Education is supposed to promote the well-being of society. Ideally, it should unify citizens while fostering peace and solidarity, as well as sustainable socio-economic development. However, the situation is often the reverse. Education tends to reproduce social relations as well as the class structure in which it exists. 

Homer's Iliad is not simply a story about the Trojan War. It is a story about human nature. Behind the battles, blood and glory, Homer presents two very different kinds of heroes, Achilles and Hector. Both are great warriors. Both are brave. Both know that death is waiting for them. Yet they choose to live their lives in very different ways. 

On 11 September 1893, a young monk from India stood before nearly seven thousand people at the World’s Parliament of Religions in Chicago and began with four words that still reverberate: “Sisters and Brothers of America.”

In a world weary with conflict, greed, and division, the teachings of Lord Krishna, the eighth avatar of Lord Vishnu, feel less like ancient scripture and more like an urgent prescription for our times. 

Nobel Laureate Rabindranath Tagore shared a profound spiritual connection with the monsoon clouds, the melody of rain, and the boundless beauty of nature. On a rainy day—a season he immortalized in countless poems, songs, and literary works—the universal poet bid farewell to this world.  Today, August 6 (corresponding to 22nd Shravan), marks the 85th death anniversary of this greatest luminary of Bengali literature. Rabindranath Tagore breathed his last on the 22nd of Shravan, 1348 BS (August 7, 1941) at the Jorasanko Thakur Bari in Kolkata. However, even more than eight decades after his passing, his literature, philosophy, music, and humanistic consciousness continue to brilliantly illuminate Bengali-speaking people and global culture alike. Tagore began his writing journey at the tender age of eight. Over a long and illustrious literary career, he enriched the Bengali language with an invaluable treasure trove of poetry, novels, short stories, dramas, essays, travelogues, letters, children's literature, and songs. By composing over two thousand songs, he created a unique musical genre—Rabindra Sangeet—which remains an integral part of Bengali life, culture, and emotion to this day. Beyond literature, Tagore was a pioneer in educational thought, social reform, and human welfare. Driven by the vision of integrating education with nature and humanism, he established Shantiniketan, which later evolved into Visva-Bharati University. For the improvement of rural economies and the livelihoods of farmers, he introduced agricultural credit systems and various rural development initiatives, which were remarkably visionary steps for that era. In 1913, Tagore won the Nobel Prize in Literature for the English translation of his poetry collection, Gitanjali. He was the first Asian Nobel laureate in literature, and through this achievement, Bengali literature attained a new stature on the world stage. Tagore never compromised on the issues of humanity and justice. In 1919, in protest against the Jallianwala Bagh massacre, he renounced the 'Knight' title conferred upon him by the British government, setting a unique precedent of humanitarian protest for the world. Born into the renowned Tagore family of Jorasanko, Kolkata, on the 25th of Boishakh, 1268 BS (May 7, 1861), Rabindranath Tagore was the 14th of the 15 children of Maharshi Debendranath Tagore and Sarada Sundari Devi. Growing up in a rich environment of literature, music, philosophy, and culture, Tagore later experienced the nature of Bengal and the lives of its people deeply through boat journeys along the Padma, Meghna, and Jamuna rivers. The imprints of those experiences remain immortalized in his countless literary works. During Bangladesh's struggle for independence, Tagore's songs served as a source of courage, hope, and inspiration. His composition "Amar Sonar Bangla" is the national anthem of Bangladesh, while India's national anthem, "Jana Gana Mana," is also his creation. In world history, Tagore holds the unique distinction of being the author of the national anthems of two countries. Marking his death anniversary, various cultural, literary, and educational institutions across the country have organized discussions, commemorative events, poetry recitations, musical programs, and other activities. As part of these observances, Chhayanaut will stage the musical drama Shyama this evening (August 6) at 7:00 PM at the Chhayanaut Auditorium in Dhaka. The event is open to all. Rabindranath Tagore is not merely a poet; he is an eternal symbol of Bengali self-identity, culture, humanity, and secular consciousness. Transcending the boundaries of time, his creations continue to inspire new generations, making the 22nd of Shravan not just a day of a poet's passing, but a day to bow the head in deep reverence before his infinite legacy.