Uran-CDC hosts debate – a thought-provoking intense event at Agartala, on ‘Tagore is Popular but Not Relevant’. Eminent scholars, journalists, and youth engaged in a gripping exchange of ideas, igniting fresh perspectives on Tagore’s legacy.
Agartala (Tripura) Jun 8: Uran has done it, once again. After successfully conducting first-ever Tripura Literature Festival in February, 2025, Uran along with Calcutta Debating Circle (CDC) organized a debate program at Agartala Town Hall on June 7.
The debate program, titled ‘Rabindra Nath Janapriya, kintu Prasangik Noy’ (Rabindra Nath is popular, but not relevant).
Eminent literary personalities, academician, journalists and Rabindra Nath experts joined in an engrossing and intense arguments and counter-arguments for and against the motion.
The debate program started with a humble inauguration. Chief Whip of the Tripura Assembly Kalyani Saha Roy formally inaugurated the event in presence of Uran president Sumanta Chakraborty and CDC secretary Dr Kunal Sarkar.
After the formal inauguration, the debate started with five speakers on both sides. Dr Kunal Sarkar moderated the debate.
Speakers from Kolkata and Agartala soon embroiled in a fierce but engrossing debate which undoubtedly enthralled and enriched the full house Agartala Town Hall auditorium.
Speakers on both sides represented a blending of youthful talents and veteran experts. With presentation of sharp logic, wit, historical facts and contemporary realities, speakers enthralled and enlightened the audience – frequent clappings revealed active and enthusiastic participation of the audience.
Ipshita Ghosh, Shubhrajit Bhattacharjee , Arkaprabha Sarkar Ashok Deb and Jahar Sarkar presented informative, intriguing and intense arguments in support of the motion – ‘Tagore is popular, but not relevant’.
Supporting the motion, the speakers walked through wide spectrum of life, society and politics of both past and present tech savvy era. Rabindra Nath Tagore was thoroughly analysed and discussed by the speakers under the AI, ‘Bhasa Andolan ‘, New Education Policy and modern socio-politico-economic aspects.
Audiance felt exalted when the ‘for the motion’ speakers made distinct and effective arguments differentiating between literal and subtle meanings of Rabindra Nath Tagore’s relevance in our lives.
Speakers argued Rabindra Nath has lost relevance because we, the people, have failed to follow and implement basic vision of Tagore in our lives and society – we failed him.
Spotlighting Tagore’s lost relevance, speakers said even as Rabindra Nath visited Tripura seven times and had cordial relationship with the Manikya kings, the present royal scion has not done a single program recalling the past literary connections as this connection with Rabindra Nath is no longer relevant.
Also government apathy in constructing Rabindra Nath Tagore’s gallery/museum in Tripura has been attributed as another example of lost relevance.
Speakers traversed from subtle reference to more direct as ‘Rabindra Nath is just an translator the Upanishads’ statement-bomb hit the audience pushing them thinking beyond the boundaries.
The ‘against the motion’ bench was also equally vocal, vivacious and strong in presenting their arguments highlighting Rabindranath Tagore’s ever-lasting and undimishing relevance.
Debarati Mukhopadhyay, Nandini Bhattacharjee, Dr Tamajoy Brahma, Sanit Debroy and Dr Bidyut Chakraborty came out firing from all guns to firmly express that Rabindra Nath is relevant.
The speakers referred to different male, female and adolescent characters of Rabindra Nath Tagore’s write ups to highlight his foresight and scripted his vision on multiple socio-economic, politics and daily life issues like handling depression and autism like problems.
The ‘Against the motion’ speakers sung some of the Rabindra songs to explain Next Gen people’s social media expressions like love, break up and ‘biraho’.
‘Rabindra Nath is Prasangik (relevant) even to tech savvy Gen X as his works are only way to express the ‘Nabaras’ – a common phenomenon in human life- in an effective and artistic manner.
Dr Sarkar commented, after Ipshita’s T20 batting, Debarati cast Bumrah effect.
I Also Read: Tripura Literature Festival: CM Calls for Showcasing Culture and Heritage of State Globally l
As hours long debate comes to an end, audience left the hall thanking Uran Tripura-CDS for arranging such an engrossing and informative programme.
Shilpa Chakraborty, housewife was in all praises. ‘Tagore’s songs and his legacy are always refreshing to me. However, the logics and counter- logics of today’s debate will help me to think from a different perspective. The debate has opened a new door “, Chakraborty commented.
