Replicas of Rabindranath Tagore`s houseboats to be given to Indian varsities

Kolkata: Replicas of two houseboats, which Rabindranath Tagore used during his stay in locales now in Bangladesh, will be handed over to two Indian universities Sep 12, according to Bangladesh Deputy High Commission sources here.

Tagore had composed some of his works in the houseboats on the Padma river while overseeing his family estates in Silaidah, Shahzadpur and Patisar for a decade from 1890. Bangladesh Information and Culture Minister Abul Kalam Azad will hand over the replicas. "The replicas will be given in separate functions in Kolkata and Bolpur. In Kolkata, vice chancellor of Rabindra Bharati University will receive it. In Bolpur of Birbhum district, the replica will be given to the vice chancellor of Viswa Bharati University," sources said. Azad, accompanied by Bangladesh singers Papiya Sarwar and Mamataz and Bangladeshi intellectual and critic Prof. Anisurzaman, would reach Delhi September 10. He is slated to hold meetings with Information and Broadcasting Minister Ambika Soni and Culture Minister Kumari Selja Sep 11. IANS