Nirupama Rao, Indian ambassador to China, expresses gratitude to Wang Shuying, research fellow of Institute of Asia-Pacific Studies with the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (SHI GANG)

A commemorative event marking the 148th birthday anniversary of world-famous poet Rabindranath Tagore was held Tuesday afternoon at the culture section of the Indian Embassy in downtown Beijing.

Born on May 9, 1861 in Calcutta, Bengal (now Kolkata, India), Tagore began writing poetry at the age of eight. His first substantial poetry, short stories and dramas came out when he was sixteen. In 1913, he became Asia's first Nobel laureate, due to the "idealistic and--for Western readers--accessible nature of a small body of his translated material," as the Swedish Academy said. Gitanjali (Song Offerings), Gora (Fair-Faced) and Ghare-Baire (The Home and the World) are among his best-known works. He died on August 7, 1941 at the age of 80.

Tagore made a tour in China from April 12 to May 30, 1924, delivering speeches to academic circles in many cities including Shanghai and Beijing. His connection with China, according to Wang Shuying, research fellow at the Institute of Asia-Pacific Studies under the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, played an important role in reviving the traditional friendship between India and China.

"His works, including poems, short stories and novels, have been translated into Chinese," Wang said. "He re-opened the road for China and India exchanges, which can be seen as a milestone in contemporary China-India relations."

Nirupama Rao, India's Ambassador to China, echoed Wang's view. "He was the architect in many ways of the renewed understanding between India and China," Rao said. "He was a farsighted person who recognized the crucial importance of friendship between our two countries.

"By reviewing Tagore's tour in China, people will become aware of the history of China's awakening in the early 20th century," Rao continued. "He brought India and China together in a very beautiful and evocative way through his wide and elegant words. In his vision, India and China could only be friends and sisters. Let's celebrate this spirit once again, especially at a time when relations between our two countries are improving steadily and strongly."