The Russian Cultural Centre (RCC) and Bengal –Russia Friendship Centre held a programme to mark the 85th anniversary of Rabindranath's trip to Russia. The event was held on October 24 at the Russian Cultural Centre premises.

Asaduzzaman Noor, Minister for Cultural Affairs; Dr. Anatoly Y Davydenko, Minister–Counsellor, Embassy of Russian Federation in Bangladesh; Liaquat Ali Lucky, DG Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy; Alexander P. Demin, Head of RCC; Professor Hayat Mamud, Deputy Feature Editor of Prothom Alo Zahid Reza Noor and poet Syed Shamsul Huq attended the programme.  

Demin said Rabindranath visited the erstwhile Soviet Russia in 1930. He had wanted to visit Russia in the previous few years, and arranged to visit Moscow for two weeks. There he met commoners, writers, poets and scientists. His health condition did not allow him to visit more places. He was a good contact between India and Russia, said Demin. He wrote a vital letter and a book after visiting the place, he added.

Zahid Reza Noor said he stayed in Russia for 10 years. He recalled that in 1913, Rabindranath was not well known in Russia, but things changed when “Gitanjali” was translated in Russian, and he was interviewed by the paper “Issvestia”. 

Prof. Hayat Mahmud said Tagore's works praised Russians as hard workers, and for their cultural progress. “Men are not machines; they have taste for different cultures,” he quoted the Bard as saying. 

Liaqat Ali Lucky pointed out Russia's contribution in the War of Independence of 1971. Dr Anatoly Y Davydenko said Rabindranath's trip brought together the student and thinkers of the two countries, helped in the spread of education, and was great progress for the people of India.

Asaduzzaman Noor said Rabindranath saw a new type of culture in Russia, where each individual was equal to another. Rabindranath worked for the peasants and cared for the people of India. Russia has indeed helped the people of the third world, he said. 

The programme ended with a cultural performance participated by Shuvra Devnath, dance choreographed by Spondon's director Anik Bose. Stage play “Chandalika” was presented by theatre activists at the event.