Gulzar calls for spreading Tagore's works across India

Acclaimed poet and film director Gulzar has stressed the need for spreading the works of Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore across the country.

Acclaimed poet and film director Gulzar has stressed the need for spreading the works of Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore across the country.

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"Let Tagore flower in India as an Indian," said Gulzar at the second Tagore Memorial Lecture organised at the Indian Institute of Advanced Studies (IIAS) in the Viceregal Lodge here.

Gulzar was of the view that most of the works of Tagore have remained confined to Bengal. He called for spreading his works across the nation. "The country should know about his works and poetry," he said while adding that Tagore's works mainly focussed on education of the Indians.

Gulzar said that he did not relish the English version of 'Gitanjali' and he understood the real nuances of his poetry while going through the original one in Bengali.

Gulzar lauded the IIAS for its efforts to promote the research and scholarly work on India's rich history. He said the institute was improving all the time, resurrecting the history. "Lot of History is being revived," Gulzar said while talking to mediapersons after he threw open the newly set up photo gallery of the institute. He said that he always felt like a student while attending talks at the institute.

"There is always a space to learn. I have very strong views on issues concerning women in India. My concern about women is my own concern. It is a problem of men, not women," he said.

Appreciating the institute and the relentless efforts of its director, Prof Chetan Singh, Gulzar hoped that IIAS will grow into an institute of international repute.