POBNEWS24, Dhaka, Nov 15, 2022 : International Rabindra Research Institute (IRRI), which is related to the memory of world poet Rabindranath Tagore at Patisar in the northern district of Naogaon in Bangladesh, is lying in neglected state.
Upholding the spirit of Rabindranath is being hampered, putting students in trouble.
Rabindranath spent the last few years of his life here to protect Rabindranath’s inherited zamindari at Rajshahi Division of Bangladesh.
Rabindranath came here at various times in his life and was deeply moved by the plights of the poor people of this area.
To preserve the memory of Rabindranath, two universities in Kolkata, India and a total of three universities and one institute in Bangladesh have been built in his name for teaching through Rabindra-research and Rabindra-philosophy.
There are two main universities in Indian West Bengal State—Bishya Bharati University and Rabindra Bharati University.
There are Rabindra University, International Rabindra Research Institute, Rabindra-Maitri University and Rabindra Creative Arts University respectively for Rabindra practice and research in Bangladesh.
In fact, none of these institutes related to the memory of the great poet Rabindranath Tagore have fallen into trouble, but all the institutes are continuing their work on their own. Only the “International Rabindra Research Institute” is in a very neglected state. Rabindra memory is about to lose.
In 2014, Member of Parliament of that area Israfil Alam established the institute called “International Rabindra Research Institute” on his own initiative. He is the founder chairman of this organization.
Vice-Chancellors of Rabindra Bharati and Bishya Bharati University of India, along with the President of Bangladesh Abdul Hamid visited the area. But it is very sad that founder chairman Israfil Alam died in the last corona epidemic. As a result, all the activities of “International Rabindra Research Institute” is about to be stopped.
Rabindranath had established an agricultural bank from which credit facilities were provided to poor people on very easy terms, charitable hospitals and educational institutions to alleviate the sufferings of poor people in Naogaon-Patisar. Rabindranath spent his entire Nobel prize money for the development of this agricultural bank.
Almost everything is available there to make the institute a fully-fledged university or to run it as a separate institute under another full-fledged university. There is Rabindra museum, which is fully managed by the government. There are pleasant classrooms for researchers and students, hostels, libraries, computer labs, well-spaced grounds now known as Russell Square.
Apart from the Kaligram Rathindranath Institution (founded by Rabindranath himself) there are ancillary facilities here. There are agricultural diploma programmes and university honours, masters and PhD programs (Proposed) for students.
But now it is a matter of great regret that this institute was established in 2014 with government approval but its nationalization process has not been completed till now.
Founder chairman Israfil Alam, MP, took various steps towards this goal but left it unfinished and died due to corona in July 2020.
But later after his death, the present Acting Vice-Chairman has taken various steps to nationalize this institute at various times but it has not yet seen its implementation. As a result, officials, faculty, staff, researchers and students are suffering endlessly.
International Rabindra Research Institute, director and Associate professor Farhana Akter said that although an application has been sent to the Prime Minister and the Ministry of Education for the affiliation of this institute to a public university, no official action has been taken yet.
Farhana Akter said that three universities have been initially proposed for affiliation. The universities are Dhaka University, Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University and Rabindra University. However, it has not been finalized yet which university will be selected. When the concerned department was contacted in this regard, it was informed that work is in progress. But in fact, today this institute has been in stagnation. She said it has now become a national issue.
Dhaka University Public Administration Department Professor and former chairman of that department Major Dr. Nazmul Ahsan Kalimullah told this correspondent that to save and protect the literature, the thoughts and feelings of Rabindranath must be cultivated into the hearts of the new generation of students. International Rabindra Research Institute (IRRI) has been established in Bangladesh to carry forward that research work.
“I think it is necessary to have the efforts of everyone along with the state and the government to take this forward. He said, the government can affiliate it with any public university if it wants. Doing so will open a closed door of Rabindra literature for education. The government can also give me responsibility. I believe that I can bring a good result”.
