SPEECH OF HON’BLE GOVERNOR PUNJAB AND ADMINISTRATOR, UT CHANDIGARH, SHRI BANWARILAL PUROHIT ON THE OCCASION OF GOLDEN JUBILEE CELEBRATIONS OF TAGORE THEATRE AT CHANDIGARH ON MAY 30, 2022

My heartiest congratulations to all the artists of the City on the Golden Jubilee of Tagore Theatre.

The Chandigarh Department of Culture and the Chandigarh Administration deserve appreciation for operating this society with finesse and not letting the city loose its artistic charm.

Tagore theatre has been the epicenter of theatrical activities and has served as a stage for many acclaimed and seasoned artists of national and international presence.

This Theatre has been centre of city’s artscape for decades. It has set a precedent by holding plays on crucial subjects that has attracted theatre buffs in huge numbers.

The very fact that, even today, this theatre is as popular as it was 50 years ago, shows that Tagore Theatre is a “major cultural hub” and an integral part of the cultural events of the city.

This place is a blend of legacy and modern reinvention. As it celebrates its golden jubilee today, I am compelled to look back at its rich history that how with the changing times, it has retained its position of being the ‘cultural hot spot’ of the City Beautiful.

Friends,

Conceptualized and curated as a cultural hub of Chandigarh, Tagore theatre provides a platform to young artists to express their art in most creative ways.

As I gather,

It came into existence in 1961 to mark the birth centenary of Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore. It is run by Tagore Theatre Society which was formed in 1962 with Late Sh. Prithviraj Kapoor, the renowned Theatre and Film actor as its First Chairman.

The 50th anniversary of Tagore Theatre gives me an opportunity to pay tribute to the Nobel Laureate, Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore, after whom this theatre is named.

It is in the fitness of things that the Centre has been named after Rabindranath Tagore because every major work of Gurudev– poems and songs, novels, short stories and dramas – were imbued with the dominating idea of transcending the narrow for a greater, all-embracing, human and humane ideal.

Gurudev was the first Asian Nobel laureate and the first non-European to win the prize for literature in 1913. The legacy of Gurudev, who holds the unique distinction of having composed the national anthems of two nations, India and Bangladesh, remains unequalled in its depth and expanse.

Friends,

India is a multi-faceted nation of 1.3 billion people, 122 languages, 1600 dialects and 7 religions and yet existing under one system. This is the beauty of our country.

We have a rich and unique heritage of art and culture. Our music literature & art needs to be passed on to the future generation. In this direction, theatre can play a very powerful role. We do not have to just protect our cultural heritage but also strengthen it further.

Tagore Theatre, in the past five decades, has successfully pursued its objective to encourage and promote the performing arts. It has been a popular platform for the artists to showcase their talent.

The golden jubilee of Tagore Theatre allows us to celebrate its amazing contributions in the fields of music, theatre and performing arts.

Half a century of extraordinary creative energy and artistic achievement deserves to be celebrated.

With this spirit and creative energy, I shall say that the Show must go on!

Thank you,

Jai Hind.