RAILWAY SAMACHAR

Exhibition train to mark Tagore's

150th birth anniversary

Kolkata : Indian Railways will run an exhibition train Sanskriti Express to celebrate Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore's 150th birth anniversary and showcase his life and philosophy.

The train, flagged off by Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee May 9, will touch important stations in various parts of the country before returning to Kolkata May 8 next year.

Five air-conditioned coaches have been modified at the Liluah Railway Workshop in Howrah to depict Tagore's achievements and thoughts, an Eastern Railway release said here.

The first coach, named 'Jibon Smriti', will depict the life of Tagore through photographs, while the second 'Gitanjali' will exhibit his poems and songs.

'Jogajog'/'Muktodhara' will exhibit his literature, the fourth 'Chitrarekha' will depict paintings of Tagore and other eminent artists. The last 'Smaranika' will exhibit and sell handicraft and other items from Santiniketan, founded by the poet.

A commemorative volume on Tagore's life and creative works will be brought out on this occasion.

The coach will be kept for public viewing on platform number 22 of Howrah Station's new complex from 6.00 a.m. to 12.00 noon Sunday.

Tagore, who was born in 1861 and died in 1941, is among the most revered writers in the world who churned out poems, plays, songs, novels and short stories. He was the first Indian to win the Nobel prize in 1913.