Following Tagore's Footsteps

On 11 April 2024, Souraja visited the International Conference commemorating the 100th Anniversary of Rabindranath Tagore‘s visit to China. This program was organised by the Editorial Department of South Asian Studies, Centre for South Asian Studies, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS). The event was sponsored by the National Institute of International Strategy (NIIS), the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS), the Bureau of International Cooperation, CASS, and the Chinese Association for South Asian Studies(CASS), Beijing , China. A welcome address was delivered by Mr. Li Xiangyang, Director-General of the National Institute of International Strategy, CASS. In addition, Mr. Zhao Zhimin, Secretary-General of CASS, and member of CASS' Leading Party Members' Group, discussed cultural exchanges between China and India. In her talk, Souraja discussed Zhu Zhendan: The Man Who Embodied Spiritual Freedom. A student-to-student interactive session was followed by Souraja's participation in the session.  To conclude the event, Souraja signed copies of Tagore's The Crescent Moon for students and young scholars.

A Facebook link where Souraja performs a Tagore song ( sung by Manoj Murali) at the beautiful heritage campus of  The Chinese  Academy of Social Sciences (CASS), Beijing, China, April 2024: 

https://www.facebook.com/100087493236662/videos/7397577270319197/ 

On April 12, 2024, Souraja attended a seminar on the 100th Anniversary of Rabindranath Tagore's visit to China at Peking University, Beijing, China.  Peking University's Democracy Building hosted the event. Dr WANG Jing introduced the guests and members of the seminar. During the welcome speech, Professor CHEN Ming addressed the audience. Souraja delivered a lecture on Tagore's relationship with China. There were also performances by South Asian Studies graduate students at Peking University, as well as Indian scholars and artists. In attendance were Mr. CHEN Ming, Dean and Professor of the School of Foreign Languages, Mr. David Wang, Director of the Peking University Centre for Indian Studies, Mr. Professor LOU Hong, Director of the Sanskrit and Pali Department of the School of Foreign Languages, Peking University, Deputy Director of the Centre for Indian Studies, and other dignitaries.  Peking University also provided guests with a campus tour and a photo opportunity with the Tagore bust. 

Interview with Akhil Parashar, Peking University, Bejing, China 2024

https://www.facebook.com/100000160267468/videos/322469027289427/ 

Media coverage & Reports from  Peking University, Beijing, China, April 2024:

1. https://peoplesdaily.pdnews.cn/trending/er/30044374161?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR1q7h0uOrOv20xDmbAtUHo3hnaDG0VI097nGAa5UtuqTeT-UT23jAOUVrM_aem_Adm7jhv9VmPLjuaTdWlsKQoS7V2BFbF63d6y0MVvgAzoYsReyVf9cV5nvEHxlUDWjhOW93YU6Sx_GrBLiXPtJsK7 

2. https://bengali.cri.cn/2024/04/13/ARTIy3GNr79sCJ69EB7bqsJh240413.shtml?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR2Ws-O2NdcWzqr0wl04CX-__SbCWENmSzvwcVorTnJof-5MuKzS3op29PM_aem_AdlO7dS0SZQtp6Dax87LIaSrMk1eMcAqxMcMEmCRqnPh9XqygHMrlAW18NiaL82qZJuivRDGcNA2_JVPAPPfnGt0   

3. https://news.pku.edu.cn/xwzh/a56bd5f5fe234d189af46ce122d2f47c.htm?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR3ximvbp6ia8_dY5HFqqxpAga6i431JsIwVS0Pwr-Ff3QicDfxNwmKRxMM_aem_AdmiqfB6egTMNe1DJkCsbDB8sJXVL-ps99f9eCKGmgWSfN-5qqsB5O01TKzP97e81dQqLBAxWhnFGgEdEPOjC9OL 

Students perform with Souraja Tagore and Manoj Murali, from a  Facebook clip: 

https://www.facebook.com/100090292383890/videos/341755535583512

On 13 April 2024, Souraja attended the Symposium Commemorating the 100th Anniversary of  Rabindranath Tagore's visit to China at Shenzhen University. The event was organized by Shenzhen University's Office of International Cooperation and Exchange, School of Humanities, and Centre for Indian Studies, Shenzhen University. The event was hosted by the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, Consulate General of China in Kolkata, Shenzhen University, Shanghai University of Political Science and Law, Peking University's Center for Indian Studies, and Lanzhou University's Center for Indian Studies.

During the opening ceremony, Dr Yang Xiaoxia from the School of Humanities, Shenzhen University, welcomed the guests. Shenzhen University's Director of International Communication and Cooperation, Miss Han Shuixian, delivered the opening lecture. Among the special guests was Professor Dong Youchen, President of the International Congress for Bengali Studies and editor-in-chief of the Complete Works of Tagore. A talk on Tagore and his Relevance in Modern Times was presented by Souraja Tagore. It was followed by an interactive session between Indian scholars and Chinese students. A concluding remark was made by Professor Yu Longyu, Director of the Shenzhen University Centre of Indian Studies. 

At Shenzhen University, dignitaries visited the Tan-Yun-shan Sino-Indian Friendship Museum. As part of the visit, dignitaries also viewed the bronze statue of Tagore, presented by the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR), India to Shenzhen University.

A news report from Shenzhen, China, April 2024:

https://bengali.cri.cn/2024/04/19/ARTIgPccm1Si10A4tasXPIlb240419.shtml?spm=C57502.P9avnO7oe00C.EAul5oej9xwx.3 

Souraja visited The Tongji University on 15 April 2024. She was a participant in the China-India cultural exchange. Additionally, she was shown the Rabindranath Tagore and Tongji exhibition at the university. Interacting with students from different countries was an exciting experience for her. 

Next, she visited the Jinyuan Senior High School where she participated in cultural exchange talks with teachers and taught Tagore dance to students,  explaining the meaning and philosophy behind the dance and literature. 

A video report: 

https://www.facebook.com/100077993982184/videos/743835414613997 

A news report:

https://voiceofkolkata.com/from-kolkata-to-shanghai-indian-artists-visit-shanghai-to-retrace-the-footsteps-of-tagore/?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR38aiXs4U19qC5It0SbX2ylFuYCc1wAGOLPIQ24m0tF_X2hE2AcoIiTR3A_aem_AWcTCGDWzdC3LGrgSTVnLgXwKJLw5969aX7-ESY4VJ7_9DWmNOj7QnfG1Z8w3xJ4xJ_ynv78vKjQX_GLghyKiHPq  

A news report from Shanghai, China, April 2024

1. https://bengali.cri.cn/2024/04/19/ARTIWSoufFJOUsbdALliIBtH240419.shtml?spm=C57502.PVol8jb4H2i2.ESZeLiuzcLXh.4 

2. https://bartamanpatrika.com/home?cid=12&id=541754 

3. https://zeenews.india.com/bengali/photos/chinese-are-celebrating-rabindranath-tagores-birthday-518859 

Souraja was invited to the Centennial Lilac Poetry Festival of Fayuan Temple in Beijing on 17th April 2024. With more than 1400 years of history, the Fayuan Temple is one of Beijing's most beautiful temples. There are lilacs lining the inside of the temple. It was in 1924 that poet Tagore visited the temple with his dear friend and translator Zu Xhimo. On her visit to the Poetry Festival, Souraja met with Tony Zhu, the grandson of Zu Xhimo. Souraja and Tony were the special guests for the event. 

At the festival, Souraja was given an honorary Chinese name 紫丁香 (Zǐ dīngxiāng), the English translation of which is 'Lilac'. 

The news reports : 

• https://bengali.cri.cn/2024/04/23/ARTICIfDT0ogWHD20b2MO1XD240423.shtml?spm=C57502.PVol8jb4H2i2.ESZeLiuzcLXh.4 

• https://content-static.cctvnews.cctv.com/snow-book/index.html?item_id=16650803502514070769&toc_style_id=feeds_default&track_id=2803BC4D-0933-4FB8-A1EC-65ADAB4C1456_735057262402&share_to=wechat