Bishwakabi Rabindranath Tagore is not a relic of nostalgia; he is the living pulse of Bengal. Generations have come to perceive the region's beauty, contradictions, and heritage through his poetry, songs, and stories. Tagore's works are vessels of memory, imagination, and ethical reflection—anchoring identity and culture while inspiring continual renewal. To celebrate him is to engage directly with these roots, whether through quiet introspection or vibrant, shared performance.
Last evening, that engagement unfolded with both reverence and vitality at "Aloker Ei Jhorna-Dharay" (The Eternal Illumination), a collaborative tribute by the Embassy of Sweden in Dhaka and HSBC Bangladesh. Held in the grand ballroom of the Sheraton Dhaka, the evening framed Tagore not merely as "Bishwakabi" but as a philosopher of everyday life, whose works interrogate love, loss, identity, and the sacred in ordinary moments. Curated by cultural personality and theatre director Tropa Majumder, the programme eschewed the didactic, letting music, poetry, and movement speak where words alone would fall short.
Adity Mohsin. Photo: Courtesy of HSBC
Acclaimed Rabindrasangeet exponent Adity Mohsin commanded the stage with effortless scholarship and emotive depth. From the ethereal strains of "Anandadhara bohiche bhubone" to the nuanced cadences of "Tumi ektu kebol boshte dio", every note became a living encounter. Dahlia Ahmed's rich, resonant recitations followed, pairing clarity with spiritual weight and grace, reflecting both courage and devotion embedded in Tagore's vision.
As Mohsin sang, the audience did more than listen—they mouthed the words, hummed along, swayed, and smiled, fully inhabiting each verse. The space vibrated with collective memory and joy, transforming the hall into a living homage rather than a passive spectacle.
The tribute crescendoed with Warda Rihab and her troupe performing "Akaash bhora surjo tara", "Aloker ei jhorna dharay", and other luminous numbers. Their movements and musicality added emotional and visual texture, creating a meditative celebration that was both jubilant and reflective.
HSBC CEO Md Mahbub ur Rahman. Photo: Courtesy of HSBC
HSBC CEO Md Mahbub ur Rahman underscored Tagore's enduring moral force, saying, "We do not take this moment—or your presence—for granted. You are here because of your deep affinity for culture, heritage, music, and Tagore himself. Today, we honour our history and the legacy of the Poet of the World, whose vision shaped the very soul of Bengal.
"Even in today's complex economic and social climate, his ideals remain a moral compass—demanding courage, integrity, and creativity. Tagore imagined a nation where minds are fearless, and patriotism embraces both introspection and cross-cultural exchange. This evening, through the artistry of Adity Mohsin and the powerful recitations of Dahlia Ahmed and Warda Rihab, we celebrate a universality that continues to guide and uplift us—a legacy as urgent as ever."
Sweden’s Ambassador to Bangladesh, Nicolas Weeks. Photo: Courtesy of HSBC
Sweden's Ambassador to Bangladesh, Nicolas Weeks, highlighted Tagore's international resonance and the cross-cultural bridge he created: "His poetry and philosophy transcend time and borders, inspiring fresh perspectives and new ways of thinking. Celebrating Tagore is also celebrating the dynamic partnership between Sweden and Bangladesh—a shared commitment to knowledge, innovation, and culture that has flourished over five decades."
For the audience, this was less an event than a quiet belonging. Voices rose in unison, lyrics mouthed almost instinctively, as if the room itself remembered the songs before the singers did. In those soft choruses and knowing smiles, Tagore's work shed its archival weight and returned to its natural state—alive, communal, and deeply human.
Photo: Courtesy of HSBC
"Aloker Ei Jhorna-Dharay" did not place him behind glass. It let him breathe. It let his words move through the room like weather—settling on some, stirring others, unsettling a few in the best possible way. And in a country learning to balance its fractures with its hopes, the evening felt like a hand on the shoulder: steadying, luminous, insistent.
In that glow, Tagore was not an icon but a pulse—steady, familiar, impossible to mute. A reminder that art, when shared and sung and held collectively, becomes a kind of shelter. A place to return to. A place that returns to you.
