Ravenshaw Radio 90.4 will play Tagore’s songs between 10am and 10pm till May 9. Picture by Badrika Nath Das

Cuttack, May 7: Citizens of Cuttack were pleasantly surprised to hear popular Rabindranath Tagore songs, which were aired by the campus community radio of Ravenshaw University today on the occasion of the Nobel laureate’s his 150th birth anniversary.

Through a special transmission of these popular songs, Ravenshaw Radio 90.4 has decided to pay tribute to Tagore and observe three-day long Rabindra Jayanti celebrations starting today.

“It was amazing to listen to the immortal songs of Tagore that has been inspiration to thousands of music lovers across the globe. It also gave us a break from Bollywood songs that are played round the clock,” said Jaya Pradhan, a local resident.

The immortal songs composed by Tagore in Bengali, instrumentals and vocals by other popular singers, would be aired non-stop for 12 hours from 10am to 10pm till May 9.

“There are a lot of other plans to celebrate Tagore’s birthday throughout the year and airing his immortal songs is a humble tribute the great visionary and Nobel laureate,” said vice-chancellor Devdas Chhotray.

Besides this, Ravenshaw University is thinking about establishing a Tagore Centre for Performing Arts in collaboration with Rabindra Bharati University of Calcutta, the vice-chancellor said.

Ravenshaw Radio, which was recently launched after a successful dry run on April 14, has been providing a platform to a number of artistes besides students of the university to showcase their talent.

“Usually, there is a daily transmission from 4pm to 6pm and the programs are repeated next day between 9am and 11am. But we are now on air for 12 hours a day playing popular songs of Tagore,” said Netaji Abhinandan, chairman of Ravenshaw Radio 90.4.

All programs, including education and entertainment, are being prepared by the students who are also upbeat over the success of the radio station.

Partha Sarathi Mishra, dean, students’ welfare of Ravenshaw University, said the beauty of Orissa had fascinated Tagore, who had written numerous poems during his visit to the state.

Tagore had a house in the city and ancestral property at Pandua village in Jagatsinghpur. The bard had even composed the famous lyrical verses of Chitrangada at Pandua.