Sanskriti Express to mark Tagore’s 150th birth anniversary


The Sanskriti Express, showcasing the life and works of Noble laureate Rabindranath Tagore, will begin its pan-India journey on May 9, besides making a possible stopover in Dhaka in Bangladesh.

The special train which is being launched to commemorate the 150th birth anniversary of Tagore, will be flagged off by Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee from Howrah.

Railways Ministry officials said they could seek the nod of the Election Commission for Ms. Mamata to flag off the train in view of the upcoming municipal elections in the State on May 30.

Announcing the special train in her Budget speech this year, the Minister had said Tagore was the only poet whose poems have been adopted as National Anthems by two countries — ‘Amar Sonar Bangla’ in Bangladesh and ‘Jana Gana Mana’ in India — and hence, the celebration would be held in both countries.

Comprising five coaches, with each one bringing alive Tagore’s works in the field of dance, music, literature and art, the train will cover more than 70 stations during its year-long journey.

“There is a likelihood of sending the train to Dhaka also, but the Dhaka itinerary has not been finalised as yet,” the official said.

The schedules and details about the exhibitions are in the final stages of preparation, said a member of the Railway expert committee on Heritage and Culture.

“The train would halt at the stations for a few days giving the young and old a chance to know about the rich legacy left by Tagore for generations to come,” the member said.