Chinese students enact Mandarin production of Tagore's play

Rediscovering the trail of famous journey of Nobel Laureate, Rabindranath Tagore to China in 1924, a group of Chinese students today staged his famous play "Chitrangada" at a university in northwest Gansu province.

Regarded as the first ever Chinese production of Tagore's works, which have been widely translated into Mandarin, the students trained by Prof. Mao Shichang, who worked on the great poet's works for many years, enthralled the audience, senior Indian diplomat, Arun Sahu who attended the function told PTI.

Indian Ambassador, S Jaishankar and several Chinese officials and academics witnessed the first ever drama production which was expected to be staged in several other Chinese cities in the coming months.

Speaking at the function, Jaishankar said "it is fitting that Tagore's play is being enacted at a venue that is at the heart of the Silk Road connectivity between India and China", he said. "Tagore himself was an intellectual bridge between our two countries.

As we watch the play today, let us collectively dedicate ourselves to the promotion of stronger friendship between India and China" he said. It is only befitting that the drama is being inaugurated this year, which has been accepted by leaders of both countries as the 'Year of Friendship and Co-operation', he said.

Staging of Chitrangada stands for the shared culture between India and China, the oriental ethos and shared existence of the Indian and Chinese civilisations, Sahu said, adding that the co-production is set to move to other cities of China, such as Beijing, Shanghai, Chengdu, Guangzhou, Shenzhen.

Tagore visited China twice, in 1924 and in 1929 and his visits during the height of the country's revolution have left a trail of deep impressions on many a Chinese writers and poets at that time.

So much so that during the 60th year of celebrations of People Republic of China, Tagore along with Jawaharlal Nehru was voted by Chinese as some of the few eminent foreign personalities who influenced China.

Both India and China have been organising several events relating to Tagore's travels in an attempt to rekindle the spirit of friendship and cultural links.

In his recent speeches Jaishankar has highlighted Tagore's speeches predicting shift of world power towards Asia. "At a time when it is fashionable to talk of a shift of power towards Asia, we might do well to remember Tagore as the prophet of Asia's revival", he said.