A special seminar titled “Rabindranath in the Test of Time: Challenges and Prospects” was held today at the university campus, organized jointly by the Department of Bangla and the Department of English at Uttara University.

Dr. Serajul Islam Choudhury, Emeritus Professor of the Department of English at Dhaka University, was present as the keynote speaker. In his discussion, he cast a highly thoughtful and profound light on the relevance of Rabindranath’s work in modern times, contemporary crises, and its future potential. Discussing Rabindranath’s literary mind and his personal journey as a global citizen, he said:

“Rabindranath was one of us, someone very close and deeply seated in our hearts. He was first a Bengali, then an Indian. And after that, he became global, timeless, and universal. Our debt to him as a nation and as a country is undeniable. His contribution to enriching our literary thought and literary language is immense. In the cultural evolution of Bengalis, and the blueprint of Bengali literature that has been created for the entire world, it is impossible to imagine that existence by excluding Rabindranath.”

Professor Dr. Eaysmin Ara Lekha, the honorable Vice-Chancellor of Uttara University, graced the event as the chief guest. In her speech, she noted:

“Rabindranath is not a past confined to the boundaries of a specific time; rather, he is an eternal present in our every crisis and transition. To comprehend the bottomless depth of his creation, one needs freedom from the shackles of conventional thinking, a sky of free thought, and a meditation-like deep concentration. Only then can the true form of the contemporary world be recognized in the light of Ravi. Times have changed, but Rabindranath’s relevance has not faded; rather, standing in this complex era today, his every line feels even more alive. To know him, no blind imitation is required, what is needed is an open and transparent mind. It is only through the blend of free thought and concentration that we can hold Rabindranath’s timeless philosophy close to our hearts.”

The seminar was also attended by panel speakers including Dr. Parveen Akther Jemy, Professor, Department of Bangla, Jagannath University; Dr. Sohana Mahbub, Professor, Department of Bangla, Dhaka University; Dr. Chanchal Kumar Bose, Professor, Department of Bangla, Jagannath University; Momtaz Begum, Professor, Department of Bangla, Uttara University; Dr. Faez Mohammad Serajul Hoque, Advisor, Uttara University; and Dr. Syeda Afroza Zerin, Dean, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, Uttara University.

During the event, the speakers discussed in detail the various contemporary aspects of Rabindranath’s philosophy and the necessity of his literature in addressing our current social and cultural crises. In their research-based speeches, Prof. Bose and Prof. Sohana analyzed Rabindranath’s major literary works. Their canorous speeches created a thought process for the audience, deeply inspiring the attending faculty members and students.

The speakers expressed hope that these thoughtful discussions by the scholars and the philosophy of Rabindranath would further enrich the academic and intellectual journey of the future generation. Finally, on behalf of the organizing committee, the convener Dr. Shah Ahmed, Associate Professor of the Department of English, concluded the seminar by expressing sincere thanks and gratitude to the visiting guests, researchers and everyone involved in organizing this event.