PM Modi speaks about Tagore’s Gujarat connection in his address at Viswa Bharati University

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his address at centenary celebrations of Visva-Bharati University today mentioned and spoke about Ravindranath Tagore’s Gujarat link. He attributed tradition of putting pallu of saree on left shoulder by Gujarati women to initiative taken by Gyan Nandini devi, wife of Ravindranath Tagore’s brother Satyendranath who was appointed in Ahmedabad for job by then British government.

‘Whenever I talk about Gurudev, I can’t stop my self to express a particular affection. Even when I came to you previously, I had slightly mentioned it. I again am remembering proximity of Gurudev and Gujarat. Remembering this repeatedly is required because it inspires us with feelings of Ek Bharat Shreshta Bharat. It shows that how connected our nation that has different languages, dialects, foods, dresses. It shows how diversity of our nation,’ the Prime Minister said.

He added, ‘Gurudev’s elder brother Satyendranath Tagore was appointed in Ahmdabad, Gujarat as ICS. Tagore ji would visit Gujarat often. He had spent a long time there. While living in Ahmedabad, he had penned down his twow popular Bengali poems ‘Bandi O Amar’ and ‘Nirob Rajni Dekho’. He also wrote a portion of his famous creation ‘Kshudit Pashan’ during Gujarat visit. A daughter of Gujarat, smt Hutheesingh was married to Gurudev’s family. Apart from this, there’s one more fact over which our organizations working for women empowerment should study. Satyendranath Tagore’s wife Gyanandini Devi during her stay in Ahmedabad observed that local women would keep pallu of their sarees on right shoulder, and due to this they were facing difficulty while working. Gyanandini Devi came out with an idea to shift pallu to left shoulder. I don’t know exactly, but people say that pallu on left shoulder is her contribution.’

DeshGujarat