Online Desk:  The nation will observe the 163rd birth anniversary of Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore, one of the world’s most revered poets and litterateurs.

His timeless creations are still being celebrated across the world, and he is revered by both Bangladesh and India for his majestic literary works. Both countries’ national anthems are based on two of his songs.

Tagore, who won the Nobel Prize for Gitanjali in 1913, was the youngest of 13 surviving children of Debendranath Tagore and Sarada Devi.

Born on May 8, 1861, at Jorasanko mansion in Kolkata, Tagore was a poet, visual artist, playwright, novelist, as well as a composer whose works reshaped Bangla literature and music in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Marking the occasion, different government and private cultural organisations are scheduled to host cultural programmes, discussions and awards ceremonies across the country on Tuesday.

The Ministry of Education ordered the country’s educational institutions on Monday, May 6, to observe the 163rd birth anniversary of poet Rabindranath Tagore and the upcoming 125th birth anniversary of the national poet Kazi Nazrul Islam later this month.

Like the previous years, Tagore’s birth anniversary will be commemorated as part of the national event at the Shilaidah of Kushtia, Shahjadpur of Sirajganj, and in many other areas in the country.

Last-minute preparations are being made for the celebrations, as of today.

Chhayanaut, the country’s leading cultural institution, will commemorate the occasion with a two-day cultural festivity. The event, titled ‘Chhayanaut Rabindra Uthsab’, will showcase diversified cultural presentations including song, poetry and dance recitals.

Besides, different cultural organisations including Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy, Bangla Academy and others will celebrate the birth anniversary with various events.