Relatively unknown facets of the work of Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore as an educationist were revealed at the D D Kosambi Festival of Ideas 2012, by former research professor of social sciences division of the Indian Statistical Institute, Kolkata, Uma Dasgupta.

Stating that Tagore used education as a tool to connect East with the West, she said that the celebrated poet’s ideas, which were actually his ideals, revolved around creating a new educational system in the country. “These ideals were founded on the need to connect education with the life of people, which the colloquial education grossly neglected,” she added.
Delivering the inaugural lecture on ‘Meeting of East and West: Rabindranath Tagore’s Challenging Ideas for World Change’ at the Festival of Ideas, Ms Dasgupta said that Shantiniketan, the abode of Viswa-Bharati University, was populated by urban students and teachers of the world, as well as surrounded by locals, thus bringing local and global cultures together. “Agriculture, folk art, festivals… all mingled together at Shantiniketan, which did not surrender to the bureaucratic inspection or socialistic regimentation,” she added, pointing out that the end results were, understandably, not uniform, but were at least identifiable endeavours in Tagore’s practical work.
Giving an exposition on Nobel Laureate’s work in the educational sector, Ms Dasgupta said that Tagore kept his university model simple. “Transformed into a world citizen by his Nobel Prize in literature, Tagore took the message of world co-operation wherever he travelled – visiting 30 countries in 20 years between 1912 and 1932 – and Shantiniketan located in a tiny corner of rural Bengal became India’s ‘Guest House’ for short periods,” she observed, maintaining that looking beyond ‘Narrow Domestic Walls’ went into making of Shantiniketan.
“When Tagore spoke about change either to Shantiniketan or to the world at large, he spoke of change in attitude,” Ms Dasgupta remarked, stating that the eminent poet believed that science and technology had brought the world closer by easing communication, but not without baggage of their psychological barriers. “The evolution towards religion of men, rejection of nationalism and finally, founding of holistic education in building individual’s values from childhood so as to contribute towards a non-divisive world, were the three key objectives of Tagore’s educational system,” she informed, noting that these ideas were, however, rejected by the nationalists of that time as a poet’s whims and fancies.
Maintaining that Tagore and his family enjoyed appreciation for literature of the West as also the West’s pursuit for the truth of science, Ms Dasgupta said that the Nobel Laureate was disturbed as science and technology were used for militarisation purpose. “He believed that the art of civilisation lay in uniting and healing, and not killing,” she stated, pointing out that the East and the West were both facing alike dangers for want of their union; the East suffering from poverty and inertia, while the West suffering from lack of peace and happiness.  
Coming out with the information that Tagore’s political ideas had taken shape by the beginning of the 20th century Ms Dasgupta said that unfortunately the traditional community could not accept his ideas as society was not integrated into its folds. Maintaining that Tagore had kept Shantiniketan away from nationalist politics throughout, Ms Dasgupta said that those who felt alien to it were asked to leave.   
In conclusion, Ms Dasgupta observed that Tagore had made it his mission to bring the world on terms with India; an India of multiple cultures, where the impoverished would be given dignity and education of life under an enlightened leadership.
Festival of Ideas, proudly unique to state of Goa
Stressing on the necessity for unity and solidarity at the global level, noted Indian screenwriter and director, Saeed Akhtar Mirza quoted an Urdu couplet, “Chaman mein ikhtilat-e-rangoboo se baat banti hai; hum hi hum hain to kya hum hain, tum hi tum ho to kya tum ho,” indicating that individual entities does not make a garden, and both colour as well as fragrance are necessary to create an attractive garden.
Inaugurating the D D Kosambi Festival of Ideas 2012, at Kala Academy, the director of films like ‘Albert Pinto Ko Gussa Kyon Aata Hai’, and ‘Mohan Joshi Haazir Ho!’, and popular tele-serial ‘Nukkad’ said that path-breaking ideas are those that extend the frontiers of knowledge. “Ideas about freedom, equality, justice and dignity have their meaning degraded today, even though these ideas are worth fighting for; even worth dying for,” he added, pointing out, “One idea that worries me is the deeply held perception that the West holds for itself.”
“The West feels that it is a civilised force and hence not answerable to mankind,” Saeed said, stating that the West has laid down an agenda, for many centuries now, for the rest of the world to follow. “Today, the West owes a lot to everyone, a fact that it is trying to hide,” he observed.
The filmmaker also said that some ignorant people have reduced Goa to a space for sex and alcohol, as well as fun and frolic. “Forgive them for they do not know what they say,” he remarked, mentioning that the Festival of Ideas has all shades of opinion, where all kinds of thinkers, with all kinds of philosophies are allowed to speak.
Saeed also opined that various states should bow their heads in shame for such a fest is held only in Goa while they could not orgnise such an event.