New Delhi, Nov 19 (UNI) Congress leader Jairam Ramesh Wednesday paid tribute to former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi on her 108th birth anniversary, spotlighting her profound and lifelong connection with Nobel Laureate Rabindranath Tagore.
In a thoughtful post on social media platform X, Ramesh recalled Indira Gandhi’s formative years at Visva-Bharati University in Shantiniketan, where she spent nine months between 1934 and 1935.
“She had a special relationship with Rabindranath Tagore, having spent some nine months at Shantiniketan during July 1934-April 1935. She was an annual visitor to Visva-Bharati,” Ramesh wrote, emphasizing the deep cultural and intellectual bond that shaped her worldview.
Ramesh also highlighted Indira Gandhi’s affinity for Tagore’s iconic song Ekla Chalo Re—a hymn to solitary courage and perseverance. “In the last month of her extraordinary life, she engaged in a wonderful exchange with one of her closest aides, H Y Sharada Prasad, on Tagore’s Ekla Chalo Re, which was her favourite,” he noted.
This lesser-known literary side of Indira Gandhi, revealed through archival research and shared by Ramesh, offers fresh insight into the personal motivation behind her political journey. “This article, written two years ago using archival material, brings out her literary sensibilities. It is available here and worth reading,” Ramesh added, linking to his detailed piece.
Indira Gandhi’s enduring connection with Tagore’s teachings and her embrace of Ekla Chalo Re reflect the values of determination and resilience that defined her leadership during India’s challenging times. Ramesh’s tribute shines a light on this intimate aspect of one of India’s most iconic leaders, celebrating her legacy in both politics and culture. UNI SKA AAB
