The West Bengal Government is contemplating to buy the house in North London where Rabindranath Tagore had penned the translation of ‘Gitanjali.’
Tagore had lived at No. 3 Heath Villas in Hampstead Heath in 1912 where he had translated that ‘Gitanjali’ into English.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee who is at present in London had a meeting with Dinesh Patnaik, acting Indian High Commissioner to the UK expressing a desire to buy this private property.
The property is valued at an estimated 2.7 million Pounds. Reports are that the Chief Minister has expressed a desire to buy the house and convert it into a memorial.
The house already has a blue plaque which states ‘Rabindranath Tagore (1861-1941) Indian poet stayed here in 1912.’
During her visit to London in July 2015, also Banerjee had expressed desire to buy the house. She had then stated that she had approached the Indian High Commissioner to see if a deal could be worked out with the owners of this private property.
On Sunday Banerjee unveiled the blue plaque at the family home of Sister Nivedita in Wimbledon.
Incidentally, a blue plaque is a permanent sign installed in a public place in the UK and elsewhere to commemorate a link between that location and a famous person or event, serving as a historical marker.
The blue plaque unveiled at 21 High Street, Wimbledon read ‘Sister Nivedita (Margaret Noble’ Educationalist and Campaigner for Indian Independence lived here.’ It is in this house that Sister Nivedita lived before leaving for India in 1897 answering the call given by Swami Vivekananda.
Banerjee on Sunday attending the unveiling ceremony as the Chief Guest recalled Sister Nivedita’s contribution stating that the Sister was dedicated to the cause of India.
The CM highlighted the Sister’s role in serving the plague affected people of Bengal in 1899. ‘We have a College named after Sister Nivedita and have acquired the house in Darjeeling where she had breathed her last in Darjeeling and the house in Kolkata where she used to live and opened a girls school,’ stated Banerjee.
Acting Indian High Commissioner to the UK said steps have been taken by the Indian High Commission to prepare a map incorporating the important locales and buildings where famous Indian lived in an around London.
‘For India, Sister was a dedicated soul, working relentlessly in the service of humanity, education and overall development of women and other sections of society. Her vision and mission continue to be our inspiration and guiding force’ added Banerjee.
Banerjee talked of the similarity of heritage properties of London and Kolkata. ‘Everywhere we have English heritage in Kolkata. It was the capital of British India for a long period’ added the CM.
She presented statues of Swami Vivekananda and Sister Nivedita to the Mayor of Merton. The statues will be kept in the History Museum at Wimbledon.
Swami Suhitananda of Ramakrishna Mission talked about the stiff resistance that Sister Niovedita had to overcome in her path to women’s empowerment. ‘However her indomitable spirit saw Sister through’ added Swami Suhitananda.
Mamata Banerjee will be attending the India-UK Business Council meeting. She will be inviting investments in Bengal.
OneIndia News
