Rabindranath Tagore centre launched at Edinburgh

London: A centre dedicated to the life and work of Rabindranath Tagore has been launched in Edinburgh, said to be the first UK hub of its kind dedicated to the Nobel laureate.

The centre has been launched at Napier University following an agreement with the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR).

Called the Scottish Centre for Tagore Studies (ScoTs), the centre's aim is to promote Indian culture, education, philosophy, art and literature by highlighting Tagore's legacy, a university release said.

Professor Indra Nath Choudhury will be Scotland's first ICCR Chair in Tagore Studies.

Tagore had strong links to Scotland, mainly through his firm friendship with the pioneering town planner Sir Patrick Geddes.

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The ICCR is also funding two PhD fellowships dedicated to researching Tagore's works at the university, which is said to have the second largest Indian student population of any Scottish university.

Dr Bashabi Fraser, Lecturer in Literature and Creative Writing at the university, said, "ScoTs will celebrate the life, teaching and vision of Rabindranath Tagore, whose spirit continues to inspire. The centre is ideally placed to promote cultural connections between Scotland and India and will highlight Tagore's importance to a new audience".

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Fraser hoped that by working with other European organisations and cultural bodies, the centre will be able to spread Tagore's influence and attract research interest from far and wide.

Fiona Hyslop, Cabinet Secretary for culture and external affairs in the Scottish government said, "Rabindranath Tagore was India's greatest artist, musician and poet and had many close ties to Scotland.

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ScoTs will celebrate these connections and Tagore's legacy, deepening the relationship between our two countries. I am delighted that the centre is being launched in this, our Year of Creative Scotland."