India government announces Rs 1.5 billion for development of Visva Bharati Univ

New Delhi, May 8 (PTI) As a tribute to Rabindranath Tagore on the occasion of his 150th birth anniversary, the Indian government Monday announced a grant of Rupees 1.5 billion to the Nobel Laureate's abode -- Visva Bharati University at Shantiniketan in the Indian state of West Bengal -- for restoring it to its old glory. On the closing day of the year-long celebrations to mark the anniversary that saw a flurry of activities in India, Bangladesh and beyond, the government also announced the first 'Tagore International Award' with sitar maestro Pandit Ravishankar being the recipient. The award, for promoting values of universal brotherhood, comprises Rs 10 million, a citation in a scroll, a plaque and an exquisite traditional handicraft or handloom item. The name of Ravishankar, the Varanasi-born most known contemporary Indian musician, was cleared unanimously by a jury under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. On the recommendation of the jury, the award has been renamed as 'Tagore Award for Cultural Harmony'. Singh had last year announced establishment of the Tagore Award. At the concluding function, leaders from India and Bangladesh, whose national anthems were penned by the poet, paid rich tributes to Tagore as Bangladesh Foreign Minister Dipu Moni said he would continue to inspire "every Bengali" at every point of life. India's Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee and Moni quoted extensively from Tagore's work, especially the much-aclaimed Gitanjali, to drive home their point that the Nobel Laureate was a "global citizen" who was firmly rooted in the world of sight, colour and sound. India's Vice President Hamid Ansari said Tagore was a multifaceted genius whose creativity spanned every form of artistic expression and his concerns ranged from global and universalist ones to practical and mundane issues. Ansari said Tagore established institutions to reflect his vision and through his travels, writings and actions demonstrated that the international brotherhood of man was not merely a theoretical construct. Calling himself an "ardent admirer and devoted student" of the "genius Tagore", Mukherjee said Tagore's thoughts, ideas and philosophy will continue to inspire people in the future as well. Effusive in her praise of Tagore, Moni said the poet continues to be the reference point for everyone in Bangladesh for "every Bengali in every celebrations, our adversities, our ecstasies and our agonies and indeed in our everyday existence". "He is our principal source of inspiration in our quest for freedom and in exercise of our right to self-determination, Tagore has been central in defining of our image as ourselves," she said. She also said Bangladesh will celebrate the 100th year of Tagore getting the Nobel Prize for Gitanjali next year. PTI Caption for pic: India's Vice President Hamid Ansari (C) with Bangladesh Foreign Minister Dipu Moni (R) and India's Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee at the closing ceremony of the 150th birth anniversary celebrations of poet Rabindranath Tagore, in New Delhi on Monday. The photograph in the background is of Tagore. PTI Photo