10 September 2024
Anita Kartika Pasaribu
FIB USU PR - On Tuesday, September 10, 2024, the Faculty of Cultural Sciences (FIB) of the University of North Sumatra (USU) held a public lecture "General Lecture Rabindranath Tagore: Values, History, Culture and Literature" by Resource Person Ravi Shanker Goel, Consul General of India on duty in Medan which was held at the FIB USU Multipurpose Building. Attended by the Dean of FIB Prof. Dr. Dra. T. Thyrhaya Zein, M.A, Vice Dean 1 Prof. Drs. Mauly Purba M.A., Ph.D. Vice Dean 2 Dra. Heristina Dewi, M.Pd, Vice Dean 3 Mhd. Pujiono, S.S., M.Hum., Ph.D, Rahmadsyah Rangkuti SS., M.A., Ph.D. Raka Gunaika, S.S., M.A. Latifah Yusri Nasution, S.S., M.Si. Head of Study Program, Secretary of Study Program, Lecturers, Education Staff, Head of Sub-Division and Students of FIB USU.
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Dean of FIB USU Prof. Dr. Dra. T. Thyrhaya Zein M.A. delivered a speech of gratitude to Mr. Ravi Shanker Goel, Consulate General of India for the extraordinary lesson. I would also like to express my deepest gratitude for your kindness and assistance in becoming a speaker in the Public Lecture with the topic "Rabindranat Tagore: Values, History, Culture, and Literature" organized by the Faculty of Cultural Sciences in the framework of the 59th Anniversary of the Faculty of Cultural Sciences USU. and thank you to the honorable Vice Deans Prof. Mauly Purba, M.A., Ph.D Vice Dean I in charge of Education, Student Affairs, and Alumni, Vice Dean II, Mrs. Heristina Dewi, M.Pd in charge of Human Resources, Finance, and Assets, Vice Dean III, Mr. Muhammad Pujiono, M.Hum, Ph.D in charge of Research, Community Service, and Cooperation, and Information and To all Heads and Secretaries of Departments, To the Students who attended the Public Lecture.
The theme of this event is "Rabindranat Tagore: Values, History, Culture, and Literature" which is expected to support Indian Cultural Diplomacy and we are confident that your extensive experience and insight as the Consul General of India in Medan will greatly enrich the discussion and provide valuable perspectives for the participants.
Honorable Mr. Ravi Shanker Goel and Ladies and Gentlemen, In accordance with USU's Vision and Mission to become a world-class university, this Public Lecture is one of the many efforts to realize the Vision and Mission. This Public Lecture is held to commemorate the 59th Anniversary of the Faculty of Cultural Sciences. This Public Lecture is part of our concern for the contribution of science and technology in order to increase the productivity and competitiveness of the Indonesian nation. Language is an inseparable part of cultural development.
Literature is a reflection of the culture of a society, and language is the medium used to express it. Cultural expression requires the use of language that can foster a sense of group identity and foster solidarity by helping communication. Literature and language play an important role in expressing culture and helping to pass it on to future generations.
We all know that Rabindranath Tagore (1861-1941), the "Broad-Minded Man" and the first Asian poet to win the Nobel Prize in literature, was a pioneering poet, novelist, essayist, playwright, composer, painter, philosopher, and educator from colonial India. Tagore’s vision and philosophy, neglected or overshadowed by his image as a mystical poet from the East, are now being addressed to restore his prominence as a thinker of universal reach and significance, one who challenged national-imperialist and elite-subaltern binaries (Collins, 2012, p. 3). His legacy of extensive literary works and the educational institutions he founded endure in a new conceptualization of humanity that transcends the boundaries of home and world. As an iconic figure of Indian modernity, his well-documented life conveys the intersection of personal experience with his public efforts for the common good.
In the 1920s Tagore visited Indonesia, especially Bali and Java. Two Indonesian authors have translated Tagore into Dutch and Indonesian. Among them, Noto Soeroto wrote a biographical sketch of Rabindranath Tagore and a book on Tagore’s educational ideals.
In addition to prominent writers, various student organizations in the Netherlands, such as the Indische Vereeniging (Indonesian Students’ Union) and the Chung Hwa Hui Chinese Students’ Association, were eager to meet Tagore, eager to assert their East Asian identity through him. He was considered a cultural figure who was well suited to be the spokesman for the East. At that time the East-West dichotomy was not yet out of date, but was a universally accepted fact.
Van Eysselstein (1961:309-12) mentioned that Noto Soeroto named his eldest son after his literary and spiritual teacher: Rawindra Noto Soeroto. Regarding the Indonesian and Chinese student organizations in the Netherlands who wanted to meet Tagore, see the Java file, Rabindrabhavana Archive, Santiniketan, Tagore Archive.
Through this Public Lecture, it is hoped that Tagore's Literary Works will inspire FIB students not only to develop imagination that can be used to deepen their thinking by bringing more awareness of the values and worldviews and also the values and worldviews of others around the world and throughout history. In addition, literary works also have a very important role in building the nation's civilization. Through literary works, someone not only develops imagination that can be used to build the nation, but also as a medium to pass on local wisdom values to the younger generation.
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