Economist suggests Tagore ideal for Marxist rebels

Economist and former finance minister of the Left Front in West Bengal Dr Ashok Mitra today said the Marxist rebels can learn a lot from Tagore and his works.

Addressing a national symposium on Society, Nation & Rabindranath, which was organised by city-based theatre group Aneek, at the Bharatiya Bhasha Parishad auditorium, Dr Mitra said: "Tagore's works are timeless and his literature, be it prose or poetry, provides a deep insight into society and the people, from upper class to the lower class. He was the first person to write about human rights despite being son of a zamindar. His journey is unbelievable," sid Dr Mitra.

"There are remarks on capitalism, industrialisation and even bureaucracy in his works. The Marxists who have taken up the cause of the people and are fighting for them in the forests and the fields can actually derive inspiration from Tagore."

He recollected how in the 70s, Tagore songs were not played on the radio. "They used to fear him and the sentiments and emotions of his songs invoked. Even in Bangladesh, when it was East Pakistan, there was a ban on Rabindrasangeet. This resulted in a war, a revolution over the language and a country was formed," said Mitra.

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