Uttara University holds seminar on Rabindranath’s contemporary relevance

A seminar titled “Rabindranath in the Test of Time: Challenges and Prospects” was held at Uttara University on Thursday, jointly organised by the university’s Department of Bangla and Department of English.

Emeritus Professor Dr Serajul Islam Choudhury of the Department of English at the University of Dhaka attended the event as the keynote speaker.

In his address, he discussed the continuing relevance of Rabindranath Tagore’s works in the context of contemporary crises and future challenges.

“Rabindranath was one of us, someone very close and deeply rooted in our hearts. He was first a Bengali, then an Indian, and ultimately became global, timeless and universal,” he said.

“Our debt to him as a nation is undeniable. His contribution to enriching Bengali literary thought and language is immense. It is impossible to imagine the evolution of Bengali culture and literature without Rabindranath,” he added.

Vice-Chancellor of Uttara University Professor Dr Eaysmin Ara Lekha attended the seminar as the chief guest.

In her speech, she said Rabindranath Tagore was not confined to the past but remained “an eternal presence” in times of crisis and transition.

“To understand the depth of his works, one needs freedom of thought and deep concentration. Times have changed, but Rabindranath’s relevance has only grown stronger in today’s complex world,” she said.

Panel speakers included Dr Parveen Akther Jemy, Professor of the Department of Bangla at Jagannath University; Dr Sohana Mahbub, Professor of the Department of Bangla at the University of Dhaka; Dr Chanchal Kumar Bose, Professor of the Department of Bangla at Jagannath University; Momtaz Begum, Professor of the Department of Bangla at Uttara University; Dr Faez Mohammad Serajul Hoque, Adviser to Uttara University; and Dr Syeda Afroza Zerin, Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences at the university.

The speakers discussed various contemporary dimensions of Rabindranath Tagore’s philosophy and the relevance of his literature in addressing present-day social and cultural challenges.

In their presentations, Prof Bose and Prof Sohana analysed several major literary works of Rabindranath, while speakers said the discussions inspired students and faculty members attending the event.

The organisers expressed hope that the seminar would contribute to enriching the academic and intellectual development of future generations.

The seminar concluded with a vote of thanks from Dr Shah Ahmed, Associate Professor of the Department of English and convener of the organising committee.