By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, March 7: The state government has decided to convert the Brookside Bungalow at Zigzag Road, Rilbong, into a heritage museum to capture the essence of Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore and celebrate his creativity and deep connection with Shillong.
The museum, to be dedicated to the life of Tagore, will form a part of the Tagore Cultural Complex project which has been funded by the Ministry of Culture. The Ministry has sanctioned over Rs 14 crore for the project. The state government plans to complete it in two years.
At the proposed museum, the Arts and Culture department will display the life and work of the “Bard of Bengal” with focus on his three visits to Shillong, a senior government official told The Shillong Times on Thursday.
“We all know that during his stay in Shillong, he (Tagore) wrote three books, including the classic Bengali novel ‘Shesher Kobita’ dwelling on the eternal romance between Amit and Labanya,” the official said, adding that the entire place where Tagore had stayed will be renovated.
The detailed project report has been prepared by the Hindustan Steelworks Construction Limited.
An important component of the project is a multi-use auditorium which will host cultural programmes and other events.
The cultural complex will also have a performance hall, art gallery, some green rooms for the performers and cafeteria. According to the official, there will also be landscaping of the premises which houses the Brookside Bungalow. (Contd on P-4)
Museum to come up in honour…
(Contd from P-3) During his visits to Shillong, Tagore also wrote his famous drama ‘Raktakorobi’ (Red Oleander) and the poem ‘Shillonger-Chithi’ (The Letter From Shillong).
The Meghalaya government will set up the “Tagore Cultural Complex” in remembrance of the poet.
Arts and Culture Minister Paul Lyngdoh, who laid the foundation for the complex on Wednesday, said the government aims to make the complex a global cultural centre, connecting Meghalaya, Bangladesh and West Bengal.
He said Shillong is not just a name, a city or an address, but a hub of culture and an icon of civilisation.
The minister invoked the historical ties of Shillong with eminent personalities, including Tagore and Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose.
