Tagore statue unveiled in Cuba on birth anniversary

Submitted by Tarique Anwar on 8 May 2007 - 7:09pm.

By Prensa Latina

Havana : Indian Ambassador Mitra Vasisht called Rabindranath Tagore "an icon of humankind" at the unveiling of a statue of the acclaimed poet in the Cuban capital to commemorate his 146th birth anniversary Wednesday.


Havana University historian Eusebio Leal paid tributes to him on the occasion, describing Tagore's works as "deathless".

"His words and poetry sound like new each and every day," said Leal Monday, who mused on the link of lyrics and philosophy of Tagore's works.

Tagore (1861-1941), a 1913 Nobel laureate in literature, is the most celebrated representative of modern Indian literature.

Among his best-known work is his Nobel prize winning "Gitanjali" (Offerings in Songs), which the author himself translated into English. Its profound spiritual content and the spontaneity of expression won Tagore his place in the world of literature.