
Next, Sonakshi Kar, an ex-student of the college, delivered a heartfelt rendition of “Bhalobeshe Jodi Sukh Nai.”
The evening was marked by inclusivity, with both students and professors participating enthusiastically. The faculty members of the English Department presented a voice act titled “Beyond the Novel,” exploring why Tagore transcends the boundaries of the novel as a literary form. Dr Vasundhara Mishra recited her own Hindi translation of a Tagore poem, reminding the audience that Tagore belongs to no single language.
Prof. Sankha Acharya presented on “Rabindranath Tagore as the Entrepreneur,” while Dr Sammo Basu from the Economics Department mesmerised the audience with his rendition of Tagore’s works.
Prof. Champa Srinivasan’s trivia quiz on Tagore added excitement among the students present and each right response was rewarded with a copy of Tagore’s Gitanjali.
Students from the BBA and Computer Science departments showcased graceful dance performances and recitations. Team FLAMES Eastern of The Bhawanipur Education Society College presented a Gitinatya adaptation of “Chandalika.” Smt. Sanchaita Munshi Saha, mentor of BESC’s Dance Collective, then captivated the audience with her solo performance.
The rhythm of the evening reached its peak with a recital by performers from the Tanushree Sankar Dance Academy, depicting the bridge between love and devotion.
The celebration also featured the promotion of “Prottyaborton,” a newly released Bengali film exploring modern parenting, social media, and the cost of ambition. The cast spoke about virtual autism and its growing impact on the younger generation. The film’s message of returning to one’s roots felt like a fitting tribute to Tagore’s enduring philosophy.
Prof. Minakshi Chaturvedi, Vice Principal of the Commerce Morning Department, concluded the programme with a formal vote of thanks. The audience then joined together in singing the national anthem.
The evening ended with a splendid Bengali dinner hosted by the institution, open to all attendees.
Koena Chatterjee
Samudranil Mukherjee
