The Twitter went ga-ga over Rabindranath Tagore's birthday on May 7 though the Nobel-winning bard's birthday is always observed by the Bengali calendar and it is on the 25th of the month of Baishak. To say it in another way: 'Pachishe Baishak' is the date of cultural significance as far as Tagore's birthday is concerned and it is on May 9 and not 7 even though in the year 1861, Tagore was born on May 7, as per the Gregorian calendar.
It was not surprising to see top BJP leaders tweeted about Tagore's birthday on May 7 for they are really focussing strong to gain a foothold in the state of West Bengal. Union ministers Nitin Gadkari, Ravi Shankar Prasad and Vijay Goel, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and others were seen remembering the great poet on a date which doesn't coincide with the cultural significance. And here lies the BJP's ignorance.
BJP needs to understand cultural significance of Tagore's birth date
Rabindranath Tagore is not just another birthday boy for the Bengalis. He represents the entire cultural identity of that community and for it, Pachishe Baisakh is D-Day to remember and celebrate Tagore. The BJP leaders failed to grab it and missed the chance to reach out to the vote-bank they are desperately seeking to win.
Remembering the great poet, Nobel Laureate and composer of our National Anthem Shri #RabindranathTagore on his 156th Birth Anniversary
— Nitin Gadkari (@nitin_gadkari) May 7, 2017
Remembering creator of our national anthem,poet & Nobel laureate #RabindranathTagore on his birth anniversary.Epitome of wisdom & knowledge. pic.twitter.com/diA7Td1t8d
— ShivrajSingh Chouhan (@ChouhanShivraj) May 7, 2017
Rich tributes to the author of our National Anthem, Nobel laureate & inspiration for many Sh. #RabindranathTagore on his birth anniversary? pic.twitter.com/PGBsuoguvc
— Vijay Goel (@VijayGoelBJP) May 7, 2017
My tribute to the author of the Indian National Anthem "Jana Gana Mana" & Nobel laureate Shri #RabindranathTagore on his birth anniversary. pic.twitter.com/bfPQw9YxGd
— Ravi Shankar Prasad (@rsprasad) May 7, 2017
Now, if they again remember Tagore on May 9 as per the Bengali calendar, it will only expose their electoral intent. It may also be noted here that West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee did not tweet about Tagore's birthday on Sunday even if she is known to hijack the birth and death dates of personalities of yesteryears.
Tagore's contribution can't be evaluated just as the composer of National Anthem
The other problem with Tagore's technically correct but culturally wrong birthday celebration on Twitter was with his identity. Most of those, including the BJP leaders, who were tweeting about the bard's 156th birth anniversary described him as the creator of India's National Anthem as if that is the biggest identity Tagore has.
This is not only an incorrect evaluation of Tagore but also an effort to paint his image with wrong colours. Tagore truly penned India's National Anthem (and also Bangladesh's) but his ideological pursuit was always that of an internationalist. Like any creative genius, Tagore had never allowed himself to get caged within the walls of nationalism, something the current rulers of India are found to be doing happily.
The BJP has a knack of hijacking personalities from the past to corner its opponents but its celebrating Tagore's birthday two days ahead of the culturally significant date will only keep its capacity of winning the purist Bengalis' hearts crippled. Tagore is very crucial when it comes to the intellectual Bengali mind and so far, the BJP's right-wing strategists have not taken the right strides to understand the poet to influence that mind.
