To mark the celebrations of the 150th Birth Anniversary of Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore, the External Affairs Minister of India Shri S. M Krishna today presented a bust of Gurudev Tagore at the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies, Pasir Panjang, Singapore. The bust will finally be housed in the India Heritage Centre in Singapore. In the interim it will be located at the Library of the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies.

2.   Speaking at a ceremony to mark the occasion Shri S. M Krishna quoted extensively from Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore’s writing as he embarked on his visit to different Southeast Asian countries in 1927. He commended different Singapore institutions for their initiative in organising events to commemorate the 150th Birth Anniversary in Singapore.

3.   Those present at the occasion included Ambassador K. Kesavapany, Director of the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies and Ambassador Gopinath Pillai, Director of the Institute of South Asian Studies, University Faculty and Students, Members of the Diplomatic Corps and other dignitaries.  

4.    The bust has been presented on behalf of the Indian Council for Cultural Relations. It has been sculpted by the noted sculptor Shri Gautam Pal.  

Singapore
5th May 2011