Tagore exhibition makes Scottish debut

9^th July 2012: A photography exhibition, exploring the life of one of India ’s most famous poets has opened at a University in Scotland , UK .

‘The Wayfaring Poet’ captures the adventures of Rabindranath Tagore, often described as the Bengali Shakespeare, and his historic meetings with eminent twentieth century figures like Albert Einstein, Bernard Shaw and Sigmund Freud.

It is the first time the exhibition has gone on display in Scotland having been lent to the Scottish Centre of Tagore Studies (ScoTS), based at Edinburgh Napier University , by the Tagore Centre, UK.

It originally opened at the Scottish Parliament last month but is now taking a more permanent position at the University’s Merchiston Campus where it will be open to the public until 25^th August.

Tagore, who penned thousands of poems and songs before his death in 1941, was the first non-white Nobel Prize winner for literature and was one of the most widely- travelled visionaries of his time.

Dr. Bashabi Fraser, Lecturer in Literature and Creative Writing at Edinburgh Napier said: “Rabindranath Tagore became a world figure when he won the Nobel Prize for literature in 1913. He travelled to around thirty-seven countries, visiting some of them more than once, and always on the official invitation of governments or leading intellectuals.

“He was an ambassador for the meeting of the West and East and his friendships were both national and international.

“The exhibition, 'Tagore: The Wayfaring Poet' showcases some of Tagore's lectures and meetings, recording his journeys as an intrepid world traveller at a time when journeys took months as people travelled by sea between continents.”

The writer had strong links to Scotland – his grandfather, entrepreneur Prince Dwarkanath, was honoured with the Freedom of the City award by Edinburgh in 1845.

Tagore also built up a firm friendship with pioneering Scottish town planner Sir Patrick Geddes.

The exhibition comes just months after Edinburgh Napier University launched ScoTs - the first UK hub of its kind dedicated to Tagore.

The Scottish Centre for Tagore Studies was established at the University’s Institute of Creative Industries in May, to promote Indian culture, education, philosophy, art and literature by highlighting the writer’s legacy.

As well as photographs of Tagore with famous historic figures, visitors will also be able to view photos of his Nobel Prize and the highest Greek honour, “The Badge of the Order of the Redeemer” which was given to Tagore by the King of Greece in 1926.